The order page is here.
Friday, 17 December 2010
Population Dynamics
The order page is here.
NERC funding: Ice Sheet Stability
One area that is of interest to researchers is the break-up of ice sheets. This process and, in particular, how sea-ice behaves, might relate to this call from NERC for projects in ice sheet stability.
There will probably be four projects funded, in the following areas:
There will probably be four projects funded, in the following areas:
- Deliverable A: Increased understanding of the processes driving ocean heat transport on to and across the continental shelf towards ice shelves, and the sources of variability in that transport.
- Deliverable B: Increased understanding of the sub-ice shelf processes that lead to changes in the melt rate experienced by ice shelves
- Deliverable C: Increased understanding of the nature and dynamics of the processes controlling the response of Pine Island Glacier to grounding line migration.
- Deliverable D: Improved estimates of the contribution to sea level change from the Amundsen Sea Sector.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Blogs about oceans
A policy website has just published a very useful list of 100 blogs about oceans. Here are a few of them...
...and a few more which caught my eye,
1.) The Beacon
Oceana seeks to educate the world on the delicate ecosystems of the sea in the interest of keeping them protected and safe.
This conservation effort involves aquariums, zoos, museums and other institutions worldwide who all share the common goal of preserving the world’s oceans.
Keep up with the latest reports on the ocean’s acidity and how it affects the organisms who rely on it using this helpful resource by the European Project on Ocean Acidification.
Aquarium keeping, marine biology and oceanography converge into one useful, educational series of blogs perfect for anyone wanting to learn more.
Although Discover Magazine covers a wide spectrum of scientific subjects and does not cover those related to the oceans as often as the others listed here, it still warrants a visit. If nothing else, it at least allows readers to explore how marine topics relate to other disciplines.
6.) Deep-Sea News
Humanity knows more about outer space than it does the deepest depths of the oceans, and this amazing, detailed blog showcases marine wonders new and old alike.
7.) James’ Blog
James Douglass loves windsurfing and works as a marine biologist – his blog overflows with information on both topics for the curious.
Read up on all the latest news, views and efforts to protect some of the most beloved and endangered marine mammals on the planet.
9.) RTSea Blog
Suitable for scientific professionals and nonprofessionals alike, the RTSea Blog posts up multimedia in the interest of educating the populace on how the oceans operate and why mankind needs to take care of them.
This fun, funky blog takes the perspective of a mermaid in the interest of spreading a love of ocean life and ecology.
...and a few more which caught my eye,
19.) Ice Stories
Research scientists stationed at both poles blog about their findings regarding climate, geology, geography and – of course – oceanography and marine biology.
Explore the multifaceted ocean, reading articles on everything from its geological constructs to the unique life forms that dwell within.
Biodiversity, coral reefs, conservation and more can be found at this fun, irreverent and highly educational marine resource.
Several scientists pool their talents together in the interest of informing the public about how oceans (and the organisms that call them home) operate.
Saturday, 13 November 2010
Clouds
It's not something I intend to look at during this project, and it isn't really the type of anisotropy I am interested in, but this pattern formation in the cloud is beautiful. This is the sky above south Glasgow on a late October morning.
Flocking seminar
I attended a very interesting seminar on flocking behaviour given by Eitan Tadmor entitled "From particle to kinetic and hydrodynamic descriptions of old and new models for flocking". This was part of the North British Differential Equations Seminar series, which is always worth attending.
I'll hopefully write more about Eitan's analysis of flocking models later but there does seem to be some very interesting mathematics in this area, and scope for aspects of the theory of anisotropy materials to be used.
This paper might be a good place to start.
[Picture: City Traces]
What makes a Marine Institute
The University of Strathclyde's Marine Institute (SMI) is an exciting prospect. At the launch it was clear that the many strands of research within the University could be pulled together to form a considerable coherent volume of activity. This would involve research underway within all four of the University's Faculties.
As with many of these ventures there is a risk that, if there isn't sufficient impetus from those involved, there will be little coordinated effort between groups. Much high quality research will still go on in individual groups but in order to make the most of the opportunity an injection of pace is sometimes needed. This can be provided by funding and resourcing from the top down but it is often better achieved from the bottom up.
This can be achieved in a number of ways but if collaborations happen in an natural fashion rather than in an orchestrated way they are more likely to be useful and sustainable. One of the most efficient ways to do this is by simply advertising to all the Institute what everyone is doing.
This can be through a simple email list, or web page, which all members can use to post news about their research, seminars taking place, new grants etc., or through a specific seminar series with speakers who have research interests that cross boundaries.
Hopefully Strathclyde's Marine Institute will thrive and develop in this way. There certainly is plenty of potential to do this.
In looking around the world at other Marine Institutes it is clear that Strathclyde has some way to go to compete with the world's best, but if the will to make it happen is there then I am sure it will happen. Being located in Scotland, with the sixth largest marine-based comments in the world and a government who is keen to invest in this area, will be a distinct advantage.
A quick Google search for the term "marine institute" gives the following top results,
As with many of these ventures there is a risk that, if there isn't sufficient impetus from those involved, there will be little coordinated effort between groups. Much high quality research will still go on in individual groups but in order to make the most of the opportunity an injection of pace is sometimes needed. This can be provided by funding and resourcing from the top down but it is often better achieved from the bottom up.
This can be achieved in a number of ways but if collaborations happen in an natural fashion rather than in an orchestrated way they are more likely to be useful and sustainable. One of the most efficient ways to do this is by simply advertising to all the Institute what everyone is doing.
This can be through a simple email list, or web page, which all members can use to post news about their research, seminars taking place, new grants etc., or through a specific seminar series with speakers who have research interests that cross boundaries.
Hopefully Strathclyde's Marine Institute will thrive and develop in this way. There certainly is plenty of potential to do this.
In looking around the world at other Marine Institutes it is clear that Strathclyde has some way to go to compete with the world's best, but if the will to make it happen is there then I am sure it will happen. Being located in Scotland, with the sixth largest marine-based comments in the world and a government who is keen to invest in this area, will be a distinct advantage.
A quick Google search for the term "marine institute" gives the following top results,
The Google search "marine institute UK" gives,
... and the search "marine institute Scotland" gives SAMS and the Strathclyde Marine Institute. There is clearly nothing wrong with the publicity of SMI but we need to make sure anyone looking at the webpage really understands the amount of activity we have in the University.
Sunday, 24 October 2010
Internal waves
At the beginning of November I will be attending the 2nd Norway-Scotland Internal Waves Symposium to be held in Edinburgh. Although this meeting may not consider systems with intrinsic material anisotropy, there is often geometric anisotropy and small aspect ratio parameters (vastly different feature length-scales) present, including stratification.
This will also be a good opportunity to meet members of SAMS with whom I will be working next year.
Wood Micromechanics Workshop
A workshop on wood micromechanics was held on Wednesday 13th October 2010 at the University of Glasgow. This was a
Telford Institute type I workshop which aimed to be a scoping exercise to determine the depth and breadth of Scottish interest in this particular specialised topic of research.
A full programme is available and it was clear that there was interest in coordinating efforts within Scotland in this area and that mathematical modelling could have considerable impact.
The conclusion was that a type II workshop should be proposed, to define and refine the pan-Scottish critical mass of research within the topic, in order to exploit this for the benefit of the Scottish research sector as a whole.
A Yahoo group has also been formed, to discuss these issues further.
The web-site
This web-site will highlight developments in the research project "Anisotropy in the Natural Environment". The project officially starts on January 1st 2011 for one year, funded by a number of organisations.
Various research areas will be developed and will be discussed both in the blog on this page and the static pages listed in the tabs above.
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