Hi All,
A message on behalf of Bhavik Lodhia, Deputy Director of the AuScope EarthBank project based in Perth, Western Australia:
The AuScope EarthBank project is an Australian government-funded $21 million initiative to modernise Australian and international geochemistry data infrastructure by integrating analytical instrumentation across 11 universities into a FAIR-aligned digital platform for standardised data aggregation, discovery, and geospatial analysis. Co-developed with Lithodat Pty Ltd, EarthBank supports open-access research and industry use through interoperable services, powering initiatives such as isotopic mapping, museum digitisation, and international geochemical data standardisation.
As a current GSL fellow and being from the UK, I am keen to build links between EarthBank and the geochemistry community in the UK.
We will be hosting our first online webinar<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.event…> next Tuesday at 1300 AWST, where we will launch the $21 million EarthBank project.
I also noticed that a placeholder has been set for GGRIP meeting (24-26 March 2026). Once more details are released, we will be interested in potentially contributing and attending.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Kind Regards,
Bhavik
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Webinar Abstract:
The AuScope EarthBank project (EarthBank project) is a $21 million national initiative to modernise Australia’s geochemistry data infrastructure and to advance discovery in the Earth and environmental sciences. As Project Director, I lead a program that integrates over $100 million in analytical instrumentation across 10 university laboratories into a single FAIR-aligned digital platform, the AuScope EarthBank platform (EarthBank)—co-developed with Lithodat Pty Ltd—that enables seamless data aggregation, standardisation, and geospatial analysis.
The EarthBank project operates at the nexus of research, government, and industry, facilitating translational outcomes through open-access infrastructure and collaborative networks. Since 2022, over 125,000 georeferenced samples and datasets have been uploaded to EarthBank, with over 1,000 registered users—15% from industry—demonstrating its value beyond academia. Our CoreTrustSeal-certified system supports research publication pipelines, isotopic mapping, national geochemical baselines, and museum digitisation projects.
A hallmark of EarthBank’s impact is its role in transforming physical collections into discoverable research-ready assets. A flagship collaboration with Museums Victoria registered more than 43,500 historical rock and mineral specimens, now discoverable through EarthBank. This has catalysed similar partnerships with other museums, with an additional 80,000 legacy specimens targeted for integration.
The EarthBank project also plays a global leadership role in geochemical data standardisation through its involvement in the OneGeochemistry initiative, enabling harmonised international workflows. Looking ahead, the EarthBank project will underpin new national isoscape mapping projects in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and state agencies and facilitate tectonic-geochemical integration through joint development with the GPlates community—allowing researchers to evaluate mineral system formation through time and space.
This presentation will explore how the EarthBank team is building new laboratory and interoperable digital infrastructure to support scientific excellence, industry application, and sovereign capability in the global energy transition.
Dear Geochemists,
Our latest updates are here….
GGRIP 2026 - Save the date!
We are excited to announce that the next Geochemistry Group Research in Progress (GGRiP) meeting will take place in Bristol on the 24th-26th of March 2026. More details to follow soon!
Jobs:
UCL have a lectureship advertised with a tight timeline (closing date 24 June). Full details here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/search-ucl-jobs/details?jobId=35084&jobTi…<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ucl.a…>. The position is a full-time permanent academic post at Lecturer level (Grade 8) in Earth Sciences. Research areas include the climate crisis, hydrogeology, sustainable resources, the energy transition, natural hazards, and planetary science.
Meeting attendance Bursaries (PhDs & ECRs):
More information and the application form can be found on our website https://geochemistry.group/funding-opportunities/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…>. These are often under subscribed, so you stand a great chance of success. You have plenty of time before the 15th October deadline, perfect if you are planning to go to a conference this winter!
Geo-Bio Interfaces:
Please consider submitting your papers to Geo-Bio Interfaces, a journal of the Mineralogical Society. It aims to answer fundamental and emerging questions in geoscience and bioscience, by exploring contemporary scientific disciplines and the interconnection between them. The table below shows the full scope of the journal:
SECTION
THEME
Microbial
Microbial controls in the geo-environment
Microbial controls in astrogeobiology
Biofilm form and function
Contributions to geochemical cycles
Microbial weathering of minerals, rocks and soils
Extremophiles
Environmental
Bioremediation of toxic substances
Water treatment and wastewater management
Biocatalysis of minerals and biomineralization
Carbon sequestration
Geochemical
Mineral-microbe-water reactions, thermodynamics, and kinetics
Isotope (bio)geochemistry
Geochemical and biogeochemical reactions and controls
Reactive transport modelling and colloid transport
Scaling of geochemical and biogeochemical reactions
Trace metals and organics in biogeochemical cycles
Energy and Resources
Mineral capture, storage and disposal
Geomicrobiological prospecting
Microbial transformation of economically important minerals and elements
Biomining and resource recovery
Challenges of sustainability and geomaterials
Microbe-mineral interfaces in soil productivity and agriculture
Earth Science Women’s Network:
After a successful set of events over the past four years, the Earth Science Women's Network Professional Development and Networking Committee (formerly Member Events) is now planning a new set of event activities for implementation in future years from late 2025 onwards. The landscape today may feel quite different to how it was several years ago. To ensure that our activities are aligned with the needs and interests of the ESWN community and that they are timely, we invite you to participate in a ~5 minutes survey (open to all) to help us shape the program: https://forms.gle/DyZHMhvNVzV7J5zh7<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle…> (survey closes on June 30)
Follow us on Bluesky and LinkedIn:
Our X account is no longer, so please:
* Follow us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/geochemgroup.bsky.social<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%…>.
