Dr Frances Cooper BHP Billiton Lecturer PhD (2008) “Exhumation of the northern Snake Range metamorphic core complex, Nevada” 1) The Twitter challenge: Describe your PhD in 140 characters (if you can remember it) I tested different models for how the metamorphic rocks of the northern Snake Range were brought to the surface from the middle-lower …[Read More]
Latest posts
Monday paper: Grassland fire effect on soil organic carbon reservoirs in a semiarid environment
Novara, A., Gristina, L., Rühl, J., Pasta, S., D’Angelo, G., La Mantia, T., Pereira, P. 2013. Grassland fire effect on soil organic carbon reservoirs in a semiarid environment. Solid Earth 4, 381-385. DOI: 10.5194/se-4-381-2013 Abstract The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of an experimental fire used for grassland management on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. The study was carried out …[Read More]
That’s no cloud..
Science is a deadly serious subject. Well, actually, no it’s not. In the slightest. Scientists are actually pretty fun people, despite their common depictions, and sometimes they have been known to publish smile-inducing articles. Take one Radagast the Brown of Bristol University (UK). This may or may not be a pseudonym, but either way he’s …[Read More]
The EGU photo contest
Are you out and about taking photos during fieldwork? Or, simply good at taking interesting photos? The EGU runs a photo contest for all the participant pre-registered for the EGU General Assembly. Submissions are open up until 1 March. All finalists will receive a book of their choice from the EGU library, and the winners …[Read More]
GeoTalk: Connecting geoscience and archaeology with Sophie Gangl
This week in GeoTalk, we’re talking to Sophie Gangl, a masters student from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna. Sophie tells us about the intersecting fields of geoscience and archaeology, and shares the benefits of presenting postgraduate projects at an international conference. Hi Sophie, can you tell us a little about …[Read More]
Friday Photo (113) – Wall Art in San Pablo la Laguna, Guatemala
San Pablo La Laguna is a small town on the edge of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. This wall art shows local opposition to mining activities. At the time of writing I’m not sure about the background context to the image, but it raises some interesting questions about what is occurring or has occurred in this area …[Read More]
Science Snap (#17): Ailsa Craig
Ailsa Craig is an uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland. Formed from the plug of a Paleogene volcano, the landmass reaches over 330 m height and ~ 3 km length, and can easily be seen from the Scottish mainland. The island comprises three types of granite: Ailsa Craig Common Green, Ailsa Craig Red …[Read More]
Field Research in Guatemala (3) – Environmental Hazards at Lake Atitlan
Today Joel Gill (GfGD Founding Director) continues his live reporting from Guatemala, whilst undertaking interdisciplinary field research relating to natural hazards and disaster risk reduction. This fieldwork forms part of a NERC/ESRC funded PhD, supervised by staff in the Department of Geography at King’s College London. Lake Atitlan is a beautiful location, created by a significant volcanic eruption around 85,000 …[Read More]
Your poop or mine?
Back in the Mesozoic, lavatories probably didn’t exist. In fact, dinosaurs and other animals were probably pretty poorly mannered and just pooped wherever they felt like. But what or who cleaned up after them? In modern biomes, poop is decomposed by insects and bacteria of all breeds, and actually forms quite an important part of …[Read More]
Communicate Your Science Video Competition at EGU 2014!
Want to communicate your research to a wider audience and try your hand at video production? Now’s your chance! Young scientists pre-registered for the EGU General Assembly are invited to take part in the EGU’s first ever Communicate Your Science Video Competition! The aim is to produce a video up-to-three-minutes long to share your research …[Read More]