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- Graduate School GLOMAR
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- William Brocas
William Brocas
Report of GLOMAR PhD student about his research stay at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA from 6 March - 12 April 2014
I undertook my research stay with Dr. Kristine DeLong at Louisiana State University (LSU) Collage of Geography and Anthropology, with whom I had previously met at a conference. Dr. DeLong is an expert in the use of various corals species for the reconstruction of palaeoclimatic environments.
I gained a great deal of insight through my interactions with her that allowed me to have increased confidence and understanding of my fossil coral material from the last interglacial period approx. 125kyr ago. By drawing on her expertise regarding coral proxies from the Holocene and comparing them to my older coral records I was able to better understand and place my records in context of other published coral work. This and the stimulating and diverse working environment at LSU facilitated the aim of engaging with the broader coral research community and allow me to draw on their experiences, especially in the fields of coral biology and geochemistry. As a result I was better able to process and discuss issues related to the interpretation of my coral records. Overall I benefited for a greater degree of clarity when analysing and preparing to publish on our last interglacial coral records. I also welcomed the opportunity to gain feedback and contribute to discussions during seminars and classes.
The facilities accommodated to me at PAST laboratory LSU were useful in allowing me to achieve the aim of sampling for a small research hypothesis that was of interest to both our research groups. Using their computer driven automated Taig 3000 Micromill machine I was able to sample coral material at a level of stability and precision that was previously unavailable to me.
For the last week of my research stay I joined Dr. DeLong’s research group as they attended the annual American Association of Geographers in Tampa, Florida. Here I met and discussed with members of a broader palaeoclimatic research group from the United States Geological Survey who allowed me to also tour their facilities and the department Marine Science, University of South Florida. This is located on a Pleistocene coral reef, part of which I’m pictured with above.
I would like to thank GLOMAR for funding this opportunity to experience life with these American research communities which I feel greatly benefited the PhD project and me personally as a future academic.
I gained a great deal of insight through my interactions with her that allowed me to have increased confidence and understanding of my fossil coral material from the last interglacial period approx. 125kyr ago. By drawing on her expertise regarding coral proxies from the Holocene and comparing them to my older coral records I was able to better understand and place my records in context of other published coral work. This and the stimulating and diverse working environment at LSU facilitated the aim of engaging with the broader coral research community and allow me to draw on their experiences, especially in the fields of coral biology and geochemistry. As a result I was better able to process and discuss issues related to the interpretation of my coral records. Overall I benefited for a greater degree of clarity when analysing and preparing to publish on our last interglacial coral records. I also welcomed the opportunity to gain feedback and contribute to discussions during seminars and classes.
The facilities accommodated to me at PAST laboratory LSU were useful in allowing me to achieve the aim of sampling for a small research hypothesis that was of interest to both our research groups. Using their computer driven automated Taig 3000 Micromill machine I was able to sample coral material at a level of stability and precision that was previously unavailable to me.
For the last week of my research stay I joined Dr. DeLong’s research group as they attended the annual American Association of Geographers in Tampa, Florida. Here I met and discussed with members of a broader palaeoclimatic research group from the United States Geological Survey who allowed me to also tour their facilities and the department Marine Science, University of South Florida. This is located on a Pleistocene coral reef, part of which I’m pictured with above.
I would like to thank GLOMAR for funding this opportunity to experience life with these American research communities which I feel greatly benefited the PhD project and me personally as a future academic.
