The ARAMACC Summer School #1 was hosted from 16th May to 23rd May by School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University.  Expert instructors demonstrated and provided hands-on experience in a wide range of skills, some of them related directly to sclerochronology and scleroclimatology, others relevant to the general skills required to become an effective researcher (a gallery of photos from the Summer School is here).

Before the School started, the ARAMACC team met for the first time at the ARAMACC inaugural meal, which took place on the evening of Friday 16^th May at the Garden restaurant at Plas Cadnant Cottage (home to the ESRs duiring the School).  A gallery from this enjoyable and memorable occasion can be found here.

Summer School (May 17th – May 23rd)

The Summer School included three principle modules:

Module 1:  Basic shell processing techniques  Days 1, 2 and 3 (May 17^th-May 19^th)

Co-leaders: ARAMACC Visiting researcher Professor Alan D Wanamaker and Alejandro Roman.

This module was held in the main (Craig Mair) teaching lab at the School of Ocean Sciences. Working in small groups of two or three, the students learnt the basics of how to process shells for sclerochronology.  Some brought their own shells to work on, others used shells from the extensive collection at SOS.  The skills being taught included how to embed shells in resin blocks, how to cut them using a precision saw, how to grind and polish the exposed surface for optimal imaging, and finally how to etch the exposed surface and produce an acetate peel replica of the etched surface that could be viewed under a microscope.  On the Sunday evening, the group took a break from the lab, with a geological field trip to the dramatic scenery of Snowdonia guided by Professor James Scourse (pictures here).

Module 2: Sclerochronology and scleroclimatology  Days 4 and 5 (May 20^th-May 21^st)

Co-leaders: Professor Alan D Wanamaker and Professor Valerie Trouet                                        

In the second part of the School, the students learnt how to count and measure the growth lines from their shells using bespoke image analysis software, and then how to create chronologies using growth increment series form multiple shells.  Finally, guided by leading tree-ring researcher and climatologist Professor Valerie Trouet, the chronologies were compared with local and regional climate records, to try to detect any identifiable environmental signal in your shells.  This was an ‘eventful’ part of the course, with a number of challenging technical; problems that had to be overcome, but it was clear by the end that some interesting connections between shell growth and climate had been established.

On the evening of May 20^th, the group came to a very stimulating joint public talk by James Scourse and Valerie Trouet, covering the centennial-scale history of the North Atlantic Jet Stream and the effects of North Atlantic climate on the coastscape of North Wales – see here for the details of this event. 

Module 3:  Research Management   Days 6 and 7 (May 22^nd – May 23^rd)                                     Co-leaders: Professor Chris Richardson, Professor Alan D Wanamaker and Dr Paul Butler               For the final module the emphasis switched to an introduction to the basic principles of research management, including the maintenance of personal logs and the PCDPs (Personal Career Development Plans) that will be maintained by all the ARAMACC students.  The session included practice at making a cruise plan, and guidance about what to do when things don’t go according to plan.

ARAMACC student accommodation at Plas Cadnant Cottages