* We now have the Geochemistry Group set up as a ‘company' on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-geochemistry-group/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linke…>, so please follow us here!
* Also a plug for our parent body, the Mineralogical Society of the UK, follow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mineralogical-society-of-uk-and-ireland/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linke…> for lots of relevant updates.
YouTube:
Check out some great resources on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@geochemistrygroup4420<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtu…>. Here you can watch all our past series of 'ECR Skills for Geochemists' and 'Out of Academia: Into Science’.
Mineralogical Society:
The Society now offers 300 free student memberships for 3 years! This is a fantastic offer and we encourage all students to join. More info here: https://www.minersoc.org/membership.html<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.miner…>
You can watch the MinSoc Skills and Training events from last year and find out more about upcoming events here: https://www.minersoc.org/skills-and-training.html<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.miner…>
All the best
George
Dear Geochemists,
UCL have a lectureship advertised with a tight timeline (closing date 24 June). Full details here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/search-ucl-jobs/details?jobId=35084&jobTi…<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ucl.a…>
We are offering a full-time permanent academic post at Lecturer level (Grade 8) in Earth Sciences. The specific research of the successful candidate should complement our existing strengths. Research areas include the climate crisis, hydrogeology, sustainable resources, the energy transition, natural hazards, and planetary science.
UCL Earth Sciences has a strong tradition of research; our experimental laboratories host a broad range of equipment designed to study many aspects of Earth Sciences, supported by experienced and knowledgable technical staff, together with access to high-performance computing facilities. We expect the successful applicant to embed themselves within our community to realise their own ambitious research programme. The appointed person will build links across the Department and throughout UCL more widely.
All the best
George
Dear Geochemists,
Here is a message posted on behalf of the Earth Science Women’s Network:
After a successful set of events over the past four years, the Earth Science Women's Network Professional Development and Networking Committee (formerly Member Events) is now planning a new set of event activities for implementation in future years from late 2025 onwards.
We know that the landscape today may feel quite different to how it was several years ago. To ensure that our activities are aligned with the needs and interests of the ESWN community and that they are timely, we invite you to participate in a ~5 minutes survey (open to all) to help us shape the program: https://forms.gle/DyZHMhvNVzV7J5zh7<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle…>
The first part of the survey collects demographic information as we would like to know more about the ESWN community and membership, to ensure we are creating events suitable to the needs of those we serve.
This survey will close on June 30 2025.
We are hugely appreciative of your time and thank you for your thoughts and contributions.
If you have any questions, please email events [at] eswnonline [dot] org
We look forward to receiving your response!
The ESWN Professional Development and Networking Committee
--
Earth Science Women's Network Professional Development and Networking Committee (formerly Member Events Committee)
Dr. Karin Ardon-Dryer (Earth Science Women’s Network Professional Development and Networking Co-Chair)
Dr. Rehemat Bhatia (Earth Science Women’s Network Professional Development and Networking Co-Chair)
Find out more about ESWN: https://eswnonline.org/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feswnonlin…>
Dear Geochemists,
Some good news to share with you!
As part of the annual GGRiP conference, a fringe-inspired open-mic night was held in the beautiful setting of the Lapworth Museum on the University of Birmingham campus. Those who were brave enough to take to the stage included the chair of the Geochemistry Group, Paul Savage playing the guitar and singing, and the Birmingham based band 10 Foot Dragonfly, who included James Bendle, Matt Allison, George Bendle, Richard Forrester, and Mark Andrew. The band did an amazing 30-minute set, including a medley paying tribute to Brum legends, Black Sabbath.
We also held a geochemistry inspired art competition, with 10 amazing entries that were on display for the whole two-and-a-half-day conference. The winners of the competition were Kerys Meredew for their photo ‘Fuego at Dusk’ and Elaine Gao for their photo ‘Sunny days on the Assynt Fieldtrip’.
