SOESNewsIssue 3 Spring 2009

Welcome to SOESNews - the School ofOcean andEarth Science (SOES)magazine for current and prospective students, alumni and friends. Welook forward to sharing exciting updates on ourworld-renownedscientists, features on cutting-edge research, profiles on talented alumni,and fun stories on our students. Enjoy!

Student Success in Prague at the PetroleumCompetition Page 2Pigments fromMarine CreaturesMayHelp in Biomedical Research Page 3WelcomeBack! SOESAlumni Reunite for School’s Anniversary Page 4

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The AAPG Imperial Barrel Award(IBA) is an annual hydrocarbonbasin/prospect evaluationcompetition for Masters levelstudents. University teams analyse adata set for a period of 6 – 8 weeksbefore the European competition.

The team of three geologists (FredHughes, James Nowecki, ChrisWeller) and two geophysicists (IlyaOstanin and Ben Proudman) gave a30-minute presentation on thepetroleum prospects of an area in theBarents Sea, and then answered

questions from a jury of senior oilindustry explorationists. The teamwas awarded 3rd place behind winnerMoscow State University, and secondplace Imperial College, and cameahead of eight other teams fromleading universities from aroundEurope. This was an excellent result,especially as this was the first timethat a team from the University ofSouthampton entered thecompetition.

The teams were advised byProfessors Jon Bull and JohnMarshall, and also received expertadvice from external consultant JohnBrooks, whose input was invaluable.The competition was a great learningexperience for the students andenabled them to develop industrialcontacts, as well as to buildcamaraderie amongst their peers.

2 Spring 2009

Members of the Winning Team in Prague: (from left to right) Ben Proudman, Fred Hughes, Ilya Ostanin

and James Nowecki. Photo: Chris Weller (5th member)

Google LaunchesOcean ProjectWith Help FromNOCS Scientists at NOCS have been helpingGoogle develop its new Ocean in GoogleEarth project.

The oceans cover two thirds of our planetyet we know little about the underwaterworld. Google Ocean will help add to ourglobal understanding of a world that isremote and largely undiscovered, but thatcould offer answers to some of the biggestissues facing humanity, such as the ocean’srole in regulating global climate change.

NOCS will provide blogs and film fromocean researchers working around the worldin addition to supplying data, images,footage and information about the oceansfor the ‘Ocean’ layer.

Professor Ed Hill, Director of NOCS, said:“We are excited about our collaborationwith Google’s Ocean project. We hope thatpeople can easily gain access to the work ofour scientists operating in these remotelocations and that it will increase awarenessof the issues facing the marine environment.The oceans are a fantastic way tocommunicate science. They have an endlessability to inspire not only researchers butpeople of all ages.”

Some 400 million people now can accessthis research as it takes place.

Explore the ocean now in Google Earth 5.0.

Front page photo: Southamptonundergraduates on geology field trip, WestCornwall, Easter 1958.

Spring 2009 3

A study published in thescientific journal PLoS ONEhighlights how a novel redfluorescent protein createdfrom a sea anemone pigmenthas lead to cell biologicaldiscovery.

The research team is led by DrJörg Wiedenmann in SOES.

Many pigments of colourful coralreef animals belong to the familyof fluorescent proteins. Theseproteins glow when they arestimulated with light of certainwavelengths. Fluorescent proteinsare powerful, specific marker toolsfor cell biological and biomedicalresearch. The impact of thefluorescent protein technology isconsidered so high that the 2008Nobel Prize in Chemistry wasrecently awarded to scientists thatdiscovered and further developedthe first green fluorescent proteinfrom the jellyfish Aequorea victoria.

Red fluorescent proteins are ofparticular interest as they offerseveral beneficial opticalproperties compared to greenfluorescent markers. For instance,their glow can be excited with low-energy light which is highlydesirable for the application of themarker proteins in living cells.Consequently, a steady demandexists for red fluorescent proteinswith new characteristics.

