From Paleontology to Geobiology
Associate Professor Robert Jenkins’ fascination with paleontology—the study of organisms that lived on Earth in the past—began in his second year of high school. His teacher took him on a fossil?hunting trip in Hokkaido, where he happened to uncover an ammonite fossil. The discovery filled him with excitement: “I can find something like this myself.” Although he studied engineering as an undergraduate, the strong passion for fossils he had developed in high school led him to pursue paleontology in graduate school. Among the many topics in paleontology, he became especially interested in the evolutionary history of organisms that inhabit “extreme environments,” such as the deep sea. These organisms are known to have close links with changes in Earth’s environment. As he continued exploring the evolution of life in extreme environments through fossils, his research gradually expanded into the field of Geobiology, which examines the interactions between life and the Earth’s environment.
The Connection Between Earth and Life
A series of questions—“Why do strange organisms exist in extreme deep?sea environments? How can life survive in such harsh conditions? How did these organisms come to inhabit these places, and how did they evolve?”—has guided Associate Professor Jenkins from paleontology to the broader world of geobiology. At the heart of these inquiries lies his fundamental question: the connection between Earth and life. To explore this connection, he focuses on what he considers “the place where the relationship between Earth and organisms can be most clearly observed”: the deep?sea floor. There, life thrives by using chemical substances such as hydrothermal fluids and methane that rise from beneath the seafloor. Extreme environments like these can also be created by the remains of large animals such as whales, as well as ancient creatures such as plesiosaurs in the distant past. In his pursuit of understanding the full structure of these extreme?environment ecosystems, Jenkins places the highest value on careful observation. He emphasizes that it is not enough to rely solely on analytical data obtained from samples. Instead, he stresses the importance of deeply understanding what the numerical results actually represent—the physical conditions of the samples and the processes that produced them. “Whenever possible, I go to the site myself, collect the samples, and observe them directly. Only through such thorough observation can we connect analytical results with real?world conditions, enabling more accurate and meaningful interpretations.”
Exploring and Sharing the Unknown
Associate Professor Jenkins’ aspiration is “to peel back the layers of hidden ecosystems, one by one,” and to share each new discovery with others—thereby “expanding the circle of curiosity.” He believes that both Earth and life still hold many “worlds that no one has yet seen.” “I feel incredibly fortunate to be the first person to discover a world unknown to anyone else,” he says. “But what truly motivates me is when I share these findings and people become deeply fascinated—some even visit my lab wanting to learn more. Making such people happy is one of the biggest driving forces behind my research.” Through his research, Jenkins uncovers new insights and experiences the excitement of discovery. By sharing that knowledge and enthusiasm with diverse audiences, curiosity spreads outward like a growing circle. This process not only deepens collective understanding but also sparks the development of new research fields. The community of supporters who resonate with Jenkins’ approach continues to expand.
Noto Peninsula Earthquake: The Importance of Onsite Investigation
On January 1, 2024, the Noto Peninsula was struck by a magnitude 7-plus earthquake. As a researcher long engaged in studying the Noto region—and as an Earth scientist—Associate Professor Jenkins says he immediately felt that “I had to do something.” Drawing on lessons learned from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, he understood the critical importance of rapid initial surveys. He therefore entered the affected area promptly and devoted himself to on?site investigation. “For some parts of Noto’s ocean, we already had data from before the earthquake. To understand what happened underwater—how the seafloor environment and marine ecosystems had changed—we believed it was essential to observe and analyze the site directly.” The results of the seafloor environmental surveys conducted by Jenkins and his team will be made available on the web and other platforms. He adds: “Our findings may not contribute directly to the immediate recovery efforts. However, they will provide invaluable data for understanding how the seafloor and its ecosystems change over time, knowledge that may help society prepare for future events.”
(Science writer: Yuko MITERA, English translation:Md Abul Kalam SIDDIKE)
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