The Ocean Acidification Symposium was presented by the Centre for Chemical and Physical Oceanography, in November of 2012. The day-long symposium featured brief presentations from a wide range of researchers, of which this is one: Dr Sylvia Sander talks about the vital role organic ligands play in the solubility of metals, particularly near geothermal vents. She discusses the importance of bioactive metals in food chains, in carbon, sulfur and nitrogen cycles.