Earth Sciences (PhD) – (Ph.D.)

Contents

Research Groups An expanding range of exciting subject areas characterise the research programme at Bristol. Research in the Department also encourages interdisciplinary collaboration between its five research groups, which in turn nurtures revolutionary research.

Deep Earth
The Centre for the Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Earth's Interior is a research group dedicated to studying aspects of the Earth's interior. High-pressure and high-temperature experimental petrology and seismology helps members of this Research Group to explore the dynamics and composition of the Earth's mantle and core, regions which cannot be sampled directly or by traditional methods.

Geochemistry
The Geochemistry group uses fundamental chemical techniques to understand natural processes on a range of temporal and spatial scales. This can be from single atoms on mineral surfaces and the environmental geochemistry of the modern Earth to the large-scale chemical structure of planets and the birth of the solar system. The group has considerable expertise in isotopic measurements, spectroscopy and first-principles calculations.

Climate and Environmental Change
The primary interests of the group are the biochemical processes controlling speciation, distribution and turnover of elements and compounds in the surface and near surface environment, and their relation to geological processes. The QUEST (Quantifying and Understanding the Earth System) initiative, hosted by Bristol's Department of Earth Sciences, is a flagship programme of the Natural Environment Research Council and promotes a co-ordinated, multidisciplinary approach to the solution of problems in global environmental science.

Volcanology and Geological Fluid Dynamics
The Volcanology and Geological Fluid Dytnamic (VGFD) group at Bristol aims to understand the physical processes underlying volcanic phenomena and develop methods of hazard assessment. We integrate observations from these different approaches to provide a broad perspective on volcanological and sedimentological problems, and provide research training in these disciplines. The research group is involved in research into the crisis at Montserrat, the hazards of sediment laden flows and applied research related to diamond exploration and mining (with de Beers), and to nuclear waste disposal in regions of active volcanism (Japan and USA), and with regard to oil exploration with a consortium of companies.

Palaeontology and Biodiversity
The Palaeontology and Biodiversity group (PBRG) uses the fossil record to study the history of life. The fossil record allows us to investigate the diversification and extinction of organisms in relation to the planet's long history of climatic and environmental change. Research focuses on major diversifications, mass extinctions, dating the tree of life, morphological innovation, biomechanics, and links between evolution and development, and the organisms of interest range from foraminifera to dinosaurs, and gymosperms to anthropods. The group has pioneered many research and educational initiatives.

Research Centres The Department of Earth Sciences is involved in a number of collaborative research groups on an international level. Inter-faculty Research Centres such as the Biogeochemistry Research Centre involve collaboration across several university departments and faculties.

Centre for Environmental and Geophysical Flows

This interdisciplinary research centre brings together expertise from the Departments of Earth Sciences, Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics, and the School of Geographical Sciences in diverse research activities and interests, from traffic flow to explosive volcanic flows, meteorology to oceanography.

Biogeochemistry Research Centre

The Biogeochemistry Research Centre involves staff from the Department of Earth Sciences and Schools of Geographical Sciences and Chemistry. The research conducted aims to develop our understanding of the biogeochemistry of modern-day and ancient environments and the way that it is affected by natural processes and the actions of mankind.

Bristol Isotope Group

The Bristol Isotope Group is a world class research facility for isotope measurements directed at understanding natural processes, from the formation of the solar system, the origin of Earth - its deep structure and atmosphere, through to the evolution of that atmosphere and contemporary climate change.

Interface Analysis Centre

The Faculty of Science's IAC specialises in the application of a wide range of analytical techniques and is used by the School of Chemistry and Departments of Earth Sciences and Physics.

Bristol Glaciology Centre

The Department of Earth Sciences contributes alongside the School of Geographical Sciences, Applied Mathematics and Physics to increase our understanding of glaciers and ice sheets and the links between the cryosphere, oceans and atmosphere under changing climatic conditions.