ocean science at Birmingham
Although far from the oceans, the University of Birmingham has many staff focussed on scientific ocean drilling and marine geology research. Birmingham academics have led ocean expeditions to uncover the structure of mid-ocean ridges and the edges of the continents. They have sailed to the edges of Antarctica and to the warmest tropical oceans in search of Earth’s climate history. And they use computer simulations to understand the oceans' past and predict the future. This exhibition tells the story of some of this research.
DR TOM DUNKLEY JONES
Micropalaeontologist
Tom studies the ocean’s phytoplankton - the single-celled algae that provide the food for marine ecosystems – and how these change through time. He has sailed on two IODP Expeditions to the tropical Pacific and will lead an Expedition to the tropical Atlantic in 2020.
DR kirsty edgar
Micropalaeontologist
Kirsty studies single-celled organisms called foraminifera (“forams”), and uses their chemistry to reconstruct the temperature of the ocean and the concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. She has sailed on IODP expeditions to the equatorial Pacific and Southern Ocean.
DR SARAH GREENE
Palaeoclimatologist
Sarah uses computer models to understand the behaviour of the whole ocean over time, especially how climate is controlled by changes in the carbon cycle. To do this, she needs lots of data from ocean drilling!
Marine Geologist
Gaël is a marine geologist, interested in the structure of the sea bed and ocean floor. He has sailed on seven marine survey expeditions, including one on the Japanese IODP Drill Ship Chikyu.
DR steve jones
Geologist
Steve studies how plumes of hot material from the Earth’s mantle can move ocean floor, and how this might change deep ocean currents. He has sailed on many ship surveys of the NE Atlantic.
Organic Geochemist
Yvette traces changes in plant and bacterial life over millions of years, by studying the organic compounds they leave behind in sediments. From these chemicals, she can also tell you about past temperatures and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
professor tim reston
Geophysicist
Tim studies the edges of plates – where continents become oceans, and the ridges where new oceans have formed. He has led ship survey expeditions to the mid-Atlantic ridge and the Iberian margin.
dr james
bendle
Organic Geochemist
James studies ancient climates by looking at the chemical traces left behind by life. He has sailed on IODP Expeditions to the Antarctic and Arabian Sea.
Micropalaeontologist
Ian uses the fossil remains of tiny crustaceans, called ostracods, to reconstruct past marine environments.
DR SEBASTIAN WATT
Volcanologist
Seb seeks to understand the natural hazards coming from active island volcanoes, including catastrophic landslides and tsunamis. Seb has sailed on ship surveys in SE Asia.
Marine Geophysicist
Murray studies the plumbing system of volcanoes, landslides and tsunamis, and how the oceans form. He has sailed on a ship to survey the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Africa and South America.
