The document describes the Soils Training And Research Studentships (STARS) Centre for Doctoral Training. STARS is a collaboration between 8 partner organizations in the UK to provide training and studentships for 24 PhD students over 3 years focused on soil science. The goals are to create a unique training experience and develop the next generation of soil scientists. Students will be placed into 4 research programs and receive training through cohort activities, online resources, and placements. The management board oversees operations and quality assurance. Example studentship projects are provided covering areas like carbon cycling, soil biodiversity, and the impacts of climate change and agricultural practices on soils.
Objectives
Characterize the soil microbial community across different management practices and measure the corresponding greenhouse gas fluxes.
Determine the adaptation and acclimation of the soil microbial community climate change.
Improve a soil greenhouse gas emission model to predict greenhouse gas emissions under global change scenarios.
Objectives
Characterize the soil microbial community across different management practices and measure the corresponding greenhouse gas fluxes.
Determine the adaptation and acclimation of the soil microbial community climate change.
Improve a soil greenhouse gas emission model to predict greenhouse gas emissions under global change scenarios.
This presentation was presented during the 1 Parallel session on Theme 2, Maintaining and/or increasing SOC stocks for climate change mitigation and adaptation and Land Degradation Neutrality, of the Global Symposium on Soil Organic Carbon that took place in Rome 21-23 March 2017. The presentation was made by Mr. Miguel Taboada, from INTA - Argentina, in FAO Hq, Rome
Objectives
- Compare effects of climate and land use on fluxes within the same climate zone and among the mesic and semi-arid regions
- Combine multi-scale observations (satellite, flux sites, inventories, tall towers) in neural networks to determine how current climate, land-use and land cover influence processes
- Modify CLM to reduce uncertainties in simulated effects of land use and land cover on biogeochemical and biophysical processes (crops, poplar)
- Investigate future climate variability, and effects of changes in land use and land cover on terrestrial processes
Assessing and reporting resilience of native vegetation using metrics of stru...Richard Thackway
The effects of contemporary and previous land management practices are reflected in the present-day condition of native vegetation. In order to properly manage land for productive use or to restore it to its 'natural' condition, it is important to know the changes that have taken place to the use of the land, and the cumulative effect of those changes. Assessing and reporting the resilience of native vegetation using metrics of structure, composition and function is discussed. The system, VAST-2, has been developed in the Australian context, where land management was relatively unchanged for some tens of thousands of years prior to European settlers who arrived some hundred years hence. This reference state provides a structure in which to compile, interpret and sequence data gathered in the past about changes in management practices and the effects of these practices on the condition of native plant communities. Early settlers and subsequent land managers have modified and fragmented the native vegetation thereby transforming many landscapes.
This presentation was presented during the 1 Parallel session on Theme 2, Maintaining and/or increasing SOC stocks for climate change mitigation and adaptation and Land Degradation Neutrality, of the Global Symposium on Soil Organic Carbon that took place in Rome 21-23 March 2017. The presentation was made by Mr. Miguel Taboada, from INTA - Argentina, in FAO Hq, Rome
Objectives
- Compare effects of climate and land use on fluxes within the same climate zone and among the mesic and semi-arid regions
- Combine multi-scale observations (satellite, flux sites, inventories, tall towers) in neural networks to determine how current climate, land-use and land cover influence processes
- Modify CLM to reduce uncertainties in simulated effects of land use and land cover on biogeochemical and biophysical processes (crops, poplar)
- Investigate future climate variability, and effects of changes in land use and land cover on terrestrial processes
Assessing and reporting resilience of native vegetation using metrics of stru...Richard Thackway
The effects of contemporary and previous land management practices are reflected in the present-day condition of native vegetation. In order to properly manage land for productive use or to restore it to its 'natural' condition, it is important to know the changes that have taken place to the use of the land, and the cumulative effect of those changes. Assessing and reporting the resilience of native vegetation using metrics of structure, composition and function is discussed. The system, VAST-2, has been developed in the Australian context, where land management was relatively unchanged for some tens of thousands of years prior to European settlers who arrived some hundred years hence. This reference state provides a structure in which to compile, interpret and sequence data gathered in the past about changes in management practices and the effects of these practices on the condition of native plant communities. Early settlers and subsequent land managers have modified and fragmented the native vegetation thereby transforming many landscapes.
Science in Parliament and Government by Andrew MillerJeremy LeLean
Andrew Miller looks at science in parliament and government, focusing particularly on the role of select committees, who forms them and hopw they work.
Light Pollution and Astronomy by Dr Michael ElvesJeremy LeLean
Dr Michael Elves looks at light pollution and its adverse effect on astornomy and how through grass roots pressure the law was changed to alleviate the problem.
This is a seminar paper about nano-fertilizer for agricultural application prepared by Md. Parvez Kabir, an MS Student under the department of Soil Science of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University. This paper helps to know how it increases the nutrient use efficiency, yield and decreases the toxicity effect and cost of crop cultivation.
