Virtual workshop on laser isotope technology applications in hydrology

CUAHSI is the consortium of universities for the advancement of hydrologic science, inc. and Kent State University became a full member of the consortium in December 2013. That’s good timing, because for the last year I’ve been sitting on the organizing committee for a virtual workshop sponsored by CUAHSI and USGS, and I’m super excited to announce that it’s finally happening and starting soon.

This workshop focuses on field hydrology and biogeochemistry applications of laser-based isotope technology. This may sound like an esoteric topic, but this technology is rapidly expanding the affordability and availability of stable isotope analyses. When I was in graduate school, the only way to get water isotope data was off an expensive and hard to use isotope ratio mass spectrometer. I traveled 10 hours to access one and I swore I’d never have one in my lab. Now, I walk upstairs to use the slightly less expensive and somewhat easier to use laser spec purring along in my lab. Viva technology!

Over the course of 5 weeks, we’ll have presentations from the manufacturers of the two main laser specs (Picarro and Los Gatos Research), commentary on the technology from experts at the USGS and IAEA, examples of applications from experienced users, and a poster session where we can share our data and experiences. The workshop will occur entirely on the web (thanks, sequester) and you can participate in real time or watch recordings of the talks.

The flyer below gives a lot of the information, but you can out even more at the CUAHSI webpage for the workshop.

I’m looking forward to learning a ton of information during the workshop, sharing some hot-off-the-instrument data that my undergraduate student and I have been collecting, and hopefully sharing the neat ways we’re integrating the technology into our undergraduate geosciences curriculum at KSU. I hope to see you (virtually) there!