Dr Wiedenmann and hiscolleagues have created one suchvariant called ‘mRuby’ withparticularly useful properties forbiomedical research.

“The unique spectral propertiesmake mRuby the marker of choicefor a multitude of cell biologicalapplications,” say the researchers;“Moreover, the use of mRuby hasallowed novel insights in thebiology of organelles responsiblefor severe human diseases.”

Pigments from Marine CreaturesMay Help in Biomedical Research

The red fluorescent protein eqFP611 contributes to the colour of the tentacles of the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor.

Sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor under blue light illumination

Green and orange fluorescence ofpolyps of two different zoanthidspecies.

Photo: Jörg Wiedenmann

4 Spring 2009

On Saturday 14thMarch, SOES welcomedover 120 guests to its first alumni reunionfor all graduates.

Alumni from the early classes of Geology(1954) and Oceanography (1964) to the recentclass of 2008, as well as current and retiredacademic staff, gathered at the NationalOceanography Centre to help SOES celebrateits 10th Anniversary.

“I thought the day was a great success! It wasfantastic seeing some old faces andreminiscing with lecturers. I look forward tofuture invites,” said Matthew Lambe,(Geology 1994).

Geology has been taught at Southamptonsince 1862, and Oceanography since 1964.Through the years, the departments ofGeology and Oceanography evolved and in1998 they merged to become SOES, one of theUK’s strongest Schools for ocean and EarthScience.

“The merger of two small Universitydepartments in 1998 and the integration withthe wider NOCS community has created adiverse and exciting School like no other,”said Dr Rachel Mills (Oceanography withChemistry, 1988, Academic staff 1993 topresent). “There are world experts in a hugerange of subjects within a quick stroll from myoffice.”

The reunion followed the NOCS annual openhouse, “Ocean and Earth Day” during whichalumni joined 2000 members of the public totour the Centre and to enjoy a range ofinteractive exhibits. Most alumni studied atthe University’s Highfield campus duringtheir degree programme, so the visit to NOCSwas an eye-opening experience.

“I much appreciated our visit to the NOCSOpen Day and Alumni Reunion, whichincluded a tour of the Research VesselCallista. We found the Open Day exciting andinformative” said Margaret (Christal)Western, a 1959 Geology Alumna.

The SOES’ presence within the NOCSenvironment means that students enjoy anunparalleled academic experience includingaccess to cutting-edge technology andinternationally renowned scientists. Manyalumni remember the early days of thedepartments when geology and oceanographywere just beginning.

“By today’s standards, our fieldwork at thetime was primitive,” said Geoff Chapman,1965 MSc Oceanography. “As the firstOceanography class, we were starting fromscratch.” Fellow Oceanography classmateDave Blackbourn added. “I was delighted tobe selected to be part of such an interestingand unusual course at Southampton, then inits fledgling days in Oceanography.”

Margaret Western’s experience was similar. “Ilearnt from text-books and wrote lab reportsand of course did no computer-assisted work.A lot of the geology seemed to be learning toidentify rocks, minerals, crystals and fossilsand to know where they were found, and allthis without the benefit of any overarchingunderstanding that now comes from thewidely accepted theory of plate tectonics.”

“After more than half a century, I realise thatthe more that one learns, the more there stillis to learn. ”

Welcome Back! SOES Alumni Reunite for School’s 10th Anniversary

Margaret Western

Spring 2009 5

Fieldwork remains one of the fondest memories of University for many.Graduates sent in photos and memorabilia to share at the event. “I am glad thatsome of the work and photos that I had saved from fifty years ago were displayedat the reunion,” said Miss Western who has generously donated these materialsto the School for display outside the NOCS library.

Professor Jane Francis at Leeds University, and a 1978 Geology alumnareminisced about her fieldwork memories. “My happiest days were during myPhD fieldwork on the Dorset Coast. I return every year now and take my ownundergraduate students.”