With these events and over the entirety of the conference, we were fundraising for the the Midlands Arts Centres GREEN FUTURES campaign https://macbirmingham.co.uk/lovemac/everychild/green-futures<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmacbirmin…>, a great cause that resonated for many delegates of the conference. We raised a total of £245, of which we couldn’t be happier about!’
Sally Pennington (Director of Development, Midlands Arts Centre) has been in touch with plans for our donation:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING DONATION
On behalf of all of us at Midlands Arts Centre, I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you for your extremely generous £245 donation to MAC’s GREEN FUTURES campaign. We are very proud to be your supported charity. MAC’s GREEN FUTURES campaign raises money for events and workshops that are created and produced with, and for, young people and families in our community. We use art, creativity and curiosity to empower people to think about their impact on our planet, work together to make a change and to positively channel climate anxiety felt by many. Because of your donation, this summer, we will produce a brand new free workshop for 14 young girls from a care setting in Birmingham, who, through no fault of their own, have very few opportunities for creative activities and are at-risk at being completely excluded from art and culture. The workshop explores reusing, repairing and recycling Sari material, inspired by our major free exhibition showing in our main gallery, OFF-BEAT SARI. Thank you so much again for thinking of MAC – our donors, and your generous gifts, mean the world to us and it is really special when people come together in their own networks and spaces and champion MAC’s work.
All the best
George
Dear Geochemists,
I first want to thank everyone who attended GGRiP in Birmingham, by all accounts it was a fantastic meeting (more to follow on this)!
At GGRiP this year, due to the particularly high quality of applications, we awarded two ECR Prominent Lecture awards, to Dr Rebekah Moore (Imperial College) and Dr Savannah Worne (Loughborough University). If you would like to host Rebekah and/or Savannah then please check out all the details on our website https://geochemistry.group/ecr-prominent-lecture-series/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…> . Both have proposed two lectures for hosts to choose from,
Rebekah will present on: 'Bridging the gap between isotope geochemistry and plant sciences’ and 'Cadmium and zinc isotope analyses of cacao and hyperaccumulator plant species’.
Savannah will present on: 'Novel phosphate-oxygen stable isotope analysis of sediments to reconstruct the impact of sewage management on algal blooms' and 'Multi-stable isotope analysis of waters to investigate sources and biological cycling of nutrients’.
In other news, we are imminently leaving X, so follow us on Bluesky and LinkedIn!
* Please follow us on the (so far) much friendlier space of Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/geochemgroup.bsky.social<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%…>.
* The Geochemistry Group ‘group’ is also on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14560661/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linke…>
* Also a plug for our parent body, the Mineralogical Society of the UK, follow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/80884962/admin/dashboard/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linke…> for lots of relevant updates.
As ever, if you would like to share anything with the Geochemistry group mailing list then you can email me or the group.
All the best
George
Dr George Cooper (ef/fo - he/him)
Cymrawd Ymchwil Prifysgol, y Gymdeithas Frenhinol | Royal Society University Research Fellow
Ysgol Gwyddorau’r Ddaear a’r Amgylchedd | School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Prifysgol Caerdydd | Cardiff University
Ebost | Email: CooperG3(a)cardiff.ac.uk
Ystafell | Office: 1.74A
Dear Geochemists,
The Geochemistry Group is looking to recruit committee members! These roles involve attending quarterly committee meetings (typically online) and helping to support ongoing Geochemistry Group activities. Terms are ~3 years.
To express your interest in joining, please get in touch with either Paul Savage (Chair): pss3(a)st-andrews.ac.uk<mailto:pss3@st-andrews.ac.uk> or Marie-Laure Bagard (Secretary): mlb63(a)cam.ac.uk<mailto:mlb63@cam.ac.uk>, and to apply, we will require a short statement of no more than 200 words to explain why you would like to contribute the Geochemistry Group.
New members will be selected at the AGM which will take place at GGRiP (8th-10th April). Get in touch now!
All the best
George
Dear All,
A reminder that the abstract deadline for GGRiP 2025 is midnight tonight!
Please visit the conference website for more information and to submit your abstracts: https://ggrip2025.co.uk/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fggrip2025…>.
The meeting will be at the University of Birmingham, on the 8th-10th April (starting midday on the 8th).
We are also happy to announce that we are holding a Laser Ablation workshop: 'Unlocking the Potential of Laser-Based Geochemical Analysis'
This is a free-to-attend educational pre-conference workshop hosted by Datech Scientific<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.datech…>, designed to introduce researchers to Laser Ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS) and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). These powerful analytical techniques enable high-resolution elemental and isotopic analysis, revolutionising applications in geochemistry, environmental science, and geology.
