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Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/M006522/1

Advanced Training Short Course: Advanced techniques in sediment core analysis and core data visualisation

Training Grant Award

Lead Supervisor:
Dr RG Rothwell, NOC (Up to 31.10.2019), Science and Technology
Science Area:
Earth
Freshwater
Terrestrial
Overall Classification:
Earth
ENRIs:
Environmental Risks and Hazards
Global Change
Natural Resource Management
Pollution and Waste
Science Topics:
Climate & Climate Change
Palaeoenvironments
Geohazards
Sediment/Sedimentary Processes
Pollution
Abstract:
The British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility (BOSCORF) provides an advanced state-of-the-art non-destructive core logging and analysis capability that is amongst the best in Europe. It holds specialised expertise in core logging and core description. We propose a two-day training course to be held at the BOSCORF laboratories at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, to cover principles and scientific applications of modern state-of-the-art core-logging and core data visualisation and integration, using BOSCORF's advanced core logging instruments and facilities. Special emphasis will be on high-resolution data collection and analysis of environmentally sensitive proxies. Topics covered will include use of high-resolution XRF core scanners, multi-sensor core loggers, data visualisation software solutions such as Corewall and others developed in-house, and scientific analysis of data. The course will provide essential training to a wide range of postgraduates undertaking study in the environmental sciences, and should also interest young career postdoctoral scientists who are investigating Earth history and processes recorded in marine, terrestrial and lacustrine sediments. Instruction will be through formal lectures from world-recognised experts in the techniques from academia and industry, instrument demonstrations, and exercises based on analysis of real datasets. The proposed course will meet needs in Headline Skills Gap 2 (Data and Information Management) in all 3 priority training areas - (i) data processing techniques in Environmental Sciences (e.g. through analysis of XRF spectra and physical property files to build robust quality-assured datasets), (ii) the use of data in evironmental sciences including: archiving, assurance, mining and protocols (e.g. identification of environmentally-sensitive elemental and physical proxies), (iii) environmental sciences data assimilation, visualisation and analysis (particularly large data sets). The course will link to the NERC Environmental Information Strategy by showing how diverse and disparate datasets from cores can be integrated and visualised to generate new environmental knowledge. It also links to NERC Data Centre priority/investment as BOSCORF generates large amounts of environmental data that are properly managed to ensure their long-term availability. BOSCORF core and data holdings provide an important and unique resource for new research, particularly for investigating key environmental challenges such as climate change. The proposed course will be of interest to Ph.D. students and early-career scientists working in all NERC strategic priority areas, especially climate system science, sustainable use of natural resources,natural hazards, environmental pollution and human health and technologies. BOSCORF is the only facility that has such a portfolio of advanced core logging instruments in the UK. It houses unique expertise in the collection, validation, visualisation and integration of high-resolution environmental data from sediment sequences - a fundamental data source for information on environmental change. It supports a growing number of Ph.D. students that increase year-on-year. Over 40% of research papers engendered by BOSCORF over the last two years have been in journals with impact factors greater than 4 demonstrating the high-quality science supported by the facility. Students will become familiar with the main types of core logging instruments currently in use, their principles of operation, the types of data produced, the validation of that data though identification and elimination of data artefacts, the software solutions available for integration and analysis of large diverse and disparate datasets produced by loggers and conventional core logging, and the scientific applications of such data. They will also become familiar with internationally accepted data protocols, cataloguing and means of promoting data accessibility.
Period of Award:
1 Oct 2014 - 31 Dec 2014
Value:
£18,000
Authorised funds only
NERC Reference:
NE/M006522/1
Grant Stage:
Completed
Scheme:
Doctoral Training
Grant Status:
Closed

This training grant award has a total value of £18,000  

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FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)

Total - Other Costs
£18,000

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