We were surprised and pleased to find that our new paper on the gamma imaging of radionuclide transport through porous media (Corkhill et al., 2013, Environ. Sci. Technol. 47(23)) has been selected to feature as the cover page of the print edition of the journal – see http://pubs.acs.org/action/showLargeCover?jcode=esthag&vol=47&issue=23#

This is a high profile publication (2012 Impact Factor 5.257) and so this is a prestigious selection – I’m particularly pleased for the lead author Dr Claire Corkhill (Sheffield) who drove through the research and publication.

Corkhill C.L., Bridge J.W., Chen X.C., Hillel P., Thornton S.F., Romero-Gonzalez M.E., Banwart S.A., and Hyatt N.C. 2013b. Real-Time Gamma Imaging of Technetium Transport through Natural and Engineered Porous Materials for Radioactive Waste Disposal. Environ. Sci. Technol., publication date (web) October 22, 2013

Available at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1021/es402718j

Last week I spent an amazing few days in and around Amman, Jordan with my PhD student Esraa Tarawneh.

We were on fieldwork, sampling sediments from around the catchment zone of a groundwater recharge reservoir in Wadi Wala. With fantastic support from Eng. Hatem Abu Rumman and driver Haile Suliman, we reached all but two of the sampling sites and took sediment samples and cores from around the reservoir itself. The purpose is to assess the transport and concentration of contaminants from around the catchment within the reservoir sediments, as a basis for trying to understand the implications for water quality in the recharge waters.

I also experienced the wonderful Jordanian hospitality, particularly that of the Tarawneh family. We also had meetings with several senior government, academic and NGO representatives in Jordan, where we discussed the significant challenges to water resources in that country and the potential opportunities for Liverpool (and other overseas research-led universities) to contribute to the development in this area. Much of this rewarding experience was facilitated by Dr Sudarshana Ramaraju, UNCC officer for Jordan, whose generosity and interest in Esraa’s project knows no bounds.

All in all, a wonderful experience with – hopefully – some really exciting science to come from analysis of the samples.

16th Oct 2013: I received notification that I am now a registered Chartered Scientist, recognising my professional skills in scientific research, scholarship and teaching. My professional body is the Institution of Environmental Sciences. I suddenly feel like I’ve arrived!

My currently available (deadline 15th June) PhD with Andy Boston and Ruey-an Doong at National Tsing Hua University is one of 9 featured in a news article on the University of Liverpool front page, 5th June. See the article at http://news.liv.ac.uk.ezproxy.liv.ac.uk/2013/06/05/new-liverpool-taiwan-dual-phd-projects-unveiled/

**Deadline 15th June 2013**

A PhD is available starting October 2013 on the Dual PhD Studentship scheme between University of Liverpool and National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), Taiwan.

“The role of clay and organic colloids in radionuclide mobility in the environment” will be co-supervised by me and Dr Andy Boston (Physics) at Liverpool and Prof Ruey-an Doong at NTHU. For more details check out the advert on FindaPhD.com, or the PDF link below.

http://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID=45140&LID=2125

Advert_JB_15-5-13.pdf

From 14th – 19th January I participated in a visit by a Liverpool delegation led by Prof Eann Patterson to NTHU where we were hosted in fine style by Prof Ruey-an Doong, Dean of the College of Nuclear Sciences and his colleagues. The objective of the trip was to establish links in postgraduate taught and research between the two universities, and I am currently developing PhD studentship proposals for a dual NTHU-Liverpool scholarship scheme.

It was an exciting and enjoyable visit, with wonderful food and cultural experiences and great science. Some photos from the trip are posted below.

From 3rd to 7th December 2012 I visited Liverpool’s partner/satellite university campus in Suzhou, China to discuss teaching and research collaborations with the Department of Civil Engineering there. I was made most welcome by Prof. Steve Millard (HoD) and his team. Some very exciting research potential arose from the visit, particularly in the area of biomineralisation for use in management of landfill leachate, which is being taken forward in collaboration with Dr Stephen Wilkinson.

I toured the vast new engineering laboratory facilities, visited with colleagues from the fledging Department of Environmental Sciences, and enjoyed some great nights out in Suzhou. Below is a selection of images from the trip. I hope to return!

Image credit Bill Hartman. Copyright © 2003 – 2012 By Garrett Boon.

The Year 1 undergraduates in the School of Engineering started their studies this week with a group exercise to fabricate and build a Pratt truss bridge capable of carrying around 8 kg out of cardboard manila folders. I’m supporting Dr Richard Potter in delivering this longstanding (haha) introductory activity. Good to meet the new undergraduates, seem like a nice bunch :-).

Strength testing for the structural members tomorrow, then construction and testing the bridges later this week.

On Sunday 27th May 2012 I took part in the Sheffield Half-Marathon on behalf of the Children’s Hospital Charity. Sunday was the mid-point of a week of broiling heat after a cold, damp late Spring… a recipe for disaster, since all my training had been done in cool, damp mornings and now I was to run in the dry and the heat.

However, I am pleased to say that disaster did not strike, and although I didn’t quite pip my target, previous best time of 1h 50m, I did post a respectable 1h 52m 38s – so close! More importantly, I did beat my sponsorship target of £150 thanks to some wonderful
supporters.

The money will go to a special new fund for the Acute Assessment Unit, to provide comfort packs for parents who find themselves unexpectedly spending the small hours of the night, or even a long day spell sitting by the bedside of a seriously ill child. In this situation one parent often has to take care of siblings, or go to work, leaving the other alone. Having arrived as an emergency, they often have nothing with them – toothbrush, flannel, food or drink, notebook (to write questions for the doctor, or note her answers), magazine… The new comfort packs will hopefully go a little way to making a traumatic experience a little easier.

For me, I hope I never need to use them (I’ve seen quite enough of AAU). But the 1h 50m challenge is still on for next year…