Were you aware that some deep-sea microbes consume methane gas as their primary source of carbon? These critters remove significant quantities of methane, a greenhouse gas stronger than carbon dioxide. If they didn’t the methane would make it into the atmosphere. And the atmosphere has enough problems already. What are these microbes? They are single cell organisms and bacteria. How do I know this? Because my amazing cousin Victoria Orphan just won one of the 2016 MacArthur Foundation ‘Genius’ Grants for this research.

We are all just so thrilled and proud, and especially happy that the grant money will allow her to continue this important research. It is incredibly satisfying to see someone so well suited and happy in her work. And she knew from a very young age this would be her calling. We know this because her mother found a book, actually Victoria’s book, “My Book About Me” by Dr. Seuss, where she detailed her future path. Well, after she crossed out “TV Star”. Her spelling was a bit sketchy back then.

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If you’d like to hear more about Victoria’s research and see her MacArthur Foundation video it is below; it is worth the few minutes of your time and it is quite beautiful.

Now when you hear about MacArthur Foundation fellows and Victoria’s name is mentioned you can say, “I know her!” too.

Congratulations Victoria! You deserve this and so much more.

Deborah