Abstract

This talk will focus on my ongoing research interests in density and/or buoyancy driven flow phenomena in coastal margins (e.g. estuaries, fjords and sea-straits). The talk will present a number of case-studies that have motived this work, including: modelling deep water renewal events in Bolstadfjord (a coastal fjordic system in Norway); and flow dynamics and "salt wedge" intrusion in the Ebro river estuary (i.e. within the Ebro Delta region in Spain). This research has combined experimental and numerical model simulations of these density driven and stratified flows, utilising both idealised and geometrically realistic representations of the different channel topographies under consideration. These studies have often been motivated by enhancing our understanding of climate change and other anthropogenic impacts in coastal and marine environments; specifically, how these factors may influence the magnitude, form and intermittency of density-driven flow events in estuaries, fjords and sea-straits and their potential knock-on effects on aquatic water quality and marine ecology.

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Abstract

The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. Additionally, starting from 2025, March 21 is recognized as the World Day of Glaciers. The International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 and World Day for Glaciers were proposed by Tajikistan adopted by a UN General Assembly resolution inviting UNESCO and WMO, in cooperation with UN Member States and relevant organizations to facilitate their implementation. The 2025 International Year aims to raise awareness on the impacts of climate change on glaciers and mountains by highlighting the critical functions of glaciers, and the implications of climate change for ecosystems, water resources and local populations and their livelihoods. As a contribution to the World Day the UK National Commission for UNESCO intends to compile a short report that demonstrates the veracity of relevant UK glaciological/hydrological activity. Dr Ailsa Guild was invited to submit a contribution to this report around her research on outlet glaciers in Iceland. This talk will cover this contribution, which is focused on a case study of an outlet glacier from Southeast Iceland- Svínafellsjökull. This research uses a landsystem approach which exemplifies the relationships between climate change, glacier dynamics, and the resulting hazards that pose risks to nearby communities. As glaciers continue to retreat and the frequency of associated hazards increases, a thorough understanding of these processes becomes ever more crucial. By integrating structural glaciology, geomorphological mapping, and hazard assessment, researchers can develop comprehensive models that not only enhance our understanding of glacial landsystems, but also provide vital information for mitigating risks to human life and property in vulnerable areas. The findings from this research highlight the need for proactive measures to safeguard communities against the growing threats posed by glacial hazards, ensuring that both current and future generations can navigate the challenges of a changing climate Overall this research shows that understanding changes in glacial landsystems allows a better understanding of the geo-hazards these landsystems pose to local communities during a period of increased risk to geohazards through climate changes.

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Abstract

Assessing the long-term tsunami hazard in the North Sea region requires studying the sedimentary evidence of past tsunamis at key locations. The Shetland Islands have emerged as a crucial field laboratory for studying tsunami deposits. However, up until now, focus has been mostly on onshore tsunami deposits and much less on their offshore counterparts, despite the fact that these have a higher likelihood of being preserved in the sedimentary record, especially in sufficiently deep marine environments, below the storm wave base. Within the NORSEAT Project (North Sea Tsunami Deposits Offshore Shetland Island), we aim to identify and trace tsunami deposits offshore, thoroughly study their characteristics and extent, and determine whether the offshore record holds evidence of events additional to those already known from the onshore record (i.e. the Storrega tsunami, a ca. 5500 yr old and ca. 1500 yr old event), which would offer new insights into recurrence intervals.

Two surveys with RV Belgica have been conducted in 2022 and 2023, during which high-resolution geophysical data (multibeam bathymetry, subbottom data) were collected, along with vibrocores from 32 sites, spread over three embayment areas around the Shetland Islands. In many of the vibrocores, we observe coarse-grained graded beds sandwiched between finer-grained shell hash deposits. These coarser layers, often with sharp basal contacts and normally graded, suggest temporary interruptions of the steady-state sedimentary regime and are interpreted as possible event deposits based on their contrasting textural and lithological characteristics. Preliminary luminescence ages indicate that at least some of these graded beds are in the range of the 8150 cal yrs BP Storegga tsunami and the 1500 cal yrs BP tsunami event.

The next phase of our analysis will focus on determining the precise ages and depositional patterns of these layers through radiocarbon dating, grain-size analysis, geochemical analysis, microtextural analysis, heavy mineral distribution patterns, and microfossil distribution within the sediment cores. These efforts aim to establish a robust tsunami event stratigraphy for the region. Combined with planned sea-level reconstructions, this stratigraphy will enable us to better assess paleotsunami run-up heights by correlating onshore and offshore deposits.

