May 2014

Goldschmidt2014 coming soon...

Goldschmidt2014 is just around the corner and promises to be an exciting conference, both for the quality of its science program, the diversity of its social program, student events, workshops, fieldtrips and its new mentoring program. Also note the Goldschmidt2014 mobile app is now available for iOS and Android. You can download it via the App Stores.

During the conference, EAG will be happy to welcome you at booth 51. Note that any delegate joining the society during the conference will receive all back issues of the publication Geochemical Perspectives. In addition, EAG will hold its traditional Cocktail Party on Tuesday 10 June at 18:30 in Lecture Room D, open to all delegates.

Remember Double Scotch?

Double Scotch, a rock band made of geochemists, featured at several Goldschmidt conferences, has now released a video clip made in Florence last August.

Latest issue of Geochemical Perspectives now available

We are excited to announce the latest issue of Geochemical Perspectives: Fluids in the Continental Crust, written by Bruce Yardley and Robert Bodnar. This issue brings together a huge number of laboratory and field observations obtained over the past 50 years, illuminating the processes controlling the compositions of subsurface fluids. Most notably the authors show how systematic fluid compositions are regardless of their location in the crust. Print copies will be mailed shortly.

Latest issue of Elements: Ophiolites

The study of ophiolitic sequences has been key in improving our understanding of plate tectonics. The fascinating story of ophiolites has become more and more complex with time, and is told here by Guest Editors Yildirim Dilek and Harald Furnes and the cast of authors they assembled.

This issue (and all back issues) is available online to EAG members and print copies will be mailed shortly.

Society synergy

EAG is delighted to report signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland (MSGBI). MSGBI members now enjoy the same terms and conditions for organizing society events and registering at European Goldschmidt conferences as EAG members. On registering for European Goldschmidts, MSGBI members will also be given complimentary EAG membership. EAG members in turn now receive price reductions on a wide range of MSGBI books. We hope both societies’ members will find this mutual extension of society benefits useful.

EAG provides student grants for 2 upcoming conferences

EAG is proud to co-sponsor the conferences:

• Geochemistry of the Earth’s surface (GES-10) taking place on 18-22 August in Paris. Abstract deadline: 1 June.
• Deep Earth Processes, taking place on 15-16 September in London. Abstract deadline: 30 May.

EAG wishes to support student attendance by providing a limited number of grants for both events, up to 200 Euros per student. See details about conferences and grant application.

New! EAG Student Sponsorship Program

As EAG aims to support students training in geochemistry, on years when the Goldschmidt conference is not in Europe (i.e. on even years), EAG will sponsor 20 students up to 200 Euros per student, to attend short courses, summer schools, workshops or conferences located in Europe and related to geochemistry. For events taking place in 2014, students can apply for sponsorship before the two following deadlines: 15 July and 15 October 2014. See more information.

EAG Photo Contest: submit your photos

We would like to remind you that submission for the EAG Photo Contest is open until 15 June. The contest is open to everyone and participants can submit one photo per theme:

• The changing world: geochemistry in action
• Geochemistry and life
• Geochemistry in a test tube

The winners of each theme will receive a 5-year complimentary EAG membership (see membership benefits), publication of their photos on the EAG website and newsletters. The overall winner's photo will also be published in Elements Magazine.

EAG Distinguished Service Award to Juan Diego Rodriguez Blanco

Juan Diego Rodriguez Blanco is an Assistant Professor at the University of Copenhagen working primarily on carbonate crystallization with applications to biomineralization. Juan Diego has been involved with the EAG since 2011 through his work on the communications committee and EAG blog. Juan Diego is also directly involved with the EAG publication Geochemical Perspectives as its 'graphical guru'. EAG is honored to recognize Juan Diego for his outstanding service, greatly exceeding the expectations of normal voluntary service. This award will be presented at the Goldschmidt2014 conference.

Jodi Rosso appointed new Executive Editor for Elements

After an extensive international search over the past year and with 35 applicants from 10 countries, Dr. Jodi Rosso was selected as the next Executive Editor for Elements. She will replace current Executive Editor Pierrette Tremblay, who will step down at the end of 2014 after 10 years. Jodi brings her extensive and diverse experience in mineralogy, petrology and geochemistry (MPG) to Elements. Read more

Beech Hunting in the Land of Fire

[By Rhian Rees-Owen] The best thing about working in Earth Sciences is the fieldwork, hands down. From looking at old mines in the Lake District to collecting fossil microorganisms in Trinidad, it’s exciting to get outside and actually see the system you’re studying (my answer might be different if you ask me when I’m stood on a muddy river bank in the Lake District in horizontal rain in November). Read more

A new mineral has been discovered in Australia

[Science Alert] Meet 'putnisite', a new mineral found in Western Australia (named after Dr Christine Putnis and Prof Andrew Putnis). The new mineral is unique in structure and composition among the world's 4,000 known mineral species. 'Putnisite', described in Mineralogical Magazine by a visiting research fellow at the University of Adelaide, was found in a surface outcrop at Lake Cowan in central Western Australia. Read more

Ancient crater points to massive meteorite strike

[Science Daily] The discovery of an ancient ring-like structure in southern Alberta suggests the area was struck by a meteorite large enough to leave an eight-kilometre-wide crater, producing an explosion strong enough to destroy present-day Calgary, say researchers from the Alberta Geological Survey and University of Alberta. Read more

New element: Ununseptium, the heaviest element ever made

[From quarks to quasars] Scientists just announced that they have created and observed a new super-heavy element— element 117, which had been temporarily dubbed “ununseptium.” This element was one of the missing pieces of the periodic table of elements, and it could be a bridge to the long sought “island of stability” in super-heavy elements. Read more

Check the latest job opportunities

Receive job ads as they are posted: like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (@EAG_). Post a position on the EAG job page (free of charge): send the details to EAG Office.

• PhD position ‘Atmospheric nitrate deposition in subalpine meadows at the Lautaret pass (French Alps)’
• PhD position ‘The Amorphous Precursor Strategy: Understanding Biomineral Formation’
• 10 PhD positions – Marie-Curie Initial Training Network ABYSS Training network on reactive geological systems from the mantle to the abyssal sub-seafloor
• PhD position ‘Molecular signatures in Proterozoic microorganisms at the micro- to nanometer scales’
• PhD position in Ecohydrology ‘Soil Biogeochemistry Dynamics under Effects of Freezing and Thawing Cycles’
• PhD position in Atmospheric Geochemistry ‘Mineral dust particles as the seeds of ice in clouds’
• PhD position in Biomineralization ‘Biomineralization and electron transfer mechanisms associated with bacterial sulfate reduction’
• Postdoctoral Researcher in Isotope Geo- and Cosmochemistry
• Postdoctorate position 2 years ‘Cryo-TEM study of intracellular biomineralization of calcium carbonates by cyanobacteria’
• 2 Post-doctoral positions in Isotope Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry
• Post-doctoral position ‘Inferring the links between water cycle, climate and stratospheric inputs from a data-model approach combining all water isotopes and 10Be in the East Antarctica plateau.’
• Postdoctoral opportunity in non-classical crystal growth and Nanogeosciences
• Research Fellow in Marine Biogeochemistry
• Research Scientist in Metal Stable Isotope Geochemistry

More jobs at www.eag.eu.com/jobs.

Thank you for your attention