Edible Low-Maintenance Landscaping at Clark UniversityJenkins Macedo
This presentation highlights how to transform the landscape of urban colleges and universities into a sustainable-edible landscape and community to enhance and promote biodiversity, while reducing environmental and ecological footprints.
Potassium in soil and plant: analytical and management issuesExternalEvents
The second lab managers’ meeting of the South-East Asia Laboratory NETwork (SEALNET) took place on 19 - 23 November 2018 in ICAR-IISS (Indian Institute of Soil Science), Bhopal, India.
T Satyanarayana, PhD Director, South Asia Program, International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) (1st Day)
Footage for the associated seminar: https://youtu.be/Z0Hkt7Sf0VA
The talk will focus on the current state of soil governance in Australia, alongside the recently released National Soil Strategy and debate how knowledge exchange on sustainable soil management is progressing. The need to maintain a healthy and functioning soil that is resilient and less vulnerable to climate change and land degradation is an ever-present goal. Yet to achieve this goal requires a critical mass of soil scientists who can effectively undertake research and more importantly people who can communicate such knowledge to farmers so that soil is protected through the use of landscape-appropriate practices. Decades of government de-investment and privatisation have led to a diminished and fragmented workforce that is distant from, rather than part of, the rural community, and farmers are also increasingly isolated with few functional social networks for knowledge exchange. Is it possible to chart a course that can see this decline in expertise and local soil knowledge corrected, and restore to it vitality and legitimacy?
"Enhancing Soil Nutrient Status and Water Productivity through Sustainable Re...Jenkins Macedo
This proposed research seeks to contribute to an on-going research project that is being implemented by the International Water Management Institute among smallholder farmers in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. This research is funded by the Purdue University Center for Global Food Security for Southeast Asia. The study will be supervised by IWMI and approval has being granted from the Clark University Office of Sponsored Research and Programs. The study was approved by IRB at Clark University. This study seeks to also fulfill the academic requirement for the Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy at CU and could be used amongst others for a doctoral dissertation.
Livestock-Climate Change CRSP Annual Meeting 2011: CARBON Project Update (J. ...Colorado State University
An update on the Livestock-Climate Change CRSP CARBON Project (A cost-effectiveness framework for landscape rehabilitation and carbon sequestration in North Kenya) and the current status of the project. Presentation given by J. Belnap (USGS) at the Livestock-Climate Change CRSP Annual Meeting, Golden, CO, April 26-27, 2011.
O R I G I N A L P A P E RManagerial Preferences in Relatio.docxcherishwinsland
O R I G I N A L P A P E R
Managerial Preferences in Relation to Financial
Indicators Regarding the Mitigation of Global Change
Josef Maroušek • Simona Hašková • Robert Zeman •
Radka Vanı́čková
Received: 3 February 2014 / Accepted: 11 March 2014 / Published online: 20 March 2014
� Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
Abstract Biochar is a soil—improving substrate made from phytomass pyrolysis. In
Southeast Asia, its application decreases due to the long-term growth of biochar cost
and thus caused further prolongation of the payback period. In the Euro-American
civilization the biochar application is already almost forgotten once it has been much
earlier recognized that the crop yields can be increased much faster with higher doses
of nutrients and other agrochemicals. The payback period can be expected in decades.
Such a long-time investment into soil fertility raises also many ethical questions. The
final decision combines issues of social responsibility, risk and other financial indi-
cators as well as personal preferences and more. The attitudes of Western and Central
European decision makers in the agriculture business segment were analyzed on the
basis of electronic questionnaire survey and a subsequent interview through their local
unions. According to the data, most of them did not know about the possibilities of a
more environmentally friendly approach to soil enhancement based on the addition of
a fertilizer in the form of biochar. Among others, the collected data also shows that the
decision makers from Western Europe have a much different ethical approach to the
land and financial indicators than the Central Europeans.
Keywords Biochar � Financial indicators � Discounted payback period �
Net present value
Introduction
Although we can not take the evidence from a scientific point of view to be sufficient, it
is assumed that the Amazonian Indians applied biochar (called as black soil) to increase
J. Maroušek (&) � S. Hašková � R. Zeman � R. Vanı́čková
The Institute of Technology and Businesses in České Budějovice, Okružnı́ 517/10,
370 01 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
e-mail: [email protected]
123
Sci Eng Ethics (2015) 21:203–207
DOI 10.1007/s11948-014-9531-2
the soil fertility more than a thousand years ago. Ancient Japanese text refers to biochar
(called fire manure) in 1697 (Lehmann and Joseph 2009). The positive effects of the
biochar were evidently observed a long time ago. However, its complex relationships
between production technology design and the parameters obtained as well as soil
interactions and the relation to the phytomass yields are a subject of many recent studies
(Lehman et al. 2006, 2011; Atkinson et al. 2010; Sohi et al. 2010). Interconnecting the
conclusions of these robust reviews it may be summarized that the mechanism that
underlies the efficacy of the biochar is strongly connected with the microporosity which
provides a high surface area to .
