Development of a Joint University (Virtual) Institute for Applied Geosciences
NGL Science Meeting - Oskarshamn, 7-8th of November 2013
2013-11-07 NGL, Oskarshamn, November 2013
Lars O. Ericsson1, Chin-Fu Tsang2, Auli Niemi2, and Gia Destouni3
1Chalmers University of Technology2Uppsala University3Stockholm University
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The School of NGL- A vision of an education centre in applied geosciences The School of Athens
Photo: Lars O. Ericsson
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Gerolamo da Verrazzano, 1529, Vatican Museum. Photo: Lars O. Ericsson, 2013
Äspö
Äspö
• Globally unique
• Impressive RD&D infrastructure for Applied Geosciences
• Extraordinary possibilities for understanding of Subsurface Natural Sciences
• Geoscientifically outstanding possibilities on development of Civil and Environmental Engineering in ancient Shield Regions
• Data base of advanced experimental techniques and modeling results from multi-disciplinary studies in the field of geosciences.
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Background
The goal of the proposed Joint University Institute:
to develop up-to-date courses for the training of geoscientists who will be properly equipped to address important geosciences-related problems facing the society
Such emphasis is very much lacking in current geoscience education in all the major universities in the world.
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Geosciences-related problems facing the society?
• Underground construction issues,• Climatic change • CO2 geosequestration • Geoenergy development • Hydraulic Fracturing Technology• Environmental pollution to nuclear and toxic
chemical waste disposal• Groundwater supply, coastal areas and more..• etc
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Organizational set-upVirtual institute, •with MS education conducted at major universities in Sweden •with complementary set of courses (elective), and part of these courses will be held at the NGL facility at Oskarshamn•offer deeper study courses of reasonable duration– branch specific or PhD courses–SIDA?
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Ideas: broaden up cooperation with SBU, Swedish Universities of the Built Environment ?
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Topics of Applied Science
DesignLayout Construct. Working env.
Risk and Performance Assessments
Biosphere:
Data
Conditions
Models
Decision Analysis Communication of Geoscientific
Results
Geoscientific models
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Types of courses to be developed
1) Conventional courses,
– geology, geophysics, glaciology, hydrogeology, rock mechanics and surface hydrology,
– emphasis towards new techniques and data from NGL and towards solving a major, site-specific, long-term problem
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(modified from Ge, et al. 2003)
Biologicalchanges
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2) Double-disciplinary courses,
– integration of hydrogeology and geochemistry,
– integration of rock mechanics and hydrogeology
– integration of microbiology and hydrogeochemistry,
– Etc, etc
3) System-integrative courses
– on the development of so-called “Site Descriptive Models”, – process models– predictive models – back-modeling in palaeohydrology and
palaeogeochemistry– uncertainty analyses
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4) Courses on communication of geoscientific results with the public and decision makers, – including how to formulate the geoscience results in
a broader context and proper perspective.
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Wishes
• Transparent user friendly data base, • Updated Geological model of Äspö HRL• Accommodation facilities• Lecture rooms
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Financial conditions?
• Erasmus +• Faculty financing from Government?• VR (the Swedish Research Council)?• FORMAS?• Branch organizations?• ?????
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Sankta Barbara, från Wikipedia
Thank you!