GEOCEANL
Geosciences and Oceanography Laboratory Netherlands
GEOCEANL contains an interconnected array of equipment and lab space for chemical analysis and imaging of Earth, ocean, and environmental samples. With its unique technical and academic expertise, the integrated research infrastructure develops and explores new and innovative techniques within the fields of spectrometry, spectroscopy, and microscopy to tackle a wide range of fundamental scientific, societal, and economic questions related to hazards, Earth materials, environmental and climate change, and to educate new generations of applied and fundamental geoscientists.
Infrastructure and User Services
The GeoLab is one of two main laboratory facilities of the Faculty of Geosciences at Utrecht University. Here, we host a large equipment pool, including a national facility for Nano-scale analytical measurements, to process and analyze (environmental) samples and to perform non-conventional experiments in different lab units. Besides its fundamentality for conducting research projects, the GeoLab constitutes a place that promotes students and new generations of scientists, fosters (inter)national and interdisciplinary collaborations, embraces sustainable practices and is a think tank for new scientific procedures. We actively investigate and adopt more sustainable practices as also evidenced by LEAF external link certificates. Our different lab units host specific laboratory equipment and know-how, which can be used separately or in combination in various research fields of our Faculty and beyond, in national and international networks.
The NIOZ OCS and MMB laboratories host a large equipment pool to investigate the role of ocean systems in climate and biodiversity, and microbial communities in all types of marine environments from the deep past to the present. This equipment pool includes a variety of analytical chemical and biogeochemical techniques among others LA-ICPMS, XRF-core scanning techniques, and high resolution, accurate mass orbitrap MS (UHPLC-HRMS).
Examples/description of the type of research
The type of research that is facilitated by the GeoLab and NIOZ laboratories contributes to answers on a wide range of fundamental scientific-, societal and economic questions in areas such as the natural means of existence (water, raw materials, the energy transition), the terrestrial environment (climate change, biodiversity, pollutions), and the safe, responsible, and sustainable use of terrestrial space (specifically near surface and underground space). It contributes to five out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as set by the United Nations: Clean water and sanitation, Affordable and clean energy, Sustainable cities and communities, Climate action, and Life below water. Geoscientists study the Earth, and other planets, on scales from the molecular to the planetary scale; from the microsecond to the geological time scale; and from its birth about 4500 million years ago to the present-day, including the origin and evolution of life. We strive to understand the processes that give rise to its immense riches of life and natural resources, and the complex interrelated changes between human-induced global change, including land use intensification, disruption of the carbon, water and nutrient cycles, climate change, ecosystem degradation, and species extinction. And to develop solutions that contribute to a sustainable society, healthy environment, and resilient ecosystems for both humans and nature.
How to access the infrastructure
For access to the GeoLab, users can fill in an online intake form. Scientists from the Geosciences faculty and other faculties (e.g., Beta) within the UU can do this directly, whereas external users must contact the lab management via e-mail or via collaborating UU scientists.