2005 MGeol graduate Rob Cooper added “The second year and third yearsincluded a lot of fieldwork to build our confidence and skills: an Easter trip toSpain, a week in Anglesey and a month on the Caribbean island of Montserrat.For me, one of the most enjoyable things about the course and NOCS is howfriendly it always was, I imagine largely as a result of all the field trips.”

As we strengthen the University of Southampton alumni community and inparticular our connection with SOES graduates, we look forward to hostingmore reunions and events in the future. We also look forward to continuing toshowcase the important work of our scientists and graduates.

Thank you to all of the alumni who attended—we look forward to seeing youagain.

Photos from the Alumni Reunion and pictures

submitted by SOES graduates.

Spring 20096

£1.3 million Awardedto NOCS to ExploreAncient AntarcticLakeThe National Oceanography Centre,Southampton is receiving £1.3 million todevelop a probe to explore a massive lakedeep beneath Antarctica’s ice sheet.

Buried under 3 km of ice, Lake Ellsworth is anancient lake that has been isolated forhundreds of thousands of years and that couldcontain unique forms of life.

In such an extreme environment the merepresence of life in itself would be a majorscientific discovery, but there are strongreasons to expect that such micro-organismswould possess special or unique adaptationsto this unusual and potentially hostileenvironment.

The Natural Environment Research Councilhas awarded £6 million to a consortium ofmultidisciplinary researchers from ten UKuniversities, NOCS and the British AntarcticSurvey. Dr Matt Mowlem, head of sensortechnology at NOCS and a University ofSouthampton graduate, will lead a team in thedesign and construction of the probe. “We willmake measurements of the lake’s physics,chemistry and life forms with sensors, bycollecting water samples and by gatheringimages,” said Mowlem.

Consortium leader Professor Martin Siegertfrom the University of Edinburgh said: “Ourteam will be the first to explore this ancientlake. It is a dark, cold environment that hasbeen sealed from the outside environment andis likely to contain unique forms of life.”

School of Ocean and EarthScience Receives IndustrialSupport for FieldworkThe multinational mining company Rio Tinto, is donating£30,000 to support fieldwork in SOES.

The gift will be matched 100% through the government’s newmatched giving scheme.

SOES provides rigorous and comprehensive fieldworkopportunities for all students. As a result, SOES geologygraduates have been lauded by industry and external examinersfor being among the best trained and independent in the UK.

“Fieldwork is an essential part of any geologist’s training and isperhaps the most rewarding and enjoyable part of the Universitydegree programme,” said Professor Andrew Roberts, Head ofSchool. “Over the past decade, SOES has developed a record ofgraduates entering the mineral exploration industry that issecond to none across Europe.”

The gift from Rio Tinto will fund three years of the IndependentMapping Course and will allow SOES to innovate beyond whattraditional funding sources can provide. The gift will fund state-of-the-art field equipment designed to provide students withindustry simulated fieldwork conditions, as well as providingfinancial assistance to participating students.

The gift builds on Rio Tinto's long relationship with SOES andtheir confidence in the quality of Southampton’s programme.“Over the last fifteen years SOES has provided a stream of highlyskilled and talented graduates that have joined Rio TintoExploration and are now the leaders of our programmesWorldwide,” said Chris Welton, Exploration Executive at RioTinto and a University of Southampton Geology graduate. “Thesuccess rate of Southampton graduates is unprecedented in ourglobal graduate recruitment programme and so Rio Tinto haschosen to cement its already strong relationship with thissupport of the field programmes at SOES.”Ph

oto: Sue-Ann Watson

Photo: Ian Harding

Spring2009 7

Double YourImpact - TheAnnual Fund

Thanks to the newgovernment matched givingscheme, the University ofSouthampton can double thevalue of donations to theAnnual Fund through 2011.

Your gift to SOES will now havetwice the impact.

Please consider supporting SOESwith an annual gift.

SOES students benefit fromstudying in a world-classenvironment. Their studiesrequire demanding fieldworkcourses, specialist equipment andaccess to first-rate facilities.Annual Gifts help to enrich thestudent experience, enhance ourfacilities and ensure qualityprogrammes for current andfuture students.