Multi-source connectivity as the driver of solar wind variability in the heli...Sérgio Sacani
The ambient solar wind that flls the heliosphere originates from multiple
sources in the solar corona and is highly structured. It is often described
as high-speed, relatively homogeneous, plasma streams from coronal
holes and slow-speed, highly variable, streams whose source regions are
under debate. A key goal of ESA/NASA’s Solar Orbiter mission is to identify
solar wind sources and understand what drives the complexity seen in the
heliosphere. By combining magnetic feld modelling and spectroscopic
techniques with high-resolution observations and measurements, we show
that the solar wind variability detected in situ by Solar Orbiter in March
2022 is driven by spatio-temporal changes in the magnetic connectivity to
multiple sources in the solar atmosphere. The magnetic feld footpoints
connected to the spacecraft moved from the boundaries of a coronal hole
to one active region (12961) and then across to another region (12957). This
is refected in the in situ measurements, which show the transition from fast
to highly Alfvénic then to slow solar wind that is disrupted by the arrival of
a coronal mass ejection. Our results describe solar wind variability at 0.5 au
but are applicable to near-Earth observatories.
Earliest Galaxies in the JADES Origins Field: Luminosity Function and Cosmic ...Sérgio Sacani
We characterize the earliest galaxy population in the JADES Origins Field (JOF), the deepest
imaging field observed with JWST. We make use of the ancillary Hubble optical images (5 filters
spanning 0.4−0.9µm) and novel JWST images with 14 filters spanning 0.8−5µm, including 7 mediumband filters, and reaching total exposure times of up to 46 hours per filter. We combine all our data
at > 2.3µm to construct an ultradeep image, reaching as deep as ≈ 31.4 AB mag in the stack and
30.3-31.0 AB mag (5σ, r = 0.1” circular aperture) in individual filters. We measure photometric
redshifts and use robust selection criteria to identify a sample of eight galaxy candidates at redshifts
z = 11.5 − 15. These objects show compact half-light radii of R1/2 ∼ 50 − 200pc, stellar masses of
M⋆ ∼ 107−108M⊙, and star-formation rates of SFR ∼ 0.1−1 M⊙ yr−1
. Our search finds no candidates
at 15 < z < 20, placing upper limits at these redshifts. We develop a forward modeling approach to
infer the properties of the evolving luminosity function without binning in redshift or luminosity that
marginalizes over the photometric redshift uncertainty of our candidate galaxies and incorporates the
impact of non-detections. We find a z = 12 luminosity function in good agreement with prior results,
and that the luminosity function normalization and UV luminosity density decline by a factor of ∼ 2.5
from z = 12 to z = 14. We discuss the possible implications of our results in the context of theoretical
models for evolution of the dark matter halo mass function.
Slide 1: Title Slide
Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Slide 2: Introduction to Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Definition: Extrachromosomal inheritance refers to the transmission of genetic material that is not found within the nucleus.
Key Components: Involves genes located in mitochondria, chloroplasts, and plasmids.
Slide 3: Mitochondrial Inheritance
Mitochondria: Organelles responsible for energy production.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): Circular DNA molecule found in mitochondria.
Inheritance Pattern: Maternally inherited, meaning it is passed from mothers to all their offspring.
Diseases: Examples include Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and mitochondrial myopathy.
Slide 4: Chloroplast Inheritance
Chloroplasts: Organelles responsible for photosynthesis in plants.
Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA): Circular DNA molecule found in chloroplasts.
Inheritance Pattern: Often maternally inherited in most plants, but can vary in some species.
Examples: Variegation in plants, where leaf color patterns are determined by chloroplast DNA.
Slide 5: Plasmid Inheritance
Plasmids: Small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria and some eukaryotes.
Features: Can carry antibiotic resistance genes and can be transferred between cells through processes like conjugation.
Significance: Important in biotechnology for gene cloning and genetic engineering.
Slide 6: Mechanisms of Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Non-Mendelian Patterns: Do not follow Mendel’s laws of inheritance.
Cytoplasmic Segregation: During cell division, organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts are randomly distributed to daughter cells.
Heteroplasmy: Presence of more than one type of organellar genome within a cell, leading to variation in expression.
Slide 7: Examples of Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Four O’clock Plant (Mirabilis jalapa): Shows variegated leaves due to different cpDNA in leaf cells.
Petite Mutants in Yeast: Result from mutations in mitochondrial DNA affecting respiration.
Slide 8: Importance of Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Evolution: Provides insight into the evolution of eukaryotic cells.
Medicine: Understanding mitochondrial inheritance helps in diagnosing and treating mitochondrial diseases.
