Diary Dates

EAGE Conference - Trinity College Dublin - 7th-9th September 2009
The European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE) will be holding its 15th conference in Trinity College Dublin from 7-9 Sept 2009. Entitled “Near Surface 2009”, shallow geophysics is the focus of the meeting. In particular, emphasis will be placed on the wide application of geophysical methods of investigation e.g. pollution and geohazard monitoring, groundwater investigations, offshore mapping etc. The presentations and associated exhibition will explore current innovations in sub-surface equipment, modelling, techniques and methodologies.

This is the first time that this prestigious conference has visited Ireland and it is expected that it will host 300-400 participants. As host to the conference Ireland is certainly taking the lead in terms of conference participation – 15 papers are being presented by Irish scientists from various universities and organisations. GSI will be well represented among the presenters with Koen Verbruggen and Xavier Pellicer due to give talks. Koen will deliver a keynote presentation on the sub-bottom profiling work being carried out under Ireland’s Marine Mapping Programme – INFOMAR, and Xavier will speak about his remote sensing and applied geophysics work particularly in relation to Quaternary sediments in the Irish midlands. GSI will also exhibit at the conference.

Further information is available from the EAGE website www.eage.org


Griffiths Geoscience Research Seminar – GSI Dublin 5th October 2009
This will be the latest Griffith’s Geoscience Research seminar, detailing a broad range of high-end research projects (both on and off shore) being funded by awards from GSI’s parent department, the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources. The aim of these research awards is to significantly develop overall research capacity particularly in priority areas of geoscience research as outlined in the National Geoscience Programme 2007-2013. Award recipients will deliver updates on their projects which range from the use of use of seabed survey data to the importance of clean water supplies and of protecting our groundwater resources; from carbon capture and storage which can contribute to a reduction in CO2 emissions to open access to GSI data on a web enabled basis etc. Further details on the Griffith’s Geoscience Research Awards can be found here -

 www.gsi.ie/Geoscience+Initiatives/Griffith+Geoscience+Research+Awards.htm

and

www.gsi.ie/Newsletters/GM08_Griffith+Geoscience+Research+Awards.htm


“SEABED 10” Conference
Dublin 6th-7th October 2009
Ireland’s Seabed Mapping Programme - INFOMAR Annual Seminar / INSS
Ireland’s seabed mapping programme is now 10 years old and it is planned to mark the anniversary by hosting a two day conference in Dublin this October. The partners in the programme – GSI and the Marine Institute – will organise a comprehensive conference programme covering a review of activities to date (including both the INSS and INFOMAR programmes), research based on survey data, noteworthy achievements and plans for the future. The conference, which will be free, will incorporate the annual “seabed seminar” which usually provides a detailed review of that particular year’s activity.

To be held in Dublin on 6th and 7th October 2009, the conference, which will also host a poster exhibition, will see the formal launch of GSI’s new inshore mapping vessel, the RV Keary. The conference dovetails neatly with the latest Griffith’s Geoscience Research seminar (see complementary Diary Date notice). Further details, including the conference programme, location and registration information, will be provided on both www.gsi.ie and www.infomar.ie in due course. In the meantime however if you might be interested in attending this event please contact enda.gallagher@gsi.ie to receive further information.


IEOS – GSI, 12th-13th November 2009
The third annual Irish Earth Observation Symposia (IEOS) will be hosted in the offices of GSI on 12th and 13th November, 2009. It will provide an opportunity for presenting and disseminating work being done in the area of earth observation (or remote sensing) at a national level. The previous two meetings have attracted a large audience comprised of academic, industry and agency/public body representatives. The main benefits of the annual symposium are:

• It provides a platform for researchers in the Earth Observationa (EO) domain to present their work
• it raises awareness of the broad range of activities involving EO that are taking place in Ireland
• it is a valuable networking opportunity, for what is a relatively small, emerging and dispersed community
• it is a useful forum for post-graduate students and young researchers to present their work
• it allows links to be built between academia, industry and government agencies

Further information will be made available in the GSI website in due course or in the meantime please contact michael.sheehy@gsi.ie for further information


Carbon-Capture-and-Storage Conference, Dublin, March 2010
It is surely reasonable to assert that the long term reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable as available resources are finite and their emissions are driving climate change. Carbon-capture-and-storage (CCS) is widely recognised in national carbon abatement strategies as a valuable and practical element in managing the transition to green energy scenarios later this century. The Royal Irish Academy, GSI and GSNI are organising a conference in March 2010 which is intended to showcase best practise internationally in relation to carbon storage and to stimulate public debate on its benefits and uncertainties.


Soil gas sampling for CO₂ at Weyburn, Canada. Photo courtesy of British Geological Survey

For further information about CCS in general, or this conference in particular, please contact John.Morris@gsi.ie

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