NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory

Appointments

Andrea Snelling joins NIGL as an isotope apprentice to work on stable isotope analysis and mass spectrometry on a variety of projects.

Nick manages the BGS-NIGL ICP-MS laboratory, which houses the Attom and Spectro sector-field mass-spectrometers. Nick is involved in developing laser ablation methodologies, for both isotopic and elemental analysis of a range of solid materials; this will include the development of collaborative research between the BGS and NIGL. Since finishing his PhD at the University of Leicester in 2010, Nick has been working in the PIMS facility at NIGL, primarily focussing on LA-ICP-MS U-Th-Pb geochronology.

In April this year the BGS invested in membership of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) on behalf of the Earth science sector to build national capability for the UK geoscience community. Subsequently, Prof Melanie Leng (Leicester/BGS) has been appointed to the Executive Committee (EC) of ICDP to represent the UK membership.

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Congratulations to Prof Melanie Leng who has been re-appointed to the Advisory Board of the international multidisciplinary research and review journal Quaternary Science Reviews.

QSR is one of the top Quaternary journals with an impact factor of 3.973.

Mel has been reappointed as an Honorary Professor in the School of Geography, The University of Nottingham, for a further three years from 1/8/12. The appointment is on the basis of Mel being a distinguished practitioner in the field of isotopes in environmental change research and is aimed at strengthening links between the BGS and the university.

Mel has been appointed as a Professor in the Department of Geology, University of Leicester. She will be increasing the already successful application of stable isotope geochemistry to the department’s teaching and research portfolio, and will be contributing to the vibrant Crustal Processes research group. She will continue to manage the Stable Isotope Group at NIGL, and aims to strengthen links between BGS and the university sector.

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Congratulations to Melanie Leng who has become an Associate Editor for G-cubed for 2 years (2012–14). She will be co-handling papers for the theme "Development of Isotopic Proxies for Paleoenvironmental Interpretation: A Carbon Perspective (DIPPI-C)".

• More information about G-cubed
• More information on DIPPI-C

The programme aims to promote interest and discussions across the broad field of Mineral Sciences (including all aspects of petrology and geochemistry at the Earth's surface and at depth). The Mineralogical Society has appointed Prof Parrish as one of this season's distinguished lecturers, on the basis of being a good communicator and an expert in his field, to give lectures at universities and related institutions. The lectures will be intended to appeal to undergraduates and research students, as well as to more advanced scientists. The two lectures on offer are: "100 years of geochronology: Arthur Holmes and his legacy to U-Pb dating and Earth history" and "Addressing political agendas, depleted uranium, and nuclear proliferation with mass spectrometry and environmental science".

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Jonathan joins NIGL on a one year isotope apprenticeship following completion of his doctoral thesis from Loughborough University (2006–2010) titled 'Holocene environmental change in coastal Denmark: interactions between land, sea and society.' The project involved using a range of palaeoenvironmental techniques (particularly diatoms, sedimentary pigments and isotopes from foraminiferal tests) for reconstruction of salinity, productivity and nutrient status over the last ~9,000 years in three shallow coastal systems in Denmark. At NIGL, Jonathan will be trained as an isotope geoscientist and will work in a technical role on a range of projects, preparing and running isotope samples.

Congratulations to Dr Tim Heaton and Dr Jane Evans who have been nominated to sit on the NERC Peer Review College from September 2011 to September 2014.

Congratulations to Jane Evans who has been appointed Special Associate Professor in the School of Humanities at the University of Nottingham. The appointment is on the basis of Jane being a distinguished practitioner in the field of isotopes in archaeological science and is aimed at strengthening links between BGS and the university.

Laura Bracciali has recently joined NIGL as a Post Doctoral Research Associate investigating the evolving composition of the Brahmaputra River sediments through Neogene time by means of a multi-technique provenance study, with the aim of testing competing hypotheses of drainage evolution and erosion-tectonic coupling. Her research background deals with aspects of igneous and sedimentary petrology, including field work, petrography, trace element/isotope geochemistry, as applied to understanding problems of orogenic evolution and palaeotectonic reconstructions.

Her appointment is associated with a three year NERC standard grant awarded to Randy Parrish.

Congratulations to Randy Parrish who has been nominated to sit on the NERC Peer Review College from July 2009 to July 2012.

Congratulations to Melanie Leng on her appointment to the Editorial Advisory Board of Silicon. The appointment is to run for two years. Silicon is an international, interdisciplinary journal solely devoted to the most important element of the 21st Century. Silicon’s coverage is unique in presenting all areas of silicon research and development across all disciplines. Silicon is a quarterly journal publishing the very latest cutting edge research in materials chemistry, materials physics, materials biology, materials engineering and environmental science.

• Silicon

Sarah Metcalfe (School of Geography, Nottingham University) has been awarded a VRA at NIGL/BGS. Sarah will be spending her time at NIGL working with Melanie Leng on improved understanding of controls on isotopic composition of Mexican lake systems to develop their use to reconstruct changes in the Mexican monsoon. This will also be tied in with their mutual interest in comparing the tropical Americas with the near East and the balance between mid-latitude and tropical climate systems over time.

• School of Geography, University of Nottingham

Randy Parrish has accepted the position of European Editor of Precambrian Research from September 2007:
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