ESE November Newsletter

Recent publications, talks and updates in the Department of Earth Science and Engineering

Content

Publications
Conference Talks, Lectures, and Seminars
Awards
Impact and Media
Outreach
College Outreach and Societal Engagement Opportunities
PhD Vivas
New Staff

Publications

Beelen, D., Jackson, C.A-L., Patruno, S., Hodgson, D.M., & Alexandre, J.T (in press). The effects of differential compaction on clinothem geometries and shelf-edge trajectories. Geology. EarthArXiv preprint.

Chen, J., Wang, X., Boldrin, P., Brandon, N. P. and Atkinson, A. (2019), Hierarchical dual-porosity nanoscale nickel cermet electrode with high performance and stability. Nanoscale, 11, 17746-17758. DOI: 10.1039/C9NR06740J

Dean, C.D., Collins, D.S., Van Cappelle, M., Avdis, A. & Hampson, G.J. (2019). Regional-scale paleobathymetry controlled location, but not magnitude, of tidal dynamics in the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, USA. Geology, 47, 1083-1087.

Ge, Z., Gawthorpe, R.L, Rotevatn, A., Zijerveld, L., Jackson, C.A-L., & Oluboyo, A. (in press) Minibasin depocentre migration during diachronous salt welding, offshore Angola. Basin Research. EarthArXiv preprint.

Fernandez, N., Hudec, M.R., Jackson, C.A-L., Dooley, T.P., & Duffy, O.B. (in press). The competition for salt and kinematic interactions between minibasins during density-driven subsidence: observations from numerical models. Petroleum Geoscience. EarthArXiv preprint.

Matthew E. Kirby, Jay C. Bullen, M. D. Hanif, Hany Fathy Heiba, Fengjie Liu, George H. R. Northover, Eleonore Resongles & Dominik J. Weiss (2019). Determining the Effect of pH on Iron Oxidation Kinetics in Aquatic Environments: Exploring a Fundamental Chemical Reaction to Grasp the Significant Ecosystem Implications of Iron Bioavailability, Journal of Chemical Education. 

M. Morris, V. M. Fernandes & G. G. Roberts (2019). Extrication dynamic topography from subsidence patterns: Examples from Eastern North America’s passive margin. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 115840.

Onyenanu, G.I., Hampson, G.J., Fitch, P.J.R. & Jackson, M.D. (2019). Characterisation of effective permeability in heterolithic, distal lower-shoreface sandstone reservoirs: Rannoch Formation, Brent Group, UK North Sea. Petroleum Geoscience, 25, 519-531.

Osagiede, E.E., Rotevatn, A., Gawthorpe, R.L., Kristensen, T.B., Jackson, C.A-L., & Marsh, N. (in press) Pre-existing intra-basement shear zones influence growth and geometry of non-colinear normal faults, western Utsira High–Heimdal Terrace, North Sea. Journal of Structural Geology. EarthArXiv preprint.

Phillips, T.B., Fazlikhani, H., Gawthorpe, R.L., Fossen, H., Jackson, C.A-L., Bell, R.E., Faleide, J.I., & Rotevatn, A. (in press). The influence of structural inheritance and multiphase extension on rift development, the northern North Sea. Tectonics. EarthArXiv preprint.

Pino-Muñoz, C. A., Chakrabarti, B. K., Yufit, V. , & Brandon, N. P. (2019). Characterisation of a Regenerative Hydrogen-Vanadium Fuel Cell Using an Experimentally Validated Unit Cell Model. Journal of Electrochemistry Society, 166 (14), A1-A14. DOI: 10.1149/2.0211914jes.

Rodriguez, C.R., Jackson, C.A-L., Bell, R.E., Rotevatn, A., & Francis, M. (in press) Deep-water reservoir distribution on a salt-influenced slope, Santos Basin, offshore Brazil. AAPG Bulletin. EarthArXiv preprint.

Steventon, M.J., Jackson, C.A-L., Hodgson, D.M., & Johnson, H.D. (in press) Lateral variability of shelf-edge, slope and basin-floor deposits, Santos Basin, offshore Brazil. Journal of Sedimentary Research. EarthArXiv preprint.

V. M. Fernandes, G. G. Roberts, N. White and A. C. Whittaker (2020). Continental-Scale Landscape Evolution: A History of North American Topography. Journal of Geophysical Research - Earth Surface. This research is also on Imperial College Newsfeed.

Conference Talks, Lectures and Seminars

Chris Jackson was an invited speaker and panelist at a Minorities in STEM symposium that was held in the Francis Crick Institute on 14 October. This symposium was titled ‘Level Up Your Academic Toolkit’ and aimed to promote careers, communication and engagement for researchers from ethnic minority backgrounds. Chris talked about his parents’ background, upbringing, and eventual entry into UK Higher Education. He also joined a panel discussion about how we can collectively create a network that can connect, support and showcase individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds working and studying within STEM. You can follow Minorities in STEM on Twitter or visit their website.

Dr Nina Schleicher, MD Hanif and Jay Bullen presented at the Royal Society of Chemistry's Environmental Chemistry meeting at Burlington House on 15 October 2019. The titles of their talks are:
Jay Bullen - Towards accurate modelling of arsenic adsorption over multicomponent sorbents.
Nina Schleicher - Mineral dust and anthropogenic source contributions to the isotopic composition of Zn and Cu in aerosols.
MD Hanif - Surface complexation model for Zn adsorption on goethite in 0.1 - 0.7 M NaCl solution.

Felipe Huerta attended the 7th OpenFOAM Conference in Berlin, Germany from 15 -17 October 2019. He presented a lecture on his latest PhD progress titled A non-equilibrium evaporation model for pure cryogens stored in closed tanks with pressure build-up.

