Mighty, Magnificent, Menacing Mussels
Emily Carrington, Ph.D., is a professor at the University of Washington in the Department of Biology and Friday Harbor Laboratories on San Juan Island. She studies how organisms thrive in physically demanding environments, such as wave-swept rocky shores. In her talk, she will explain how marine mussels are the masters of underwater adhesion, forming strong and tough byssal attachments to rocky shores, aquaculture ropes and nearly any firm structure in the ocean. She will also discuss the many ways the study of mussel attachment benefits society, including promoting healthy coastal ecosystems, improving aquaculture, inspiring the design of novel wet adhesives, and development of anti-biofouling strategies for maritime industries.
