Working at BGS as a postgraduate intern
Katie Williams, an environmental geochemistry masters student, shares her experience following a work placement in the Stable Isotope Facility.
15/06/2022 By BGS Press
Recently I spent a few weeks with BGS on a work experience placement at their headquarters in Keyworth, Nottingham. As the placement was part of my MSc degree in environmental geochemistry at the University of Plymouth, I was mainly based in the Stable Isotope Facility, with my time split between sample preparation in the laboratory and understanding the sustainability projects in both the BGS laboratories and the wider organisation.
I was interested in gaining experience of working in the labs because of my dissertation on a petrological study of the layered and foliated gabbros found at the Oman ophiolite and their formation, which I undertook as part of my MSc. In the labs, I was able to experience preparation of both organic and inorganic samples ready for analysis using a mass spectrometer. Sample preparation involved lots of weighing, with samples coming from a wide variety of sources ranging from lake sediments to archaeological animal tooth enamel; some samples weighed less than 1 mg in mass (which is extremely small!)
Sample preparation of inorganic samples ready for carbon isotope analysis in the BGS Stable Isotope Facility. BGS © UKRI.
The samples are analysed for a variety of stable isotopes, which can help answer a range of questions including the nature of past climates and environments at the time of deposition (lake sediments) or formation (tooth enamel). In addition to preparing samples, I was shown how carbon dioxide is extracted from the samples and analysed on a mass spectrometer. My thanks go to Jack Lacey and Chloe Walker-Trivett, who supervised my time in the labs.
As well as lab experience, I spent time understanding the sustainability initiatives of the BGS labs, namely the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF), created by University College London. The initiative aims to improve the sustainability of labs using a certification system and shared good practice. BGS currently has silver accreditation and is working towards the gold standard certification (thanks to Angela Lamb and Leah Crosby). To increase sustainability in the lab, I put together a sustainability guide that can be disseminated to staff and visitors to raise awareness.
Staff have a very hands-on approach when considering the environment of the BGS Keyworth campus and have formed a staff wilding group. The group invited me along for a lunchtime session and I helped to build a bug hotel aimed at increasing biodiversity on site. During my placement I also spent some time with the Rushcliffe Big Business Carbon Club, who were visiting BGS to discuss shared ways of improving sustainability.
Rushcliffe Big Business Carbon Club attending a talk on sustainability and carbon reduction initiatives at BGS Keyworth. BGS © UKRI.
As my career progresses, I hope to work with organisations like BGS in future. The staff at BGS were very welcoming and it is a great place to work.
About the author
Katie Williams is a Masters student studying environmental geochemistry at the University of Plymouth, where she is currently writing her thesis on the petrographic and trace element geochemistry of the 2021 Soufrière St Vincent explosive sequence.
Relative topics
Latest blogs
Industry-leading data sharing partnership announced
02/11/2023
A data sharing partnership has been agreed between BGS and Ossian, allowing BGS to advance its knowledge of the rock and soil conditions under the seabed.
The art of boreholes: Essex artists visit the BGS to be inspired by our library of geological core
02/11/2023
Two UK-based artists visitors aim to turn art and earth science into a collaborative experience that facilitates discussion on land usage.
Good practice for sand mining
24/10/2023
Tom Bide and Clive Mitchell outline how BGS is working on geoscience-led solutions for the global issue of sand mining.
Rare hornet moth colony found at BGS Keyworth
03/10/2023
A colony of these rare clearwing moths has recently been discovered on site at the BGS headquarters in Keyworth.
Nurturing early career scientists: 20 years of undergraduate industrial placements at BGS
28/09/2023
Michael Watts, BGS Head of Inorganic Chemistry, and previous placement students reflect on their experiences working at BGS’s Inorganic Geochemistry Facility over the past 20 years.
BGS laboratory spotlight: isotopes as recorders of climate and environmental change
06/09/2023
How measuring oxygen and carbon isotopes in tiny fossils improves our understanding of past climate.
In photos: a volcanic field trip
31/08/2023
Volcanologist Samantha Engwell visited the Cascades in the United States to learn more about the 1980 Mount St Helens volcanic eruption.
Understanding Nottinghamshire’s groundwater microbial ecosystems
24/08/2023
PhD student Archita Bhattacharyya is undertaking a project focused on exploring the ecosystem of microorganisms in groundwater of England.
‘Core blimey!’ A PhD fieldwork trip to India
22/08/2023
PhD student Hamish Duncalf-Youngson recently visited Manipur, India, to assess the effects of aquaculture, environmental change and pollution at this internationally important site.
Midlands Innovation TALENT placement at BGS
15/08/2023
Jodie Brown revisits her time at BGS’s Stable Isotope Facility as part of the Midlands Innovation TALENT project, which aims to increase the status of technicians.
bluedot 2023: the importance of geological outreach
10/08/2023
Staff members from various disciplines across BGS worked over the weekend to engage festivalgoers with BGS’s work, specifically critical raw materials.
Boreholes aren’t boring!
31/07/2023
Work experience student Patrick visited BGS to learn more about being a professional rock lover.