Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/M006875/1
Fundamentals of EPMA - A graduate level training course
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Dr S Kearns, University of Bristol, Earth Sciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Bristol, Earth Sciences
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Earth
- Freshwater
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Analytical Science
- Earth Resources
- Mantle & Core Processes
- Properties Of Earth Materials
- Volcanic Processes
- Abstract:
- This training course is based on a series of successfully delivered, mainly in-house, courses that have been run at Bristol by the lead applicant for several years. The most recent being a three-day Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) course in April 2014 run under the auspices of EMAS (European Microbeam Analysis Society) which attracted 22 participants including several UK based NERC post-graduate students. Here, we propose a collaboration between Bristol, University of Leeds and University of Cambridge Earth Science departments to offer a nationwide training opportunity for students and early career researchers. The proposed course consists of two parts. Firstly an initial 3 day short course - a combination of lectures and oninstrument practical demonstrations covering all aspects of EPMA from fundamental physical principles to advanced techniques. It includes review sessions of analyses performed during the course and a participants session where students are invited to contribute their own presentations to cite how EPMA is important in their own field of study. Secondly a three day session of one-to-one hands on training offered at the EPMA labs at Bristol, Leeds or Cambridge. The short course would take place in October 2014 with subsequent hands-on training over the subsequent five months. At present there are no known similar EPMA courses available in the UK yet our April 2014 course was fully subscribed with minimal marketing suggesting a large demand across the earth and environmental sciences. A fully funded course of this nature would be heavily oversubscribed. Selection of participants would be on basis of a short proposal with priority going to those who demonstrate how EPMA is critical to a successful research outcome. Primary impacts are the thorough training in EPMA techniques for 24 students which will both yield valuable analytical results to fulfil their research projects and enhance their personal development to include an unusual yet valuable skill set which is transferable to scanning electron microscopy. Inevitably it will improve the status of training in Bristol, Leeds and Cambridge (e.g. for doctoral training networks) and may improve access arrangements between other institutions wishing to use EPMA techniques. It is possible this model of training course (initial taunt short course followed by one to one training) may prove a useful template for other analytical techniques.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/M006875/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Doctoral Training
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Advanced Training
This training grant award has a total value of £48,456
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Other Costs |
|---|
| £48,456 |
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