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Profile
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Within the Scottish Marine Institute I have the role of Associate Director and Head of Business Development. I am a member of the Directorate and as such I support the Director and Deputy Director in the running of the organisation. A main responsibility is the development and management of the Business Development Department. I am also a member of the Executive Group of SAMS, Head of the Centre for Industrial Ocean Impacts, a senior scientist and principal investigator in the Department of Biogeochemistry and Earth Science.
As a principal investigator I have extensive experience in marine geochemical and biogeochemical research. I also have a strong background in radiochemistry and have conducted environmental research using radionuclides as tracers of marine processes.
My current research interests include:
- Investigating and assessing man's impact on the marine environment through monitoring pollutants and the biogeochemical processes involved in their redistribution. I work with the nuclear, mining and oil/gas industries to utilise scientific knowledge to ensure that impacts are minimised and help find solutions to mitigate or manage impacts
- Using natural and man-made radionuclides as tracers of marine processes, e.g. to assess sediment accumulation and mixing rates, as well areas of sediment erosion and focusing
- Global climate change: the development and use of palaeoceanographic proxies within fjordic sediments to investigate high resolution environmental change over the last 10,000 years
- Investigating pollutant sources and transport pathway to the Arctic using stable lead isotopes
Career / education
2009-present
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Associate Director. SAMS
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2004-2009
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Head of Biogeochemistry and Earth Science Department. Senior Lecturer. SAMS
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2000-2004
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Operational Group Leader: Lecturer B. SAMS
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1997-2000
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Marine Geochemist: Principal Investigator and Head of Geochemistry Group. SAMS
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1983-1997
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Radiochemist: Natural analogue studies with respect to radioactive waste disposal, geochemistry of radionuclides, study of pollutants and reconstruction of historical pollution (Grade 7). Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre (SURRC)
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1993
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PhD Marine Geochemistry. Edinburgh University
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1985
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MSc Analytical Chemistry. Strathclyde University
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Research
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Current research projects
Past research projects
Grant capture
Since 1996 Tracy has supported her research with funding in access of £6M from a variety of sources.
PROJECT TITLE
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FUNDER
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DURATION
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ROLE
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£ 000
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Specific guidelines, expert advise
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PNG
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2010
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PI
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80
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Expert witness
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PNG
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2010
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PI
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20
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Environmental survey, commercial
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DP Energy
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2009-2010
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PI/Co-PI |
165
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Otolith analysis
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FRS
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2009
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PI
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17
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Otolith analysis
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FRS
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2008
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PI
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16
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Carbon & radioisotope analysis (Oceans 2025 Theme 3 WP3.8)
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NERC
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2007-2012
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PI
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447
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Climate change (Oceans 2025 Theme 1 WP 1.6)
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NERC |
2007-2012 |
PI
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1,580
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Nuclear counting equipment (Oceans 2025 capital funding
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NERC |
2007-2012 |
PI
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68
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Mooring (Oceans 2025 capital funding)
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NERC |
2007-2012 |
PI
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130
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Oceans 2025 WP 3.9
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NERC |
2007-2012 |
Co-PI
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266
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Independent investigation of deep-sea tailings placement in PNG
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EU/PNG
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2007-2009
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PI
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1,540
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ECOMAR
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NERC
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2006-2011
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Co-PI
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260
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Otolith analysis
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FRS
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2006-2007
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PI
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14
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BUTEC Phase II: Multibeam & benthic survey, Raasay underwater range
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QINETIC
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2006
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Co-PI
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46
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Scottish Alliance for Geosciences, Environment and Society
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SFC
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2006-2011
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PI
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293
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Radiocarbon dating
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NERC
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2005-2006
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Co-PI
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4
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El Nino Souther Ocean Circulation
