Diatoms of North AmericaPlanet Diatom: an organization to train, transform, and transcend
Description: Diatoms play essential roles in aquatic ecosystems; they produce an estimated 20–30 percent of Earth’s atmospheric oxygen, regulate major biogeochemical cycles, and provide key information used in water quality assessment and environmental monitoring programs. Accurate identification and ecological understanding of diatoms are therefore fundamental to biodiversity conservation, public health protection, and natural resource management.
However, substantial portions of diatom diversity and ecological function remain undocumented. Taxonomic research, species descriptions, and the maintenance of high-quality identification resources are chronically underfunded, and governmental agencies generally do not prioritize support for taxonomy or foundational ecological work. This lack of stable funding has led to significant gaps in scientific knowledge, limited training opportunities, and insufficient infrastructure for managing diatom biodiversity data.
Planet Diatom, a new nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, was established to address these unmet needs. The organization’s purpose is to raise, manage, and distribute financial support for activities that advance diatom taxonomy, ecology, and biodiversity documentation, including the ongoing development and maintenance of the diatoms.org project. These activities provide public benefit by improving environmental monitoring accuracy, supporting scientific research and education, and enhancing society’s ability to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems. Over the next five years, we aim to not only sustain diatoms.org in the long term, but to train, transform, and transcend how people think and experience diatoms.
Target Audience: This seminar is directed at anyone who uses the diatom.org resources and is interested in shaping future activities.
