Oceanic crust and sediments are full of fluids, and the physio-chemical interactions between these fluids and the solid Earth support a massive but poorly understood subsurface biosphere. This intimate connection between rocks, fluids, and life is one of the most exciting areas of research in the Earth and Life Sciences, and it can only be addressed through research that integrates marine geology, geophysics, geochemistry, engineering and biology.

WHOI is uniquely positioned to pursue this multi-disciplinary research, but WHOI researchers have lacked a forum for exchanging ideas and cultivating these collaborations. The Fluid Underground is an institution-wide, bi-monthly forum, that aims to foster the development of new research proposals and initiatives between WHOI scientists working on all aspects of subsurface fluids.