Introduction ■ Director's Discourse ■ Seabed 10 Conference ■ Geoparks ■ Survey of Dublin Soils ■ Carbon Capture and Storage ■ OneGeology ■ EAGE Near Surface Geophysics Conference ■ Third Irish Earth Observation Symposium ■ Griffiths Geoscience Research Awards ■ Staff News

The Griffith Geoscience Research Awards were established in 2007. The Awards are in honour of Richard Griffith, the celebrated geologist and engineer, who lived from 1784 to 1878, and is credited with developing the first geological map of Ireland. In previous newsletters we have briefly discussed these awards but now we will provide more detail.

The geoscience sector is an important sector to Ireland’s growth and sustainable development. The sector provides raw material for the construction industry; has a base metal industry both in mining and exploration; provides information on the nature and stability of the ground for infrastructure projects; an understanding of our groundwater and its vulnerability; and encourages tourism through Global Geopark initiatives (see Geoparks item elsewhere in this newsletter). In 2006, it is estimated that the sector was worth €4.24 billion, representing 2.24% of GNP and employed over 30,000 people (1.4% of total Irish employment). Building Ireland’s capacity in the geosciences is important. There is a need to manage and understand our resources, both mineral and water, as well as succeed in new areas such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS - see item elsewhere in this newsletter) and renewable energy to address issues such as climate change. Investing in geoscience research is necessary to provide answers and technologies for the future. It will build Ireland’s capacity in the geoscience sector and expand the knowledge economy.

Four priority research categories were identified to guide the research to be carried out under the Griffith Geoscience Research Awards scheme. These priority areas also recognised the importance of making geological data easily available and the need to make geological information more accessible to the public and create awareness of the earth beneath our feet. The four areas identified are:

1. Open access to GSI data on a web-enabled basis.
2. Establish an Irish Geoscience Graduate Programme on an all-island basis which will provide access to specialised post graduate geoscience courses on a modular basis.
3. Produce and distribute geoscience outreach products (for example, DVDs, rock specimen sets, classroom posters) to primary and/or secondary schools.
4. To conduct high quality research on key geoscience topics especially on deep geothermal energy, carbon sequestration in geological formations and groundwater resources.

Galway Bay

Applications for funding were open to Institutions on the Island of Ireland (32 counties) with €10 million being made available for the period 2007 to 2013 from NDP funding. Following adjudication by a three person international panel, a total of eight awards were made:

1. Seabed and groundwater data to develop new services and to model climate change (Biogeoscience Research Group, NUI Galway);
2. Protection of groundwater resources (Groundwater Research Group, Queen’s University Belfast);
3. Improved understanding of deep seabed processes and basin analysis (Marine and Petroleum Geology Research Group, University College Dublin);
4. Modelling storage of carbon underground (Geophysics Groups at University College Dublin and University of Ulster);
5. Open access to GSI data on a web-enabled basis (Coastal and Marine Resources Centre, University College Cork);
6. Establishment of a fourth level Irish Geoscience Graduate Programme (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies);
7. Provision of a range of educational products (Geoschol Group, Trinity College Dublin); and
8. A geoscience TV series (Holocene Ltd).

Each of these research projects have progressed since they were awarded in 2007 and in many cases have managed to leverage additional funds from the EU or private companies which could not have been done without the Griffith Research Awards acting as a catalyst. The following is a short description of each of the research awards.

Seabed and groundwater data to develop new services and to model climate change (Biogeoscience Research Group, NUI Galway)
This research will expand our knowledge of Galway Bay’s seabed. In addition, information will be collected for onshore groundwater in what is a well known karstic environment. The aim will be to develop a more comprehensive understanding of groundwater, its vulnerability and interaction with seawater in the coastal area. The data collected and interpreted will provide information on past climate change which can inform our understanding of climate changes taking place today. The grant of €3,144,061 over the six year period provides funding for 4 post-doctoral research staff, 5 PhD students and 18 under graduate fellowships.

The grant has helped leverage EU funding for CORALFISH (>€15m) along with feeding into project such as Smart Bay and SLAN. It utilises data collected from the INSS and INFOMAR projects and demonstrates an excellent integrated approach both within the research team and with other projects.

