Penny Chisholm
Professor of Biology | Pioneering Ocean Microbiome Research
About
Penny Chisholm is a professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she has dedicated her career to studying a tiny but vital ocean microorganism. Chisholm's pioneering work on the Prochlorococcus bacterium has fundamentally changed our understanding of global ecosystems.
Her TED Talks have reached millions, inspiring audiences to see the incredible complexity and importance of microscopic life. Chisholm's keynotes offer a scientist's perspective on emerging technologies, environmental science, and the wonders of the natural world.
Talks1
The tiny creature that secretly powers the planet
Oceanographer Penny Chisholm introduces us to an amazing little being: Prochlorococcus, the most abundant photosynthetic species on the planet. A marine microbe that has existed for millions of years, Prochlorococcus wasn't discovered until the mid-1980s -- but its ancient genetic code may hold clues to how we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
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