Agriculture: Chloroplast inheritance can be used in plant breeding and genetic modification.
Slide 9: Recent Research and Advances
Gene Editing: Techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 are being used to edit mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA.
Therapies: Development of mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) for preventing mitochondrial diseases.
Slide 10: Conclusion
Summary: Extrachromosomal inheritance involves the transmission of genetic material outside the nucleus and plays a crucial role in genetics, medicine, and biotechnology.
Future Directions: Continued research and technological advancements hold promise for new treatments and applications.
Slide 11: Questions and Discussion
Invite Audience: Open the floor for any questions or further discussion on the topic.
Richard's aventures in two entangled wonderlandsRichard Gill
Since the loophole-free Bell experiments of 2020 and the Nobel prizes in physics of 2022, critics of Bell's work have retreated to the fortress of super-determinism. Now, super-determinism is a derogatory word - it just means "determinism". Palmer, Hance and Hossenfelder argue that quantum mechanics and determinism are not incompatible, using a sophisticated mathematical construction based on a subtle thinning of allowed states and measurements in quantum mechanics, such that what is left appears to make Bell's argument fail, without altering the empirical predictions of quantum mechanics. I think however that it is a smoke screen, and the slogan "lost in math" comes to my mind. I will discuss some other recent disproofs of Bell's theorem using the language of causality based on causal graphs. Causal thinking is also central to law and justice. I will mention surprising connections to my work on serial killer nurse cases, in particular the Dutch case of Lucia de Berk and the current UK case of Lucy Letby.
Cancer cell metabolism: special Reference to Lactate PathwayAADYARAJPANDEY1
Normal Cell Metabolism:
Cellular respiration describes the series of steps that cells use to break down sugar and other chemicals to get the energy we need to function.
Energy is stored in the bonds of glucose and when glucose is broken down, much of that energy is released.
Cell utilize energy in the form of ATP.
The first step of respiration is called glycolysis. In a series of steps, glycolysis breaks glucose into two smaller molecules - a chemical called pyruvate. A small amount of ATP is formed during this process.
Most healthy cells continue the breakdown in a second process, called the Kreb's cycle. The Kreb's cycle allows cells to “burn” the pyruvates made in glycolysis to get more ATP.
The last step in the breakdown of glucose is called oxidative phosphorylation (Ox-Phos).
It takes place in specialized cell structures called mitochondria. This process produces a large amount of ATP. Importantly, cells need oxygen to complete oxidative phosphorylation.
If a cell completes only glycolysis, only 2 molecules of ATP are made per glucose. However, if the cell completes the entire respiration process (glycolysis - Kreb's - oxidative phosphorylation), about 36 molecules of ATP are created, giving it much more energy to use.
IN CANCER CELL:
Unlike healthy cells that "burn" the entire molecule of sugar to capture a large amount of energy as ATP, cancer cells are wasteful.
Cancer cells only partially break down sugar molecules. They overuse the first step of respiration, glycolysis. They frequently do not complete the second step, oxidative phosphorylation.
This results in only 2 molecules of ATP per each glucose molecule instead of the 36 or so ATPs healthy cells gain. As a result, cancer cells need to use a lot more sugar molecules to get enough energy to survive.
Unlike healthy cells that "burn" the entire molecule of sugar to capture a large amount of energy as ATP, cancer cells are wasteful.
Cancer cells only partially break down sugar molecules. They overuse the first step of respiration, glycolysis. They frequently do not complete the second step, oxidative phosphorylation.
This results in only 2 molecules of ATP per each glucose molecule instead of the 36 or so ATPs healthy cells gain. As a result, cancer cells need to use a lot more sugar molecules to get enough energy to survive.
introduction to WARBERG PHENOMENA:
WARBURG EFFECT Usually, cancer cells are highly glycolytic (glucose addiction) and take up more glucose than do normal cells from outside.
Otto Heinrich Warburg (; 8 October 1883 – 1 August 1970) In 1931 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology for his "discovery of the nature and mode of action of the respiratory enzyme.
WARNBURG EFFECT : cancer cells under aerobic (well-oxygenated) conditions to metabolize glucose to lactate (aerobic glycolysis) is known as the Warburg effect. Warburg made the observation that tumor slices consume glucose and secrete lactate at a higher rate than normal tissues.
Seminar of U.V. Spectroscopy by SAMIR PANDASAMIR PANDA
Spectroscopy is a branch of science dealing the study of interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter.
Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy refers to absorption spectroscopy or reflect spectroscopy in the UV-VIS spectral region.
Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy is an analytical method that can measure the amount of light received by the analyte.
This pdf is about the Schizophrenia.
For more details visit on YouTube; @SELF-EXPLANATORY;
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiarMZDNhe1A3Rnpr_WkzA/videos
Thanks...!
1. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Soils Training And Research Studentships
#starsoil
NERC-BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training
2. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
CEH
Lancaster University
CEH
Bangor University
CEH
British Geological Survey
Rothamsted Research
James Hutton Institute
University of Nottingham
Cranfield University
Eight partner organizations, 4 Universities and 4 Research
Institutes
CEH
3. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Starts: October 2015
3 student cohorts intakes 2015, 2016, 2017
24 (8x3) NERC BBSRC Studentships, plus 9 (3x3) match funded
from the consortium
+ additional investment support provided by the consortium
Contact: stars@lancaster.ac.uk #starsoil
http://www.starsoil.org.uk/
Aim: To create of a novel and unique national training
experience for the next generation of soil scientists
4. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Program 2
Soils & the
delivery of
ecosystem
services
Program 1
Understanding
the soil-root
interface
Program 3
Resilience &
response of soil
functions &
global changes
Program 4
Modelling the soil
ecosystem at
different spatial &
temporal scales
4 Programs
5. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Some of the things that we hope to achieve…
1. STARS research training journey, stimulating, structured and
monitored
2. Cohort training in the College - both ‘physical’ and ‘online’
3. Use on-line fora to share experiences and host meetings
4. Exposure to key soil ‘platforms’ and multidisciplinary research &
collaboration
5. Programme of CASE studentships, Internships (PIPs) and
international placements
6. Shared data repository and a legacy of an open online training
6. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Some example cohort building activities
7. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
The STARS Management Board
David Chadwick – Bangor University
Guy Kirk – Cranfield University
Emma Sayer – Lancaster University
Sacha Mooney – University of Nottingham
Andrew Tye – BGS
David Robinson – CEH
Helaina Black – James Hutton Institute
Steve McGrath – Rothamsted Research
Phil Haygarth (Lancaster University) – Academic Director and Chair of the Board
Davey Jones (Bangor University) – Director of Training
Olivia Lawrenson (Lancaster University) – Administrator
8. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Local supervisors
propose projects
• Local HEI/RI
team select
the 4 best
projects
MB reduces 32 to
16 and advertise
• Selection
criteria:
strategic fit,
excellence,
collaboration
innovation, CASE
and PIP
Shortlist and
interview
• Up to 4
interviewed
• MB meeting
select 8 based
on applicant
quality
Admission Process…..
9. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
MB may balance
intake for
science/intake/mult
idisciplinarity
QAA Quality Code
STARS Directorate
Records & Reports
to RCUK
Local processes
used where possible
Academic quality
and training
progress reviews
will be achieved
using well
established ‘tried
and tested’ Local PG
processes at the
registering HEIs
Progression process…..
10. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Training Quality
Supervisory skills
workshops
Annual review
Student Representative
Group and Strategy
Board
Establish success
indicators
Data Management
Returns via Je-S Student
Details Portal (SDP)
Biannual audits of Je-S
SDP information
Data and quality management
11. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
STARS PhD Projects – Cohort 1
Carbon cycling in plant soil systems
Measuring and modelling plant-driven soil carbon dynamics
In-soil trophic interactions between plants, rhizosphere bacteria
and nematodes: improving availability of soil phosphorus
Breaking new ground: novel plants for the remediation and
conditioning of soil structure
Rhizosphere bacteria promote sustainable crop growth
Does soil biodiversity matter? Connecting diversity, function and
the delivery of ecosystem services from soils
Dynamics of metal nanoparticles in soil environments
Accounting for soil change using ecosystems service approach
Effects of long-term climate change on microbially-mediated soil
processes
Mitigating soil erosion by manipulating root system architecture
Can reduced tillage mitigate against climate change?
12. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Carbon Cycling in Plant Soil Systems
Understanding what controls the storage of carbon in soils and the cycling of plant nutrients is critical
to both maintenance of the natural environment and to feeding the world’s population sustainably.
Supervisors: Paul Hill & Davey Jones (Bangor), Sacha Mooney (Nottingham) and Tiina Roose (Southampton)
Candidate: Maria McMahon
Project aims:
To utilise recent technological advances to determine:
(1) The relative quantities and types of C, N and P delivered to the soil in
turnover of roots and mycorrhizas in temperate permanent grassland.
(2) The rate and route of utilisation by soil microbes of the various forms of
C delivered to the soil by these processes and how this controls the delivery
of C back to the atmosphere as CO2.
(3) How synchronous with mineralisation of plant C to CO2 is the return of N
and P to plant-available forms.
(4) How estimates of root and mycorrhizal turnover measured by state-of-
the-art techniques compare with those from more traditional approaches.
13. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Measuring and modelling plant-driven soil carbon
dynamics
Applications re-opened – deadline: 28th September
All information found at www.starsoil.org.uk
Large amounts of carbon are held as organic matter in the
world’s soils. Existing models predict that the land surface
will switch from being a sink for atmospheric CO2 to being a
net source as soils give up their carbon with rising
temperature, resulting in a positive feedback loop.
