Profiles
Kit Carruthers - MSc CCS 2010-11
Kit has started a PhD at the University of Edinburgh, on the environmental aspects of offshore CCS activities. It is a continuation of his MSc dissertation project, which looked at the potential environmental effects of acidifying porewaters within a depleted oilfield during CO2 injection.
Hazel started work with CO2DeepStore in October of 2010, up in Aberdeen. CO2DeepStore Limited is focused on developing CO2 transport and storage projects as a CCS investment partner. In so doing the business aims make a significant contribution to mitigating climate change. Hazel's tasks are varied but include identifying and scoping CCS project opportunities.
Hazel Clyne
MSc CCS 2009-10
Catherine Sudgen - MSc CCS 2010-11
Graduate Environmental Engineer - Parsons Brinckerhoff
I work in the Environment team for the Power & Utilities department. I work on proposed new power projects; this covers fossil fuel power stations such as new coal fired or natural gas plants, through to biomass and energy from waste plants. I have been involved in writing Preliminary Environmental Impacts Reports, Environmental Statements and applications for Environmental Permits. My position involves desk-based research and report writing. Due to my background in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) I also undertake work with the CCS team.
Keith Whiriskey - MSc CCS 2010-11
I’m currently living and working in Oslo for the Bellona foundation and working exclusively on the varied aspects of CCS. It’s a lot of fun and the work is certainly exciting. Previously I was working in London for the Institute of European Environmental Policy (IEEP). We were doing some work on CCS but also quite a bit on biochar.
Sorcha Schnittger - MSc CCS 2009-10
Sorcha worked for ScottishPower on the proposed Longannet CCS scheme in Scotland before moving to Yorkshire (England) to work for Scottish and Southern Energy in their CCS team.
Laura Farrell - MSc CCS 2010-11
Laura is now a Science Researcher at the BBC in Glasgow, UK. She has worked on programmes including Volcano Live and Operation Iceberg.
The School of Geoscience at the University of Edinburgh is a hub for carbon capture and storage in the U.K.; with proximity to plants that encompass the technology and the base for the Scottish Centre for Carbon Storage. The school not only provides first-class learning, but also an MSc which is integrated with courses from a variety of disciplines (from business to engineering). This means that the degree is both unique and internationally recognised as a highly relevant qualification, applicable to the current energy industry. Furthermore the department is situated in a vibrant and beautiful city, surrounded by hills that you can ski on in winter.
Edinburgh is the first university to offer a masters degree in this discipline and therefore to be part of a dynamic school to be entering into this new industry phase is both exciting and inspiring
Grant Munro - MSc CCS 2009/10
I am currently working with an exploration company in Australia doing some green field exploration. This involves drilling chip holes and coring through coal seams, logging the holes and correlating these with down-hole geophysics. This is a good way to get some geological experience, including wireline log and seismic interpretation.
John Sayer - MSc CCS 2010-11
I chose Edinburgh University to do my MSc in CCS as it is a world renowned institute. The school of Geosciences is the only CCS course in the world and provided me with a unique opportunity to study a subject at the forefront of climate change mitigation technologies.
I also chose Edinburgh because I love the city and being from Aberdeen I am not that far from home. Edinburgh offers a great social and academic scene for all tastes and I have thoroughly enjoyed my first month living in ‘Auld Reekie’.
Richard Lee - MSc CCS 2010-11
I graduated from Edinburgh University in 2006 with a degree in geology. I started employment as a geotechnical engineer working throughout the UK. It soon became very evident to me just how much the construction industry relies on fossil fuel power, and the quantities it must consume. This got me thinking about energy production. We are all well aware that renewable energy technology is being perused for future power generation but I was interested in what options were available for the fossil fuel powered plants of today to help stem the output of greenhouse gasses.
It was at this point I became aware of a one year masters course available at Edinburgh University on Carbon Capture and Storage and being a previous graduate was aware of both Stuart Haszeldine and Mark Wilkinson. The fact that it was also the only course I could find in the UK on the topic coupled with the 10% discount rate I got on fees as a previous graduate, made it an instant choice for me and my return to academic study.
Richard is currently a Data Management Officer at Cairn Energy, Edinburgh.
Katie Vowles - MSc CCS 2010-11
Why did I choose to study an MSc in Carbon Capture and Storage at the University of Edinburgh?
In short, I chose to come to the University of Edinburgh because it is the only place in the world to do an MSc in Carbon Capture and Storage. Am I glad I decided to come to Edinburgh? Absolutely! I completed my undergraduate course in Geology at Imperial College London and was worried about the move from “the big smoke” to Scotland. Edinburgh, however, offers a FANTASTIC student experience. The facilities are good and the opportunity for a postgraduate student to get involved in the University life is great. The city of Edinburgh is a beautiful place and there is something different to do every weekend. On the academic side, the department of GeoSciences offers brilliant industry links. The range of courses available to us is huge, from economics to thermodynamics. I am even studying an evening course in Spanish at the Language School. I may have only been here for a few weeks but I am positive I made the right decision.
Benedict Robbins - MSc CCS 2010-11
Why did you choose to study CCS as your masters at Edinburgh? I've just finished my doing my undergrad in Geophysics, here at Edinburgh. After four years of predominantly being taught oil and gas, I went for an interview with an oil service company; it was actually there and then that I decided I didn’t actually know what I wanted to pursue with my skill set long term.
I started researching geophysical related technologies; I initially came across EOR, and then Carbon Capture & Storage shortly after. It was CCS that offered a tangible contribution to mitigating the negative effects of climate change while utilising the knowledge I had already built up. I felt comfortable with the university, I knew the department was full of world renowned researchers, e.g. Prof Stuart Hazeldine and Prof John Underhill who are leading their fields, and more importantly, this is the first masters in CCS at the one of the most prestigious Earth Science departments in the UK. Finally, The University of Edinburgh is heavily involved with SCCS, what more could I ask for..?
This article was published on May 3, 2012