The traditional view of a research geologist engaging in long field campaigns making maps and collecting rock samples is a long way from 21st century reality. Fieldwork is still plays an important role but is complemented by a whole range of laboratory approaches. Here in Aberdeen we have a tight array of laboratory facilities, maintained by a small band of dedicated technical staff. Our unifying philosophy is to adopt and develop methods from the technological platform provided by our industrial partners. Our research laboratories are used by academic staff, especially our postdoctoral researchers, research students and for some project work, by masters and honours students. The links opposite give more information on these facilities and provide a contact point for those wishing further information – or to discuss collaborative projects with us.

We are also Associate Members of the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC) – a collaborative pool that provides high-end analytical facilities, chiefly in geochemistry. This gives us access to a host of research resources in: radiocarbon dating; argon isotope geochemistry, mass spectrometry for life sciences, cosmogenic isotope analysis and a wide range of other isotopic techniques

Apart from the specialist research facilities, the department and school also provide a host of general research facilities, including optical microscopes, sample preparation, and practical sedimentology equipment. We operate our own computer laboratory for research access with a variety of hardware platforms and specialist software applications, linked to large-format printing, multiple-format scanning and digitizing.