We appreciate the support of ourcurrent donors and encouragethose who are considering makinga gift, to contact us atannualfund@soton.ac.uk or callTel: +44 (0)23 8059 4460.

THANK YOU

Fieldwork is a seminal experience for many SOESstudents and is often the most enjoyable part of thedegree programme.

This March, students and staff from SOES and theUniversity of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)travelled to Bermuda for a joint tropical marine ecologyfield course at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Science(BIOS). The trip is generously supported by the GillingsFamily Foundation which helped to establish the NOCS-UNCW Exchange Programme in 2007.

“Working at BIOS is, for many of our students, the firsttime they experience a working research institute otherthan NOCS. The facilities at BIOS and the opportunity totalk informally with staff opens students’ eyes to newcareer possibilities that they may not have consideredbefore,” said Dr Antony Jensen of SOES.

The Bermuda field course is unique within the degreeprogramme because of the emphasis placed on ‘in water’surveying techniques. Students are in the water withsnorkelling gear and are hands-on with the habitat that

they are surveying. Students gain new insight into the areawhere they are working as well as developing field skillsthat they can use later in their career.

“Partnering with UNCW has also demonstrated a healthyexchange of scientific ideas within the combined studentgroup. It is hoped that the potential of MSc or PhD studyat either University will become just as likely because ofthe contact and friendships made during the field course,”said Jensen.

Fieldwork in Bermuda

SOES and UNCW students onthe Bermuda field course.Photo: Antony Jensen

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Photo: Antony Jensen

Dinnerwith ArchbishopDesmondTutu

Nobel Prize winner Archbishop EmeritusDesmond Tutu visited the University ofSouthampton in February to promote theTutu Foundation, which works with existinggrass roots projects to help build bridgesamong different religions and ethnicities,especially among the younger generations.SOES student Christian Ihwiwhu (MRes inMarine Geology and Geophysics) had theopportunity to attend the dinner and to meetTutu.

ArchbishopDesmondTutu is one ofmyrolemodels aswell asNelsonMandela, soIwas honoured to have the opportunitytomeetMrTutu at a recent dinner at theUniversity of Southampton.

InNigeriawhere I am from, I haveexperienced first-handwhat it is to beabused, oppressed and neglected. Tutu isfamous for his non-violent resistance tothe apartheid, believing forgiveness andcooperation to be the road to peace. MrTutu spoke about “man’s inhumanityagainstman” and encouraged us all tofind our ownway to fight oppression andto be a rolemodel for others.

I come froma large family and I amamentor to people inmyhome-town inNigeria. I would likemy actions toencourage others to stand up forthemselves, and in particularwould liketo inspire others to pursue an education.Working onmymasters’ degree at SOES

is indeed a remarkable experience. Inmysearch for a grad school I wanted to besure of academic excellence, hands-onresearch experience and an excellentstaff-student rapport and SOEShasproven to be the place.

My educational experience has trulyinspiredme. I have built new skills,developed a strong network of friendsandmy career/interest has beenrecharged. I am currently on a fully-funded scholarshipwith ExxonMobil andwould like to return to Africa aftermystudies toworkwith the oil industry andto continue to be amentor to others.

When Iwas havingmy picture takenwithMrTutu, he askedmewhat Iwasstudying. When I told him I amaMastersstudent inMarineGeology, he said “Oh,so youwant to explore the ocean.” AfterhearingMrTutu speak, I am inspired todo that andmuchmore.

For further information, contact: Tel +44(0)23 8059 5898Email: SOES@noc.soton.ac.uk andalumni@noc.soton.ac.uk

www. southampton.ac.uk/soesPrintedon80%recycledpaper

Christian IhwiwhumeetingMr. Tutu

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If youwould like to discuss arranging a standing order please contact annualfund@soton.ac.uk.

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Please return completed form to : AnnualGiving,Office ofDevelopment&Alumni Relations, University of Southampton,Highfield, FREEPOSTLICENCENOSO286, Southampton SO17 1YN