Supervisors: Guy Kirk, Ron Corstanje (Cranfield) and Eric Paterson (JHI)
The processes governing this are poorly understood, and
poorly represented in models.
Project aims:
Use a novel field laboratory at Cranfield to study these processes including:
1) isotopic labelling of plants and microbial substrates to follow carbon fluxes between plant and
soil pools.
2) mathematical modelling to link the processes together.
14. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
1. Phytase enzymes act on phytate to generate plant
available orthophosphate.
In-soil trophic interactions between plants, rhizosphere bacteria and nematodes:
Improving availability of soil phosphorus
Malika Mezeli1 Supervisors: Timothy S. George1, Roy Neilson1, Martin Blackwell2, Courtney Giles1, Philip M. Haygarth3.
1. James Hutton Institute, Dundee. 2. Rothamsted Research. 3. Lancaster University.
Aims
Establish the importance of in-soil
trophic interactions in soil P and
plant dynamics.
Improve plant utilisation of
organic P.
Support future design of
sustainable agricultural systems.
Approach and Methods
Net uptake and change in soil P pool
through the growth cycle:
31P NMR HPLC DGT
The movement of P through
the soil/plant cycle:
18O-PO4 Stable Isotope
Isotope labelling
Categorisation of soil macro and micro fauna
Classic and molecular Nematology PCR RNA analysis
3.Current research aims to
utilize residual soil organic P by
understanding rhizospheric
mechanisms.
4.Currently
the
effectiveness
of these
processes is
limited.
6.In response to current developments this PhD will extend such work to arable systems and
contribute to more sustainable soil P management practices.
1.Global
agricultural
production relies
on rock phosphate.
Major environmental
polluter.
Only 15% of applied
P taken up by plants.
2. Recent work highlights the importance of
bactervious nematodes in effective plant utilisation
of hydrolysed phytate],resulting in increased plant
growth.
5.Recent work highlights the importance
of in-soil interactions such as
bacterivorous nematodes in increasing
plant utilization of soil organic P.
2.Current
phosphorus (P)
management
practices are
economically and
environmentally
unsustainable.
15. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Breaking new ground: novel plants for the remediation
and conditioning of soil structure
Project aims:
(i) to identify novel non-crop plant species competent in growing in
structurally compromised soils;
(ii) establish the biophysical mechanisms and processes by which soil
structural dynamics are manifest via root-based traits and their
interactions with the soil biota;
(iii) explore the potential for such species to be used as a practical
means to improve and manage soil structure as novelbreak crops in
production systems.
Soil structural degradation is a globally pervasive problem in production agriculture and
horticulture, affecting crop productivity and environmental quality, and occurs sporadically in
natural ecosystems. A particular issue is that of compaction, often manifest as a general collapse
of soil structure in the topsoil layer and a ‘pan’ below this zone, both of which compromise the
efficient functioning of crop roots.
Supervisors: Karl Ritz and Sacha Mooney (Nottingham) Glyn Bengough (JHI) and Paul Brown (Frontier Agriculture)
(interviews pending)
16. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Rhizosphere bacteria promote sustainable crop growth
Student: Heather Ruscoe
Supervisors: Penny Hirsch, Tim Mauchline, Rothamsted Research
Ian Dodd, Lancaster University
Background: This project aims to establish whether introducing P. fluorescens inoculants to crop plants
can provide robust, reproducible growth advantages and resilience to environmental stresses.
Hypotheses:
• Plants either differentially select rhizosphere microorganisms with beneficial traits, or the process is stochastic and
depends on the numbers and diversity of bacteria in the bulk soil
• Introducing beneficial individual isolates or assemblages can enhance plant growth and allow more efficient use of
fertilizers
• Crop water status affects microbial populations and their interactions with plants
Approach: Screen isolates from wheat roots, for genes encoding well-known beneficial traits including nitrogen
fixation, phosphate solubilisation, ACC deaminase and production of anti-fungal metabolites (e.g. phloroglucinol and HCN
production) for which sequence data are available, using standard bioinformatics tools.
17. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Does soil biodiversity matter? Connecting diversity,
function and the delivery of ecosystem services from soils
Project aims:
To capitalize on a unique soil biodiversity dataset to answer key
questions about:
(1) how below-ground diversity relates to land use and key
components of the ecosystem
(2) how below-ground diversity responds to agricultural land
management
(3) how below-ground diversity relates to soil function and ecosystem
service provision. This knowledge will help our fundamental
understanding of how soil ecosystems work as well as providing the
underpinning information required by regulators and policymakers to
make informed decisions about managing and protecting soils for
future generations
Soil represents one of the most diverse habitats on earth yet our understanding of how this regulates soil function
and the subsequent delivery of ecosystem services remains extremely poor. Recent advances in methods for
characterising soil microbial communities, however, has provided us with an unprecedented opportunity to
understand the factors driving below-ground diversity and the links to ecosystem functioning.