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Abstract

INITIATE for PhD is a new platform aiming at strengthening the emergence of robust international, intercultural and interdisciplinary network of PhD candidates working on water related issues. It gathers PhD candidates and their mentors from 12 universities across the world, including three UNESCO International Centres (Delft, Dundee, Montpellier). The platform provides participating PhD candidates opportunities to exchange with PhD candidates from other universities, who are struggling with similar issues to develop interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge. Following the first Autumn school held in the University Mohammed 6 Polytechnique (Morocco), three working groups are active for the year 2024/2025. Applications for the second INITIATE cohort will be opening soon in 2025, which presents an opportunity for new PhD students from the University of Dundee to join the platform.

Please contact [email protected] if you wish to join online. 

Abstract

Concrete plays a critical role in water infrastructure, since it does not normally undergo reactions with either water or air. However, where water is very pure (‘soft’), and fast flowing – as is the case in Scotland – constituents in concrete can dissolve at an accelerated rate, leading to a loss of strength, vulnerability to erosion, and possible corrosion of steel reinforcement. This seminar looks at the process itself, how it can be limited, issues relating to environmental sustainability, and what is still currently not fully understood about this problem.

Please contact [email protected] if you wish to join online. 

We are welcoming Dr Andrew Holliman (Andy), who is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at University College London’s Institute of Education and Chair of the British Psychological Society’s Psychology of Education Section. Andy’s research seeks to understand the personal and contextual/situational risk and protective factors associated with a successful transition through compulsory schooling and onto university. Andy will join Dr Charlotte Bagnall to discuss his transitions experience following the sudden illness and passing of his beloved father in May 2022.

Dr Charlotte Bagnall is a Lecturer at the University of Manchester in Manchester’s Institute of Education. Her research is focused on supporting children’s emotional wellbeing within schools, particularly over primary-secondary school transitions. As part of her programme of research she is currently the Principal Investigator of the Primary-Secondary School Transitions Emotional Wellbeing Scale design and validation project (see the project website here: www.p-s-wells.org).   

Host: Dario Alessi

Venue: MSI Small Lecture Theatre, SLS

Abstract:

The post-translational modification of substrates with ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins is one of the most prevalent and complex signalling events in eukaryotic cells. As a result, many diseases are caused by mutations or mis-regulation of the proteins involved in controlling these signalling pathways. One process that is heavily reliant on these signals is the cell’s defence response against viral infection. Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) is a ubiquitin-like protein, which is highly upregulated upon viral infection and interferon stimulation, resulting in the attachment of ISG15 to a vast array of substrates. In turn, many viruses have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to disarm this host defence system. However, a lack of available tools to study ISG15 and mechanistic information on how these signals result in specific cellular outcomes has obstructed our understanding of this ubiquitin-like protein. In my seminar, I will present our recent progress in this area and discuss key outstanding questions and future directions. Finally, I will discuss how the Lister Award is enabling us to extend upon these discoveries to further our understanding of this critical and enigmatic post-translational modification of the immune system.

Bio:

Kirby obtained his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri, USA, under the guidance of Prof Jay Thelen. Here, his PhD research focused on applying state-of-the-art mass spectrometry techniques to study the phosphorylation networks of seed development in the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana.

After completing his PhD, Kirby joined Prof David Komander’s lab at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK, to study the complexity of the ubiquitin system. Here, he developed innovative proteomic approaches to identify and understand the architecture of polyubiquitin chains, which provided critical insights into how these complex signals function in cells. In 2018, he joined Prof Brenda Schulman’s Department at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Munich, Germany, to pursue his interests in structural biology of multiprotein complexes. Since 2022, Kirby has been a Principal Investigator in the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit at the University of Dundee. In 2023, he was awarded a Lister Prize Fellowship.

About the Seminar:

This is a Lister Institute of Preventative Medicine’s New Fellow Seminar and Award Presentation event. The Lister Institute Chair Sir John Iredale and Director Dr Sally Burtles will be in attendance to present the Lister Prize to Kirby and hear about his ongoing research. A celebration will be held after the seminar, and all are welcome!