BGS receives funding for new system to analyse oxygen isotopes

Scientists researching ways to tackle air pollution, climate change and other environmental sciences challenges facing the UK will benefit from a major upgrade of research equipment.

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has invested £6.6 million in improving the UK’s national research infrastructure by funding the purchase of ten state-of-the-art pieces of equipment.

BGS has received over £350 000 for a new microfluorination for oxygen isotopes in biogenic silica (MOBiS) system. The new system will analyse sediment samples from a range of settings including the ocean, land and waterways. It will help scientists understand historic changes in climate by analysing the oxygen isotope compositions of biogenic silica, which is one of the most widespread biogenic minerals found in the world.

The equipment can analyse oxygen isotopes in any minerals that contain oxygen. This will enable the equipment to be used by a wider community and in other disciplines, for example the analysis of nuclear materials for isotope forensics applications.

I am extremely excited that we will be able to utilise this innovative system, which will be housed in the laboratories at the BGS headquarters in Keyworth, Nottingham.  It will allow us and the UK’s wider research community to take a deep dive into oxygen isotopes in biogenic silica and how changes in these from thousands of years ago can help us understand climate change and shed light on ways to mitigate environmental impact.

Prof Melanie Leng, BGS Chief Scientist for Environmental Change, Adaptation and Resilience.

 

For more information and enquiries about the MOBiS system, please contact Dr Jack Lacey.