This event is open to all researchers, PhD students, and academics!
What to Expect
* Fundamentals & Techniques – Learn the principles behind LA-ICP-MS & LIBS and their role in elemental analysis.
* Research Applications – Explore case studies showcasing their impact in geochemical and environmental research.
* Networking Opportunities – Engage with fellow researchers, PhD candidates, postdocs, and industry experts.
Please see the website for more information: https://ggrip2025.co.uk/schedule/workshop/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fggrip2025…>
This year's conference will also include an ice-breaker at the Lapworth Museum of Geology, with the opportunity to showcase any hidden talents at an Open Mic fringe-style event, along with an art and photography competition (entry deadline March 17th), in aid of fundraising for the Midlands Art Centre. So please sign up!
Confirmed keynotes include: Dr Ross Whiteford (Royal Holloway), Dr Aled Evans (University of Southampton), Prof. Clare Warren (The Open University), Prof. Kirsty Penkman (University of York), and Dr Tom Dunkley Jones (University of Birmingham).
All the best
George
Dear Geochemists,
The abstract submission deadline for GGRiP 2025 is now midnight on Monday 17th March. please share this news with your colleagues - there is still plenty of time to put your abstracts together!
Please visit the conference website for more information and to submit your abstracts: https://ggrip2025.co.uk/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fggrip2025…>.
The meeting will be at the University of Birmingham, on the 8th-10th April (starting midday on the 8th).
We are also happy to announce that we are holding a Laser Ablation workshop: 'Unlocking the Potential of Laser-Based Geochemical Analysis'
This is a free-to-attend educational pre-conference workshop hosted by Datech Scientific<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.datech…>, designed to introduce researchers to Laser Ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS) and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). These powerful analytical techniques enable high-resolution elemental and isotopic analysis, revolutionising applications in geochemistry, environmental science, and geology.
This event is open to all researchers, PhD students, and academics!
What to Expect
* Fundamentals & Techniques – Learn the principles behind LA-ICP-MS & LIBS and their role in elemental analysis.
* Research Applications – Explore case studies showcasing their impact in geochemical and environmental research.
* Networking Opportunities – Engage with fellow researchers, PhD candidates, postdocs, and industry experts.
Please see the website for more information: https://ggrip2025.co.uk/schedule/workshop/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fggrip2025…>
This year's conference will also include an ice-breaker at the Lapworth Museum of Geology, with the opportunity to showcase any hidden talents at an Open Mic fringe-style event, along with an art and photography competition (entry deadline March 17th), in aid of fundraising for the Midlands Art Centre. So please sign up!
Confirmed keynotes include: Dr Ross Whiteford (Royal Holloway), Dr Aled Evans (University of Southampton), Prof. Clare Warren (The Open University), Prof. Kirsty Penkman (University of York), and Dr Tom Dunkley Jones (University of Birmingham).
All the best
George
Dear Geochemists,
We have decided to extend abstract submission for GGRiP 2025 to midnight on Friday 14th March, Please share this news with your colleagues!
Please visit the conference website for more information and to submit your abstracts: https://ggrip2025.co.uk/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fggrip2025…>.
The meeting will be at the University of Birmingham, on the 8th-10th April (starting midday on the 8th).
We are also happy to announce that we are holding a Laser Ablation workshop: 'Unlocking the Potential of Laser-Based Geochemical Analysis'
This is a free-to-attend educational pre-conference workshop hosted by Datech Scientific<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.datech…>, designed to introduce researchers to Laser Ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS) and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). These powerful analytical techniques enable high-resolution elemental and isotopic analysis, revolutionising applications in geochemistry, environmental science, and geology.
This event is open to all researchers, PhD students, and academics!
What to Expect
* Fundamentals & Techniques – Learn the principles behind LA-ICP-MS & LIBS and their role in elemental analysis.
* Research Applications – Explore case studies showcasing their impact in geochemical and environmental research.
* Networking Opportunities – Engage with fellow researchers, PhD candidates, postdocs, and industry experts.
Please see the website for more information: https://ggrip2025.co.uk/schedule/workshop/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fggrip2025…>
This year's conference will also include an ice-breaker at the Lapworth Museum of Geology, with the opportunity to showcase any hidden talents at an Open Mic fringe-style event, along with an art and photography competition (entry deadline March 17th), in aid of fundraising for the Midlands Art Centre. So please sign up!
Confirmed keynotes include: Dr Ross Whiteford (Royal Holloway), Dr Aled Evans (University of Southampton), Prof. Clare Warren (The Open University), Prof. Kirsty Penkman (University of York), and Dr Tom Dunkley Jones (University of Birmingham).
All the best
George