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NERC
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2004-2006
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PI
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17
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EIA: Baseline study of the marine environment around Dounreay
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UKAEA
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2003-2004
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PI
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472
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An investigation of temporal trends of pollutant inputs within the Arctic environment from freshwater lake to the deep ocean (PhD studentship)
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UHI
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2003-2006
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PI
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57
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EIA: Butec Test Range, Applecross
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QINETIC |
2003-2004
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PI
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26
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Review of data and knowledge held at Dounreay site with respect to the marine environment
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UKAEA
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2002
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PI
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18
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Benthic processes in the Arabian Sea: mechanistic relationships between benthos, sediment biogeochemistry, and organic matter cycling
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NERC
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2001-2004
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PI
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317
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Environmental desktop study: Environmental impact of Sonobuoy testing at BUTEC Applecross facility
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QINETIC
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2001
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PI
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10
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Reconstruction of climatic change using high resolution shallow marine records over the last 2000 years
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EC HOLSMEER
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2001-2003
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PI
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(151,000 Euro)
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EIA baseline study (commercial) geochemistry section
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ECOS
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1998
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PI
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43
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Review of Data for EIA
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STATOIL
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1998
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PI
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13
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Analysis (commercial)
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GARDLINE(2)
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1998
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PI
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28
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Analysis (commercial)
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GARDLINE
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1997
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PI
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22
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| A study of sediment transport and fluxes from a river mouth to a deep basin environment |
EC BASYS
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1996-1999
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PI
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(108,205 Euro)
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TOTAL |
6,128
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PI
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5,653
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Co-PI
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475
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Publications
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- Adey, EA, Black KD, Sawyer, T, Shimmield, TM and Trueman, CN, 2009, Scale microchemistry as a tool to investigate the origin of wild and farmed Salmo salar. Marine Ecology-Progress Series. 390: 225-235 DOI: 10.3354/meps08161
- Law, GTW; Shimmield, TM; Shimmield, GB; et al. Manganese, Iron, and Sulphur cycling on the Pakistan margin. Deep-Sea Research Part II-Topical Studies in Oceanography 56 (6-7): 305-323. DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.06.011
- C.-D. Hillenbrand, J.A. Smith, O. Esper, R. Gersonde, M. Korte, G. Kuhn, R.D. Lart, B. Maher, S.G. Moreton and Shimmield TM, 2010, Age assignment of a diatomaceous ooze deposited in the western Amundsen Sea Embayment after the Last Glacial Maximum. Journal of Quaternary Science. 25 (3): 280-295 DOI: 10.1002/jqs.1308
- Dean RJ , Shimmield TM and Black KD . 2007. Copper, zinc and cadmium in marine cage fish farm sediments: An extensive survey. Environmental Pollution. 145(1):84-95
- Gehrels RW, Marshall WA, Gehrels MJ, Larsen G, Kirby JR, Eiriksson J, Heinemeier J and Shimmield TM . 2006. Rapid sea-level rise in the North Atlantic Ocean since the first half of the nineteenth century. Holocene. 16(7):949-965
- Gutierrez T , Shimmield TM , Cheryl Haidon, Black KD and Green DH. 2008. Emulsifying and metal ion binding activity of a glycoprotein exopolymer produced by Pseudoalteromonas species TG12. Applied And Environmental Microbiology. 74(15):4867-4876
- Howe JA, Shimmield TM and Harland R. 2008. Late Quaternary glaciomarine sedimentation and contourites in the Fram Strait. Sedimentology. 55:179-200
- Howe JA , Wilson CR, Shimmield TM, Diaz R and Carpenter L. 2007. Recent deep-water sedimentation, trace metal and radioisotope geochemistry across the Southern Ocean and Northern Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Deep-Sea Research Part Ii-Topical Studies In Oceanography. 54:1652-1681
- Jackson D, Stone D, Smith K, Morgan G and Shimmield TM . 2007. Assessing the environmental risk from hot particles in the vicinity of Dounreay - a case for inaction?. need To Enter Jrnl Fullname. 27(3A)(Sp.Iss):A111-A118(8)
- Morales-Nin B, Swan SC , Gordon JDM , Palmer M, Geffen AJ, Shimmield TM and Sawyer TT . 2005. Age-related trends in otolith chemistry of Merluccius merluccius from the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and the western Mediterranean Sea. Marine And Freshwater Research. 56(5):599-607
- N. NØRGAARD-PEDERSEN, W.E.N. AUSTIN, T. SHIMMIELD AND J. HOWE (IN PRESS, Marine Geology), THE HOLOCENE RECORD OF LOCH ETIVE, WESTERN SCOTLAND: INFLUENCE OF RELATIVE SEA LEVEL AND CATCHMENT AREA CHANGES.
- Swan, S.C., Geffen, A.J., Morales-Nin, B., Gordon, J.D.M., Shimmield, T., Sawyer, T. and.Massuti, E., (in press) Otolith microchemistry: an aid to stock separation of Helicolenus dactyloperus (bluemouth) and Merluccius merluccius (European hake) in the NE Atlantic Mediterranean
- Swan, S.C., Wright, P.J., Woodroffe, D.A., Gordon, J.D.M., Shimmield, T., (2004). Evidence for geographical isolation of the early life stages of the white anglerfish, Lophius piscatorius, based on otolith microchemistry. J. Mar. Biol. Ass U.K., 84, 827-830.
- Swan, S.C., Gordon, J.D.M., Morales-Nin, B., Shimmield, T., Sawyer, T. and Geffen, A.J., (2003) Otolith microchemistry of Nezumia aequalis (Pisces:Macrouridae) from widely different habitats in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Journal of the Marine Biological Association, 83, 883-886.