Protection of groundwater resources (Groundwater Research Group, Queen’s University Belfast)
This research seeks to provide a better understanding of Ireland’s poorly productive aquifers and to evaluate the impact of human behaviour on groundwater and how this affects the wider environment. Monitoring wells have been installed to study areas such as the Glencastle River Catchment (Co. Mayo), the Gortinlieve catchment (Co. Donegal), the Mattock catchment (Co. Louth) and at Oughterard (Co. Galway). The grant of €1,783,507 over the six years funds 2 PhD students, 2 post-graduate students and 3 under-graduates summer placements. The research has leveraged funding from the EPA Strive Pathways project of approximately €2m and installation of equipment on one test site by GSNI (value estimated at €200,000).

Improved understanding of deep seabed processes and basin analysis (Marine and Petroleum Geology Research Group, University College Dublin)
This research has two objectives: the first is to develop a comprehensive understanding of deep-water sedimentary processes, with a special focus on modern and ancient sediments on the Atlantic margins. This information will be important in helping to promote petroleum exploration in our waters by providing a better understanding of potential reservoir systems. It will also help to develop innovative techniques for sediment provenance analysis to assist in mapping sediment transport pathways. The second objective is to establish a premier global training site for petroleum geologists in County Clare where world-renowned sedimentary sequences can be studied in outcrop and in drill core along with geophysical logs. It will provide an analogue for a range of reservoir types that are important in many parts of the world. Drilling has already taken place on the site.

A grant of €1,545,257 over the six year period funds 2 post doctoral research posts, 4 PhD students and 5 undergraduate summer students. This research has facilitated linkages with Petroleum Infrastructure Programme funded projects, access to new PRTLI funded analytical equipment, and has helped develop new links with industry. Additional research funding (>€100,000) from industry has been leveraged as a result of this Griffith award.

Kilkee, Co. Clare. Image courtesy UCD Marine & Petroleum Geology Research Group

Modelling storage of carbon underground (Geophysics Groups at University College Dublin and University of Ulster);
This research develops methodologies to understand how injected carbon dioxide accumulates in underground reservoirs. Numerical simulations will be carried out on potential sites. The research will also assess the potential for deep geothermal energy based on the Earth’s deep natural heat. Synthetic seismograms and numerical codes are being developed and this will allow interpretation and identification of potential sites and the ability to monitor CO₂ in the rocks in the future. This has significant benefits for Ireland in the search for potential sites for CCS to reduce our carbon emissions.

The combined grant for the two Universities is €1,163,957 over the six year period facilitates 2 post-doctoral research posts, and 4 under-graduate students to work on this topic.

Open access to GSI data on a web-enabled basis (Coastal and Marine Resources Centre, University College Cork)
This project’s main objective is to facilitate open access to GSI data on a web enabled basis. To date a total of six reports have been completed based on findings of research and investigations undertaken. These reports include detailed technical appraisals and focussed recommendations on geological datasets, systems, data models, data integration and user needs. Also covered in the reports are best practice for web-delivery of geological data and web enabled 3D/4D visualisation. A grant of €851,877 has been allocated for a period up to 2011 which facilitates three post-doctoral researchers to focus on these topics. A further €750 k in research funding for Irish participation in three new EU framework projects (2010-2013 has been leveraged in association with the Griffith award.

Establishment of a fourth level Irish Geoscience Graduate Programme (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies)
This initiative involves five universities and one research institute and it aims to set up courses which will draw on the strengths, skills and expertise across them. It is hoped that this will broaden the background of PhD graduates by combining expertise between institutions and providing research and generic skills training. The main aim is to improve breadth and quality. A grant of €406,577 has been allocated to achieve this objective.

Provision of a range of educational products (Geoschol Group, Trinity College Dublin)
The objective of this project is to produce and distribute geoscience outreach products to primary and secondary schools. Rock sets, four classroom posters and an activity book have been circulated to primary schools in Ireland, and a dedicated website established. This website (www.geoschol.com) carries digital versions of the geoscience resources as well as links to geology institutions and educational sites. A grant of €120,000 was allocated to this project and it was completed in September of this year.

  Geoschol’s Planet Earth Poster

A geoscience TV series (Holocene Ltd).
The purpose of this project was to produce a TV series on "Planet Earth". However, progress has been slow as additional funding from other sources has not been forthcoming.

Progress on these projects was presented at the annual Griffith Research Awards seminar in GSI in October. Progress was reported through a mix of verbal presentations and poster displays. Researchers also availed of the opportunity for interact and engage with the other researchers present. Further information on the Awards, including seminar presentations, is available at www.gsi.ie/Geoscience+Initiatives/Griffith+Geoscience+Research+Awards.htm

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