Course Details

The University College Cork Palaeo Group are delighted to announce SAP 2025: Short Course in Analytical Palaeontology 2025. This is an intensive 5-day short course in analytical palaeontology for researchers at any career stage, and will run from the 24th – 28th November 2025. The course features a substantial amount of hands-on practical sessions (80%) using the advanced microbeam instrumentation located at University College Cork.

The short course is suitable for any researcher who wishes to learn how to analyse the microstructure and chemistry of fossils (and their host sediment) using microbeam techniques. It is suitable for complete beginners and also researchers who have some expertise but wish to upskill in these techniques. The course is tailored to the analysis of fossils, and will explain particular methods and approaches during sample preparation and analysis that are useful - or essential - when analysing fossil and rock samples.

Overview

• Duration: 5 days
• Dates: 24th – 28th November
• Venue: School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Ireland
• Cost: €1075.30 (including transaction fees)

Cost includes lunch and refreshments each day, but does not include accommodation.

Attendance strictly limited to 3 groups of 6 delegates due to the hands-on nature of the course.

Description

On the course, you will participate in full-day hands-on practical sessions using key laboratory analytical techniques for the analysis of fossil microstructure and chemistry: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-Raman spectroscopy (micro-Raman) and micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (micro-FTIR).

You will also participate in a practical laboratory session on sample preparation and a classroom session on experimental design.

There will be an opportunity for you to prepare and characterize your own samples and have one-on-one discussion with a member of the UCC team. You will be able to gain hands-on experience using the instruments.

The aim of the course is to provide you with a clear, robust framework for how best to analyse fossil samples using the above techniques, and practical problem-solving skills that you can apply to diverse techniques and samples.

The course is designed for a small group of delegates – maximum 18. You will be split into three groups, so all of your sessions will take place in groups of 6 delegates. This will provide you with an optimum learning experience and facilitates discussion among the group members. During each session, the morning will focus on general approaches, and the afternoon will focus on samples brought by delegates.

During the practical sessions at the instruments, you will learn:

• The basic theory of how the instrument works
• Essential and non-essential sample requirements
• How to deal with non-ideal samples
• The analytical process
• Common mistakes and problems when analysing fossils
• How to get the most out of your samples – better resolution, better signal, avoiding sample damage

During the practical session on sample preparation, you will learn:

• Resin embedding (for polishing fossil samples)
• Hand-polishing for SEM, FTIR, Raman
• Techniques to mitigate sample charging (for SEM)
• Basics of ultramicrotomy (for ultrathin sectioning of samples for SEM, TEM, nano-XRF, nano-IR, nano-SIMS)

During the classroom session on experimental design, you will learn:

• How to devise a testable hypothesis
• The factors that impact your choice of experimental subject, numbers of replicates, duration of experiment
• How to plan your sampling strategy
• What makes a good pilot experiment

Provisional programme

• 9:30: Start of morning session
• 11:00 – 11:30: Tea/coffee break
• 1:00: Lunch
• 2:00: Start of afternoon session
• 3:30: Tea/coffee break
• 5:00 Close

Note: Course schedule may be subject to change.

Cost

The course costs €1075.30 (including transaction fees). This cost includes all beamtime and laboratory consumables, lunch and refreshments. We can accommodate diverse dietary requirements. The cost does not include accommodation.

Presenters

The course will be delivered by staff with over 75 years’ collective experience in microbeam analytical work on geological materials:

• Prof. Maria McNamara, Professor of Palaeontology at UCC – expert in scanning- and transmission electron microscopy, FTIR, experimental design and multivariate statistical analysis
• Dr Valentina Rossi, postdoctoral researcher – expert in scanning electron microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, experimental design and multivariate statistical analysis
• Dr Richard Unitt, senior postdoctoral researcher – expert in micro-Raman spectroscopy
• Peter Chung, Experimental Officer – expert in scanning electron microscopy, micro-FTIR and micro-Raman spectroscopy

The presenters will share with you tips and tricks that they have learned during their careers analysing fossil and rock samples.

Registration

Registration is now open. We are more than happy to discuss the course with you in more detail and address any questions you may have.

Note on bringing your own samples to Ireland:

Small rock and fossil samples should normally be carried in your carry-on bag. It is advisable to obtain written permission to travel with the material from your country, as you may be asked to show this during the security check at the airport. For instance, if the samples / specimens are the property of your institution, the written permission can take the form of a letter from your supervisor / academic head. If the material is the property of a public museum collection, it is advisable to check in advance with the relevant curator whether any special permission is required in order to travel to a different country with the specimens, as this may take more time to arrange than a simple letter from the relevant curator.