Dean of Postgraduate Research Vice-Chancellor’s Office Extension: 7285 Email: lucy.johnston@canterbury.ac.nz Summer Research Scholarship Scheme 2015-2016 Project Application Form Please complete and submit the application form as a WORD document and send to summerscholarships@canterbury.ac.nz The Project Title of Project (max 30 words): Modern Depositional Systems Project Leader(s): Dr Kari Bassett, Department of Geological Sciences Dr Greg Browne, GNS Science, Lower Hutt Host Department/Organization: GNS Science, Lower Hutt Other persons involved in this topic/activity: Name (Dr Peter King, GNS Science, Lower Hutt Affiliation to project Advisor on this project Brief outline of project Describe the proposed research project – maximum of 400 words (box will expand as you type). Studying modern depositional systems is an integral part of understanding ancient geological environments. Using the premise that the present is the key to the past, this project will collate data on modern depositional systems principally fluvial and/or shoreface coastal settings, as analogues for ancient sandstone reservoirs, seals & source rocks. The project will create a digital atlas of modern environments mostly from New Zealand examples, capturing photographic examples (from aerial photos), Google Earth, ground photos, as well as data in the form of published databases on dimensions and geometry (channel width, channel depth, sediment type, grain size etc). Such information will be sought from thesis material, from publications and web-based searches. For such environments, metadata will be captured, images stored, and spreadsheets of data developed. Sometimes the data collected might need to be reinterpreted or stored in a different way from the manner in which it was captured. The student would research one sedimentary facies in detail, and 1 develop concepts about their architecture and component facies. If the project involves work away from the University campus (e.g., at fieldwork sites) please detail all locations. The project will be based at the offices of GNS Science, 1 Fairway Drive in Lower Hutt. The successful applicant will need to have accommodation in the broader Wellington region. Some small amount of time may be spent in the field collecting information relevant to the project. If the student be required to work outside of normal university hours (8am-5pm) please provide details Benefits student will gain from involvement in the project As the student will be compiling data from a range of different sources, they will develop skills in literature and web-based searches, and in developing databases from these. Selecting the correct types of data will involve a good understanding of sedimentary environments and the facies developed in them, as well as applying that knowledge to ancient petroleum reservoirs. Specific student requirements Please provide details of all requirements you have for the student to work on this project – for example, if specific courses/experience are necessary. The ideal student would have a good understanding of sedimentology and the types of facies developed in a range of depositional settings. They should have at least completed a 3 rd year course in sedimentology or basin analysis, and be competent with searches of the internet and published literature. Experience with a graphic package such as Corel Draw would be an advantage. This project is based at GNS Science offices in Lower Hutt and the student will be required to organise their own accommodation and transport in the Wellington region. 2