- E. Viollier C. Rabouille, S. E. Apitz, E. Breuer, G. Chaillou, K. Dedieu, Y. Furukawa, C. Grenz, P. Hall, F. Janssen, J. L. Morford, J. -C. Poggiale, S. Roberts, T. Shimmield, M. Taillefert, A. Tengberg, F. Wenzhöfer and U. Witte. Benthic biogeochemistry: state of the art technologies and guidelines for the future of in situ survey (2003). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 285-286. Pp 5-31
- Howe, J.A., Shimmield, T., Austin, W.E.N and Longva, O. Post-glacial depositional processes in a glacially-overdeepened sea loch, upper Loch Etive, Western Scotland. Marine Geology (2002) 185, 417-433
- Emeis, K. , Christiansen, C., Edelvang, K., Jähmlich, S., Kozuch, J., Laima, M., Leipe, T., Löffler, A., Lund-Hansen, L.C., Miltner, A., Pazdro, K., Pempkowiak, J., Shimmield, G., Shimmield, T., Smith, J. , Voss, M. and Witt, G. Material transport from the nearshore to the basinal environment in the Southern Baltic Sea, II: Origin and properties of material. sub group 3a, Journal of Marine System, 35, 2002, 151-168.
- Christiansen, C., Edelvang, K., Emeis, K.), Graf, G., Jähmlich, S., Kozuch, J., Laima, M., Leipe, T., Löffler, A., Lund-Hansen, L.C., Miltner, A., Pazdro, K., Pempkowiak, J., Shimmield, G., Shimmield, T., Smith, J. , Voss, M. and Witt, G. Material transport from the nearshore to the basinal environment in the Southern Baltic Sea, I: Process and mass estimates. sub group 3a, Journal of Marine System, 35, 2002, 131-150.
- Shimmield, G., Kroon, D., Austin, W., Chapman, M., Jones, J., Derrick, S., P Knutz & Shimmield T. (2000). Century to millenial-scale sedimentological-geochemical records of glacial-Holocene sediment variations from the Barra Fan (NE Atlantic). Journal of the Geological Society, London, Vol. 157, 2000, pp 643-653.
- Alexander, W.R. and Shimmield T.M., (1990). Microwave oven dissolution of geological samples: Novel application in the determination of natural decay series radionuclides. J. Radioanal.NUCL.CHEM., Letters 145 /4/ 301-310.
- Mackenzie, A.B., Scott, R.D. and Williams T.M., (1987). Mechanisims of northwards dispersal of Sellafield waste. Nature, vol329, N0 6134, pp. 42-45.
For a full list about Tracy's publications, including reports and non-SCI listed publications, please use the search function on the righ.
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External
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- Advice to commercial bodies to develop work streams and plans for EIAs
- At present I am advising the State of Papua New Guinea on the management of deep sea tailing discharge. I interact with the Deputy Prime Minister, Mining Minister, Environment Minister, and Director of the Mineral resource authority
- I am also asked for advice by major mining companies which I give with SAMS reputation in mind.
- I am presently appearing as a witness for the State of Papua New Guinea and advising them on their environmental plans including the setting up of an Environmental Protection Authority.
- I am asked to give keynote presentations and be on working groups.
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Teaching
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Current PhD students
- Clare Johnson 'Tracing water masses in the northern Rockall Trough' (2003-present, part-time)
- Kate McIntyre 'Onshore offshore limits of Younger Dryas Ice Sheets' (2007-2010)
Past PhD students (alumni)
- Elizabeth Adey 'Distinguishing wild from farmed salmon using laser ablation mass spectrometry' (2003-2007)
- Suzanne MacLachlan 'Holocene Climate Variability: Glacial history from an Arctic fjord, western Spitsbergen, Svalbard' (2003-2007)
- Lindsay Vare 'An investigation of temporal trends of pollutant inputs within the Arctic environment' (2003-2007)
- Gareth Law 'Cycling of trace metals in organic rich sediments off Pakistan and Loch Etive in Scotland (2003-2007)
- Susan Gass 'Environmental Sensitivity of Cold-water Corals' (2002-2006)
- Rebecca Dean 'Physical and biogeochemical pathways of fish farm wastes in Scottish Sea Lochs' (2000-2005)
- Module leader: Palaeoceanography (year 4)
- Lecturer: Polar Seas (year 4)
- Lecturer: Sediment Processes (year 3)
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Dr Tracy Shimmield
E: tracy.shimmield@sams.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1631 559 255
F: +44 (0)1631 559 001
Scottish Marine Institute
Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA, UK
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