THE SCIENCE FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN INVITES YOU TO THE 2023 SEMINAR SERIES

This seminar series is organised by the Science Faculty Research Committee. Everyone interested is welcome to attend.

Date and Time: 13h00, 20 June 2023

Venue: Lecture Theatre 3, PD Hahn, Upper Campus UCT

Speaker:  Dr Roger Diamond, Director of BIOGRIP - Biogeochemistry Research Infrastructure Platform

Title:  "An Introduction and Overview of BIOGRIP"

Abstract:
BIOGRIP, the Biogeochemistry Research Infrastructure Platform, is a Department of Science & Technology funded national research initiative.  The objective of BIOGRIP is to equip and staff laboratories for all forms of research related to biogeochemical cycles.  The platform is based at 4 universities, UCT, SUN, UFS and NWU, with somewhat different emphases at each location, and an overall coordinating hub at UCT.  Other than the usual research goals centered around degrees and publications, the DSI aims to promote racial and gender transformation in science, and a focus on relevant environmental and social issues through the BIOGRIP platform.  As such, much of our research focuses on water, soil, waste management (mine tailings, sewage sludge), air quality and the like, and we are trying to develop South African researchers and laboratory technicians to support this type of science.  However, BIOGRIP also aims to be globally competitive and attractive to international collaborators, and therefore we are equipping university labs with the best instruments available, with capabilities that are still somewhat in development stages around the world.  Some examples include triple-oxygen-isotope analysis using a TILDAS (tunable infrared laser diode absorption spectrometer) instrument, two MC-ICP-MS instruments (multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers) for heavy isotopes (U, Pb, REE) and transition metals (Ti, Zn, Cu, Cr, Fe, etc), and an OA-ICOS (off axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy) for measuring N and O isotopes of nitrous oxides in air.

RSVP:  for catering purposes please RSVP by sending an email to elhaam.taladia@ uct.ac.za by June, 16th