Katie J. Cooper
[PhD]I’m a second year PhD student at the University of Bristol studying the water-rock interactions in modern carbonate environments trying to understand the early alterations of the porosity (holes in the rock) and permeability (how well those holes are connected) network. As I am looking at young carbonates it means I have the displeasure (!) of spending months at a time in the Bahamas, specifically North Andros. And in that sense I’m the catalyst for the BAPs project and for everyone else being here. For my penance, when I am back in the UK I am running between a laboratory and my computer where I spend hours, and hours and hours, trying to modelling the island. In my spare time I am known for one thing within the department and that is baking, it’s my passion and a perfect way to relieve stress!
Dr. Fiona Whitaker
[Senior Lecturer, Katie, Miles and Didi's supervisor]
I have worked on carbonate island hydrology and geochemistry for more than
20 years, to better understand both water resources and diagenetic
processes which affect carbonate sediments from their birth to burial. My
acquaintance with the wonderful island of Andros began during my PhD
studies, which included using the blue holes to access the interior of the
carbonate platform inspired by Bristol-based cave diver Rob Palmer. I have
managed to find good scientific reasons to extend this work to the Turks
and Caicos, Yucatan, Guam, Sarawak and even the UK, paying my penance by
trying to simulate the complex systems we observe in the field using
computer models of fluid flow, geochemistry and water-rock interactions. I
am lucky enough now to be surrounded by a group of super-enthused, fun and
hard working post-docs, PhD and MSci students, and look forward spending
more time with some of them - the mosquitos and Kalik - on Andros this
summer. Thanks to my lovely family for the hall pass!Prof. Maurice Tucker
[Visiting Professor]Maurice's interests are in rocks that fizz.... limestones and modern carbonates, their depositional environments, diagenesis, geochemistry and petroleum reservoir potential. He has worked on carbonates from most geological periods and from many parts of the world. Current interests include microbialites, tufa, quaternary carbonates W. Australia, Permian dolomites western Europe, and Bahamian and other lacustrine sediments.
Dr. Alexandre Anesio
[Senior Lecturer, Katie and Didi's supervisor]
My research interests are broad, and I combine concepts from Geography, Biology and Chemistry to understand carbon cycle in freshwaters. My research has concentrated in two broad areas. Firstly, I study microbes in extreme environments (e.g., glaciers, blue holes). Against all expectations, extreme environments harbour a highly active microbial community. Bacteria, viruses and microscopic plants thrive in conditions that might be analogous to other planets and to early Earth. Second, I am also interested in a range of climate (e.g., UV radiation and acid rain) and human impacts (e.g., mining, sewage, pesticides) on freshwaters. In this project, I am particularly interested in understanding the importance of microbial activity on the formation and dissolution of carbonates in the Bahamas.
Didi Ooi
My research interests are broad, and I combine concepts from Geography, Biology and Chemistry to understand carbon cycle in freshwaters. My research has concentrated in two broad areas. Firstly, I study microbes in extreme environments (e.g., glaciers, blue holes). Against all expectations, extreme environments harbour a highly active microbial community. Bacteria, viruses and microscopic plants thrive in conditions that might be analogous to other planets and to early Earth. Second, I am also interested in a range of climate (e.g., UV radiation and acid rain) and human impacts (e.g., mining, sewage, pesticides) on freshwaters. In this project, I am particularly interested in understanding the importance of microbial activity on the formation and dissolution of carbonates in the Bahamas.Didi Ooi
[PhD]
Didi Ooi(d) is the smallest member of the BAPs, but is nicknamed The Machine on the field, at night and near deadlines. This Malaysian could not get enough of Geology and decided after BSc to jump onto the PermanentHeadDamage bandwagon - which is similar to Katie's, but in a (much) hotter country. Think 45°C. Her project will be on the hydrogeology and geochemistry of modern sabkha environment as an analogue to ancient carbonate reservoir. Hence, her interest lies in petroleum sedimentology.
Her primary task is to be Katie & Fiona's assistant. That means doing a bit of everything, i.e. DAY: photography, driving 4x4 between field localities, set up samplers, scuba diving in blue holes to install string of loggers | NIGHT: geochemical analyses, and trying to sleep early.
Miles Frazer
Didi Ooi(d) is the smallest member of the BAPs, but is nicknamed The Machine on the field, at night and near deadlines. This Malaysian could not get enough of Geology and decided after BSc to jump onto the PermanentHeadDamage bandwagon - which is similar to Katie's, but in a (much) hotter country. Think 45°C. Her project will be on the hydrogeology and geochemistry of modern sabkha environment as an analogue to ancient carbonate reservoir. Hence, her interest lies in petroleum sedimentology.Her primary task is to be Katie & Fiona's assistant. That means doing a bit of everything, i.e. DAY: photography, driving 4x4 between field localities, set up samplers, scuba diving in blue holes to install string of loggers | NIGHT: geochemical analyses, and trying to sleep early.
Miles Frazer
[PhD]Like KT, I am a second year PhD student at the Universities of Bristol and Manchester, working on fizzy rocks. But my work is centred 300 Million years before the present in the warm tropical seas of Northern England. Being from Northern England, I have not really experienced anything tropical and by extension have never seen a carbonate system in action (except maybe the limescale on my kettle). All that is about to change... As part of the project I will be acting as a handy field assistant, helping out with anything and everything I can, from catching rain in a bucket to geochemical analysis, from rock sampling to snorkeling. All in the name of science! If you can't find me looking at, analysing, modelling or hitting rocks with a hammer, I can usually be found somewhere with some kind of musical instrument, desparately trying to make it sound nice.
George Barker
[MSci in Geology]
I am the youngest member of the BAPs group, having just completed 3rd year of my MSci Geology degree. My interest is in actual rocks, investigating the karstification features in modern limestone, which is the basis of my 4th year project. As well as doing my project I am also the general assistant (slave) to KT and Fiona helping collect data for their projects.
Mike Rudd
I am the youngest member of the BAPs group, having just completed 3rd year of my MSci Geology degree. My interest is in actual rocks, investigating the karstification features in modern limestone, which is the basis of my 4th year project. As well as doing my project I am also the general assistant (slave) to KT and Fiona helping collect data for their projects.
Mike Rudd
[MSci in Geology]
Having just finished the 3rd year of my Geology Msci and currently sitting in the Bahamas, I’m thinking this was a good choice. My masters project is on Modelling the Flow and Response to External Factors of the Freshwater Lens under North Andros. With important external factors such as mining, climate change, sea level rise and over extraction this in highly interesting for me. In the real world I Scuba Dive, Climb and present a show on the University Radio, BURST.
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