iCRAGorama

In this episode, we chat with our resident LA-ICP-MS expert, Dr Maurice Brodbeck, on the application of using laser ablation to determine the trace element geochemistry of important ore-forming minerals. Hosted and produced by Dr Claire Geel.

In this episode, Dr Anna Bidgood elaborates on the importance of critical metal research. Her story spans all the way from Zambia to the Arctic. Hosted and produced by Dr Claire Geel.

In this episode, Dr Eoin Dunlevy tells us about his research on the geology of SW Ireland and sheds light on some of the unique challenges of exploration in that region. Hosted and produced by Claire Geel and Niamh Faulkner. Edited by Claire Geel.

In this episode, we chat with Halleluya Ekandjo about her research on the Rosh Pinah Zn-Pb deposit in Namibia and her experiences as a PhD student in Ireland. Hosted and produced by Claire Geel and Niamh Faulkner. Edited by Claire Geel.

We kick off the new season of iCRAGorama by inviting Dr Danny Hnatyshin to tell us about the applications of Re-Os dating and how he went about setting up a world class laboratory at UCD School of Earth Sciences in Dublin. Hosted and produced by Claire Geel and Niamh Faulkner. Edited by Claire Geel.

In this very special reunion episode, twelve of our previous guests return! Ben and Niamh invite them to answer questions about research, careers and pursuing a PhD, submitted by students from UCD. A thirteenth special guest appears and we chat about the future of iCRAGorama. Hosted by Ben Couvin and Niamh Faulkner. Produced by Ben Couvin, Niamh Faulkner & Claire Geel. Original music by Harry...

As iCRAG launches its second phase at the iCRAG 2021 event, we opened the show with a live taping of iCRAGorama! We interviewed Jennifer Craig, COO of iCRAG, and Koen Torremans, one of the first people to join iCRAG, who started as a post-doc and is now an Ad Astra assistant professor. We chat about their journeys and how working at iCRAG has changed their view on geoscience.  Hosted by Ben C...

In this final episode of Season 3, we invited Dave Chew from Trinity College Dublin, and we asked him to tell us the history of the Earth and how its appearance changed from lava ball to Snowball to what it is now. We find out how sedimentary provenance analysis and zircon help us date the build-up of past mountain chains in Ireland and in the rest of the world. Hosted and produced by Niamh Faulkn...

Our guests in this episode have both helped getting geoscience more prominent within Irish politics. Quentin raises awareness on radon hazards in Irish homes, while Nick has just completed a placement at the Oireachtas, advising TDs on the potential of geothermal energy development in Ireland. They share with us their recent experience in the matter. Hosted and produced by Niamh Faulkner and Ben C...

Martina O'Brien is the UCD Parity Studios/iCRAG Artist in Residence 2020. We asked her why she chose earth science and marine science as the main subject of her art work. She told us about her experience joining a science expedition at sea, and how her art projects always start out of curiosity. We then discussed the relevance of artists and scientists coming together and collaborating. Hosted and...

Together with Jennifer McElwain, Professor in Botany, and Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco, Assistant Professor in Mineralogy and PhD supervisor to Niamh, we chat about their respective research on innovative techniques for the capture and long-lasting storage of atmospheric carbon dioxyde. In the end, we find out whether CO2 storage is an efficient tool to mitigate climate change. Hosted and produced...

In this second part of iCRAGorama At Sea, we chat with Haleh from DIAS about her first experience on a research vessel, and together with returning guests Matt Allison and Erica T. Krueger, we talk about the hardships of a life at sea and what we learned about ourselves during the expedition. We also take a tour of the Celtic Explorer and go chat with some of the scientists and crewmates onboard!&...

For the first time in history, a podcast was recorded in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean! In this two-parter special, we're taking you aboard the R/V Celtic Explorer to meet the crew of the PoRo-CLIM Expedition. The research cruise, led by Dr Steve Jones, aims to gather geophysical data on the oceanic crust to learn more about how fast climate changed during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum....