Supervisors: Davey Jones, Simon Creer (Bangor), David Robinson (CEH) and James Skates (Welsh Gov.t)
Candidate: Paul George
18. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Dynamics of metal nanoparticles in soil environments
The use of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) in consumer and industrial products has increased
rapidly. Wastewater treatment is a major pathway for nanoparticle release to soils. Transformations
during the sewage treatment process are likely, so that the NP’s in the sludge are often ‘aged’ and in
the form of ZnS, AgS and Zn phosphates.
Project aims:
There is currently limited knowledge regarding the
long term fate of ‘aged’ NPs in UK soils. This PhD
seeks to address the key gaps in our understanding
of their behaviour by quantifying changes in their
speciation, mobility, bioaccumulation and toxicity
across a range of soil types and time periods.
Supervisors: Andrew Tye (BGS), Steve Lofts, Claus Svedsen (CEH) and Scott Young (Nottingham)
Candidate: Beckie Draper
19. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
SUPERVISORS
David Robinson: NERC - Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bangor
Davey Jones: Bangor University
Iain Fraser: University of Kent
Candidate: Fiona Seaton
AIMS
• Determine how best to combine and analyze national soil
data with soil and land use change data to create ecosystem
accounts.
• Use national data to explore linkage between above and
belowground soil function and ecosystem service delivery.
• Propose new ways to assess soil change that will advance the
work of the UN’s experimental ecosystem accounts.
Robinson, D.A. 2015. Science 347, 6218: 140
Accounting for soil change using ecosystems service approach
20. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
• Preliminary work shows that two decades of summer drought and winter warming treatments
have altered soil microbial communities in ancient species-rich grassland.
• This studentship investigates the functional consequences of those changes.
Buxton Climate Impacts Study
• Established in 1993
• climate treatments and main
interactions in 5 replicate
blocks
Summer drought Winter warming
Project aims:
• To determine whether specific microbial functional groups are disproportionately affected by the
Buxton climate treatments.
• To quantify changes in microbial processes (decomposition and nutrient cycling) in response to
climate treatments.
• To link shifts in microbial functional groups to changes in soil processes.
Supervisors: Emma Sayer & Carly Stevens (Lancaster) and Anna Oliver & Rob Griffiths (CEH)
Candidate: James Edgerly
Effects of long-term climate change on microbially-
mediated soil processes
21. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Mitigating soil erosion by manipulating root system
architecture
Plant roots are a crucial yet under-researched
factor for reducing water erosion rates through
their ability to alter soil properties such as
aggregate stability, hydraulic function and shear
strength.
Project aims:
To evaluate the effects of genotypic variation in
root architecture (specifically vertical gradients in
lateral root proliferation) on soil erosion rates.
Supervisors: John Quinton, Ian Dodd (Lancaster) and Sacha Mooney (Nottingham)
Candidate: Emma Burak
22. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
Can reduced tillage mitigate against climate change?
Project aims:
1. Develop an optimized design to sample conventional and RT farms and facilitate local and regional
estimates of treatment effects.
2. Assess seasonal variation in in-situ GHG release (chambers) and soil structure at sampled sites.
3. Quantify soil biophysical properties (e.g. aggregate stability, pore connectivity by X-ray CT) at
sampled sites and to use these and in-situ observations to explain observed effects on GHG release.
Reduced (including zero) tillage (RT) is increasingly popular
globally and in the UK, where it is practised on ca. 45% of
arable land. There is growing evidence RT reduces runoff,
enhances water retention and may promote carbon
sequestration. However, the effects of RT on greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions from soil are uncertain.
Supervisors: Sacha Mooney, Sofie Sjogersten (Nottingham), Murray Lark and Barry Rawlings (BGS)
Candidate: Hannah Cooper
23. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
STARS - SSP collaboration opportunities……
• Aim to be community facing and welcome to offers of
collaboration and working together
• Additional ‘third supervisor’ collaboration welcomed –
with training benefit for the student
• CASE and internship opportunities
• Wider participation in some physical training, on an ad
hoc basis - space and logistics permitting
• An open source vision for the online training once
established - training videos, online virtual training
24. Soils Training And Research Studentships
Centre for Doctoral TrainingSTARS
2016 Project Call – Cohort 2
• 8 NERC/BBSRC studentships available, plus 3 matched funded
studentships.
• Deadline for project proposal submission is: 4 pm on 30th September.
• Application guidelines and forms can be downloaded from the STARS
homepage: www.starsoil.org.uk.
• Enquires to: stars@lancaster.ac.uk.
Editor's Notes
Paul. Lower case “a” in “And”
4 HEIs hold unrivalled international soil research credibility with pioneering ‘state-of-the-art’ facilities.
4 RIs complement national and international capacity to translate ‘blue-skies’ research into environmental solutions with knowledge, models, databases, long-term monitoring networks and experiments.