Chris Jackson was a keynote speaker at the IMAGinING Rifting 2019 workshop held in Biarritz, France on 20 - 25 October. This workshop is held every two years and brings together researchers interested in continental extension, ocean formation, and passive margin development. Chris’s talk reviewed the structure and evolution of salt-influenced rift basins, drawing on results arising from the Norwegian Research Council-funded ‘Salt-Influenced Rift Basins (SIRB)’ project.

Robert Zimmerman gave an invited keynote presentation at the Houston Geological Society's 2019 Applied Geomechanics Conference on 6 November. His presentation was titled "Failure of Anisotropic Rocks such as Shales, and Implications for Borehole Stability". While in Texas, he also gave a talk entitled "A Fully-Triaxial and Anisotropic Model for Borehole Stability Analysis in Shales" at the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, University of Texas Austin, on 4 November (co-author: PhD student Beni Setiawan).

Awards

Victoria Fernandes and Dr Isobel Mackay have been awarded the departmental Janet Watson prizes for research and citizenship. The John Archer award was presented to Felipe Huerta Perez.

Impact and Media

On Sunday 20 October, Chris Jackson appeared in the Channel 5 show, “Ancient Mysteries - Rome’s Sunken City”. Chris was describing the process of liquefaction and the role that this, along with related earthquakes and submarine landslides, could have played in the destruction of Neopolis. Neopolis is a mysterious Roman outpost that suddenly disappeared in the 4th century, it is located in Tunisia. The show is still available to watch on Channel’s 5 online streaming service. The show will also be aired on the US Smithsonian Channel on 2 December at 20.00 (EST).

Dick Selley's geoviticultural research was cited in the Guardian.

Outreach

Victoria Fernandes gave a talk at the European Researcher’s Night on 27 September at the Natural History Museum alongside Carla Pont. They presented some reflections on their field experience in Calabria.

Victoria Fernandes also organised a stand at the Imperial Lates on 9 October with Sinead Lyster and Jenny Shadrick (plus a feature appearance by Dr Alex Whittaker). They showed the public some paraphernalia they take to the field to carry out their research.

College Outreach and Societal Engagement Opportunities

Events
Great Exhibition Road Festival, call for proposals for 2020
The Great Exhibition Road Festival, a weekend celebration of art and science which is led by Imperial and delivered in collaboration with 20 partners around South Kensington, will return in 2020 from the 3rd – 5th of July 2020.  Staff and students are invited to put forward ideas for research demonstrations, talks, workshops, behind-the-scenes tours, music and dance performances, and any other ideas to entertain and inspire the public. Find out how to get involved here.

Have an idea, but not sure how to make it happen? Sign up for a festival proposal clinic Monday 4 Nov (12.30-14.00) and Monday 11 Nov (4.30-18.00). Interested in collaborating with artists and Festival partners? Contact festival@imperial.ac.uk to join the invitee list for our Art and Science Matchmaking session. Proposal deadline is noon Tuesday 26 November 2019.

Imperial Lates
Next event: Infectious – 12 November 2019
Join the Lates ‘infectious’ scientists to get hands on with everything from superbugs to a zombie apocalypse and state of the art diagnostics to STIs. Hear stories from the front line of the fight against disease, watch antimicrobial resistance theatre and try not to spend too long in the Infectious Arcade!

Interested in volunteering at a future Lates event? More information and sign up here.

Training
Join Imperial's Engagement Academy in 2020 - register before 15 November
Following the success the latest Engagement Academy, another programme will be running in 2020. Delivered in partnership between Imperial's Science Communication Unit and Societal Engagement Team, the Engagement Academy is different from other training courses. Through this six month programme, you will have the time and opportunity to explore ideas in depth, try out activities and discuss themes and issues with your course mates over seven sessions. Find out more, hear from previous participants, and apply to take part. The application deadline is Friday 15 November 2019.

Engagement Masterclasses
Developed for staff, these societal engagement masterclasses are a low-commitment, easy way to get familiar with engagement and kick-start engagement activities. The core masterclasses introduce what public engagement is, what it can offer you and your research. It also provides some pointers to start planning your own activities. There are four further masterclasses to build on your knowledge and skills. All masterclasses are just a couple of hours long. Find out more and sign up!

Funding
Societal Engagement Seed Fund- apply before 22 November
Imperial's Societal Engagement Seed Fund has been introduced to encourage and enable Imperial staff to engage the wider public with our research and education. The Seed fund will support Imperial staff to engage school, patient, community and/or public audiences through new initiatives, activities and collaborations. Up to £15000 will be awarded in 2019/20. Applicants can request funding in the range of £300-£2000. Read about our 2018 Seed Fund recipients for inspiration, or find out more about how to apply. 

Have a project in mind, but not sure how to make it engaging? Come along to our Advice Clinic Wednesday 6 Nov (12.30 - 14.00). The application deadline is Friday 22 November 2019.

PhD Vivas

Congratulations to Marco Pizzi and Pino-Muñoz Catalina for passing their viva in November.

Catalina's PhD viva titled "Mathematical Modelling of Vanadium-based Redox Flow Batteries" was on 6 November. Professor Nigel Brandon and Dr Vladimir Yufit were her supervisors. She is staying in the Electrochemical Science and Engineering Group as a postdoctoral researcher.

New Staff

Dr Frederick Richards – Started on 7 October as an Imperial College Research Fellow with Dr Gareth Roberts.

Rebecca Smith – Started on 16 October as the Undergraduate Education Manager for ESE.

Graham Stevenson – Started on 1 October as a Research Assistant with Professor Nigel Brandon.

Dr Yihuai Zhang – Started on 24 October as a Research Associate with Professor Martin Blunt.

Christopher Ogden – Started on 1 November as a Research Assistant with Dr Ian Bastow.