Die Inhalte dieser Seite sind leider nicht auf Deutsch verfügbar.
Seitenpfad:
- ArcTrain
- Research stays abroad
- Research stay at UQÀM (M.Bartels)
Research stay at UQÀM (M.Bartels)
November 20 - December 20, 2015 Montreal, Canada
I stayed 4 weeks at the GEOTOP/UQÀM in Montréal, Canada. The GEOTOP is a research centre for geochemistry and geodynamics at the Earth Sciences department of UQÀM which cooperates with institutes from several universities in Montréal such as McGill University. I have been supervised by Claude Hillaire-Marcel and Anne de Vernal.
Basically, I planned to measure trace elements in the shells of an epibenthic species (C. lobatulus) applying laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA ICP-MS). Unfortunately, the institute had supply problems for noble gases that are necessary for this method (a mixture of chlorine, argon and fluorine).
So, I tried to make the best of it all and used the opportunity to discuss my results with my supervisors. They suggested to work on my age model using the Bayesian software BACON which is based on the statistical computing and graphics software R. Since two colleagues at the institute were familiar with this software I received a lot of support. I had basic skills in R (which were very useful) but never used BACON before, nevertheless with the help of Bianca Fréchette and Maryse Henry I managed to create reasonable age models for my sediment cores.
Because I sent some samples to the institute beforehand I was able to identify the species in those slides that had been pre-selected by my student assistant in Bremen. Besides the access to good binoculars, Anne de VernalŽs mircopaleontological laboratories provided the opportunity to use a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Thus, I was able to produce highly magnified figures of my foraminifera. These can be used to create plates showing the fauna e.g. in my publications. Once again Maryse Henry was very helpful introducing the features and parameters of the device but Raynald Lapointe and André Poirier supported me, too.
Before my stay in Montréal I also sent samples of my sediment core to the GEOTOP for palynological analyses. Since one of Anne de Vernal's students will analyse the dinoflagellates in these samples corporations might emerge.
Retrospectively, the research stay at the GEOTOP in Montréal was a very exciting and inspiring experience. Apart from science, Montréal is a very interesting and colourful city and it was nice to meet again the Canadian ArcTrain students and PIs.
I would like to thank ArcTrain for giving the opportunity to work at a university in Canada and for providing the financial support for me and for my family who was able to accompany me.
Martin Bartels
Basically, I planned to measure trace elements in the shells of an epibenthic species (C. lobatulus) applying laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA ICP-MS). Unfortunately, the institute had supply problems for noble gases that are necessary for this method (a mixture of chlorine, argon and fluorine).
So, I tried to make the best of it all and used the opportunity to discuss my results with my supervisors. They suggested to work on my age model using the Bayesian software BACON which is based on the statistical computing and graphics software R. Since two colleagues at the institute were familiar with this software I received a lot of support. I had basic skills in R (which were very useful) but never used BACON before, nevertheless with the help of Bianca Fréchette and Maryse Henry I managed to create reasonable age models for my sediment cores.
Because I sent some samples to the institute beforehand I was able to identify the species in those slides that had been pre-selected by my student assistant in Bremen. Besides the access to good binoculars, Anne de VernalŽs mircopaleontological laboratories provided the opportunity to use a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Thus, I was able to produce highly magnified figures of my foraminifera. These can be used to create plates showing the fauna e.g. in my publications. Once again Maryse Henry was very helpful introducing the features and parameters of the device but Raynald Lapointe and André Poirier supported me, too.
Before my stay in Montréal I also sent samples of my sediment core to the GEOTOP for palynological analyses. Since one of Anne de Vernal's students will analyse the dinoflagellates in these samples corporations might emerge.
Retrospectively, the research stay at the GEOTOP in Montréal was a very exciting and inspiring experience. Apart from science, Montréal is a very interesting and colourful city and it was nice to meet again the Canadian ArcTrain students and PIs.
I would like to thank ArcTrain for giving the opportunity to work at a university in Canada and for providing the financial support for me and for my family who was able to accompany me.
Martin Bartels