Cover key organisations in UK
We have a plan for bringing together and managing the wide geographical spread
Bringing the UK soil science community together
Two NERC institutes. One BBSRC inst and Notts is a BBSRC Strategic Partner Uni
Maps to call
Training Excellence (= 35% ~ 5 slides)
Factors and evidence that might be discussed
Students have access to, and are encouraged, by peer to peer learning and support.
Mechanisms for supervision and monitoring of both student and supervisor.
Integration of students into the relevant teams/projects/departments/schools.
How generalist and specialist development needs of individual students will be identified and delivered.
The personal/ professional/ career learning and development that students will receive.
The collaborative opportunities, which may include internships, industrial placements, overseas studies, and co- supervisory arrangements if appropriate.
Completion rates, publication and first destination data for students hosted within CDT institutions.
Employability.
Mechanisms to ensure the development of independent researchers and world-leading scientists.
Leveraged funding and in-kind support for the CDT.
Key aspects for an outstanding CDT
Students are part of an active community and managed as a cohort.
Excellent scientific training and transferable/professio nal skills development opportunities.
Challenging and relevant projects.
Timely access to world-class facilities, direct experience of cutting-edge techniques, technologies and up to date methodologies.
End user engagement: Students will gain value from interaction with end-users in industry, government and civil society) and leave equipped with skills applicable to the environment sector: skills for policy-makers and regulators; industry and business; and NGOs and charities.
Excellent training and support for supervisors.
Training Excellence (= 35% ~ 5 slides)
Factors and evidence that might be discussed
Students have access to, and are encouraged, by peer to peer learning and support.
Mechanisms for supervision and monitoring of both student and supervisor.
Integration of students into the relevant teams/projects/departments/schools.
How generalist and specialist development needs of individual students will be identified and delivered.
The personal/ professional/ career learning and development that students will receive.
The collaborative opportunities, which may include internships, industrial placements, overseas studies, and co- supervisory arrangements if appropriate.
Completion rates, publication and first destination data for students hosted within CDT institutions.
Employability.
Mechanisms to ensure the development of independent researchers and world-leading scientists.
Leveraged funding and in-kind support for the CDT.
Key aspects for an outstanding CDT
Students are part of an active community and managed as a cohort.
Excellent scientific training and transferable/professio nal skills development opportunities.
Challenging and relevant projects.
Timely access to world-class facilities, direct experience of cutting-edge techniques, technologies and up to date methodologies.
End user engagement: Students will gain value from interaction with end-users in industry, government and civil society) and leave equipped with skills applicable to the environment sector: skills for policy-makers and regulators; industry and business; and NGOs and charities.
Excellent training and support for supervisors.
Advertised annually on jobs.ac.uk and FindaPhD.com as well as the STARS CDT website and local HEIs and RIs. Applicants will complete a tailored STARS CDT application form
Emphasis will be given to excellent students: will hold at least a high 2(i) degree in an appropriate maths-science-engineering discipline
The supervisor and local STARS MB representative will short-list the candidates for each PhD on the basis of their qualifications & interview up to four and a primary candidate for each PhD will be identified.
A MB in a meeting will then review these primary candidate applications and eight will be selected for support based on applicant quality.
Each of the degree awarding partners’ existing progress monitoring processes are currently benchmarked against the QAA Quality Code, but the STARS Directorate will maintain copies of reports and metrics for RCUK audit purposes. Where possible, local PG processes will be used appropriate to avoid unnecessary duplication. Submission and examination will necessarily follow the registering university’s regulations.
Metrics of the recruitment process supplied to STARS Directorate by the local PG offices and MB representative.
The MB reserves the right to balance the PhD intake to ensure project representation across the STARS themes and to ensure that at least 50% of the projects demonstrate multidisciplinarity
All students will have at least two supervisors who may be cross-theme and cross-institutional. The MB will also approve or revise supervisory teams to ensure new supervisors are supported and multidisciplinarity for the student
The MB will oversee student academic progress with input from the Director of Training. STARS students- approved supervisors and local PG offices will be responsible for recording their progress, activities, achievements, supervision and training (with auditable records and metrics maintained at the Directorate at LU).
Academic quality and training progress reviews will be achieved using well established ‘tried and tested’ Local PG processes at the registering HEIs (LU, BU, CU and UoN). At each review juncture (i.e. ~6, 12, 18, 24, 36 months) students will be required to submit a report outlining their progress to date, and their research plans for the next six months-year.
: quality and progress of students recruited, student satisfaction with the integrated training programme, submission and completion rates, quality of career destinations of CDT graduates, notable success stories, membership of professional societies, awards and prizes, and engagement with partners/industry. These will be reported to NERC and BBSRC as required.