Is the Gulf Stream about to disappear? Will groundwater stay safe to drink? Is there still hope or are we all doomed? And what is iCRAG doing to help finding solutions to mitigate the climatic and environmental crisis? All the answers to these questions are answered in this episode, as Jean O'Dwyer from UCC, head of the Environmental Geosciences programme at iCRAG, and Audrey Morley, from NUIG, pr...

Elspeth is the Education and Public Engagement officer at iCRAG, as well as a PhD researcher at the University of Manchester. She is interested in the palaeoenvironment of the Jurassic Morrison Formation in North America, and she tells us about the ecosystem in which dinosaurs used to live. We also chat about new and upcoming public engagement events iCRAG will be running. Hosted and produced by B...

Nick and Lingli are two post-doctoral researchers at University College Dublin, where they run the weekly webinars, as well as occasional online social events. We discussed the difficulties of networking, collaborating and socializing during the time of a pandemic, and suggest some solutions. Hosted and produced by Niamh Faulkner and Ben Couvin. Edited by Ben Couvin.

Rob is the project manager for the Blue Book project at iCRAG, an upcoming online repository of borehole information about the Carboniferous strata in Ireland, home to many Pb and Zn ore bodies. With Eoin from Geological Survey Ireland, they tell us why un update from the original Blue Book by Mike Philcox was needed, and what impact the new version will have on the mining industry sector in Irela...

Jess and Niamh chat with Aileen about the recent EDIG online conference, which addressed diversity issues in the field of geoscience, and discuss ways to improve and promote equality and inclusion in the workplace. Hosted and produced by Niamh Faulkner and Jess Franklin. Edited by Ben Couvin.

Murray Hitzman is the current director of the Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences (iCRAG). In this episode, we talked about his career, how he became iCRAG's director and how geoscientists are helping make our economy more sustainable. iCRAG recently received €28 million of funding and we discuss how the money will be used in the next 6 years, and how it will help mitigating climate c...

It's Christmas already! For this very special occasion, Ben and Jess debrief the Year That Never Was with iCRAG's research programme managers Aoife Blowick and Aoife Brady, while new recruit Niamh shoots rapid-fire questions and the most impossible Christmas trivia quiz. Hosted by Ben Couvin, Jess Franklin and Niamh Faulkner Produced and edited by Ben Couvin

For the season finale, we are joined by Jonathan McCrea, the host of Futureproof, popular science programme on Newstalk! We asked him how he came up with the idea of bringing science to national radio, chatted about how to become a better communicator and learned more about the FameLab competition. Hosted by Ben Couvin and Jess Franklin Edited and produced by Ben Couvin; Original music by Harry Co...

Hilde, from Trinity College Dublin, is a PhD student who is working on dating volcanic ash layers related to Zn/Pb deposits in Ireland. She let me know how her project helps knowing better the timing of ore mineralisation and we chatted about what makes her science communication award-worthy. Ben also tries to speak German with the guest! Hosted and produced by Ben Couvin. Edited by Ben Couvin; Or...

Ben and Jess chat with Luke, a PhD student at University College Cork who is interested in the evolution of deep cold-water coral ecosystems in the Porcupine Bank Canyon, offshore Ireland. He also started during lockdown a series of weekly webinars about marine science. Hosted by Ben Couvin and Jess Franklin. Produced and edited by Ben Couvin; Original music by Harry Couvin. 

Martin is a PhD student in NUI Galway and his research focuses on sediment provenance and palaeogeographical reconstruction. He tells us how County Clare used to be very different looking in the Carboniferous era, and he shares his experience with public outreach in the West of Ireland. Presented by Jess Franklin and Ben Couvin Produced and edited by Ben Couvin; Original music by Harry Couvin. Rec...

Maria McNamara is a researcher at University College Cork and she focuses on fossil tissue preservation and specifically the preservation and the evolution of colour. Together, we chatted about what makes her field of research so fascinating, her latest groundbreaking discoveries, and we also talked about the importance of public outreach. Presented, produced and edited by Ben Couvin.  Origin...