Postgraduate Masterclasses

The BSRG postgraduate representatives are excited to announce our new masterclass workshop series. This will be a series of skills-based masterclasses aimed to broaden the skill set of postgraduate researchers and early career scientists. Workshops and training sessions will be hosted by academic experts and industry leaders in pure and applied sedimentology. These masterclasses are aimed at postgraduate researchers, but all are welcome!

Upcoming Masterclasses

Geostatistics for Sedimentologists

What is geostatistics? Why is it useful? And how do we apply it in sedimentological research? presented by Barrie Wells, Managing Director and Researcher at Conwy Valley Systems Limited, a geoscience and geotechnical software company.

Date: Thursday 5th November
Time: 3:00-5:00 pm
Location: Microsoft Teams

On its 75th anniversary, this workshop will look at the historical development of geostatistics, focussing on which areas of geology have benefited at each stage. By explaining the principles underlying the tools, we will try to provide a basis for choosing which tools are appropriate for various tasks in the geosciences, especially sedimentology.

This masterclass will introduce the fundamental concepts behind geostatistical approaches and explore how they can be used to support decision-making when working with geological data. Barrie will draw on applied examples to demonstrate how geostatistics can be used in practice, including its role in subsurface characterisation and the assessment of geological uncertainty and risk. Real-world examples require specialist software so, with its ubiquity in industry and academia, we will look at Petrel’s implementations of both basic and cutting edge geostatistics tools.

This session is intended for those with little or no previous experience of geostatistics, and to provide practical insight into its wider applications across sedimentology and the geosciences.

Please contact the organising BSRG PGR representatives with any queries: drew.brown@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk and jennifer.hewitt@bangor.ac.uk

Future workshops will include topics such as:

Virtual geosciences
Geothermal
Critical minerals and the energy transition
Diagenesis and CCS applications

If you are interested in running a masterclass please contact one of the postgraduate representatives: rose.bainbridge@manchester.ac.uk, drew.brown@manchester.ac.uk, st4036@hw.ac.uk or jennifer.hewitt@bangor.ac.uk

Core Logging and CoreCAD

An introduction to core logging and exploration of its applications presented by Peter Gutteridge, Visiting Lecturer University of Manchester

Date: Postponed (January 2026)
Location: Microsoft Teams

This workshop focuses on the description of carbonates, clastics and evaporites in core and will explore how CoreCAD can be used to create high-quality core logs. CoreCAD is an industry standard software that displays digital core descriptions in a realistic manner. We will discuss the practicality of core logging, and the different types of observations and data collected during core logging. The workshop includes a demonstration of input to CoreCAD showing different examples of core log styles used for different sedimentary facies.

The workshop is timetabled for half a day in two sessions with a 15 minute break. The agenda is as follows:

Introduction to CoreCAD software including core log format and formatting.
Input of depth, grain-size, Dunham Classification, lithology, sedimentary structures, grain types, boundaries, integrating thin section data, structural data.
Dealing with core quality, recognising geological and non-geological structures in core.
Core logging from photographs.
Workflow recommendations.

Examples of core logs, blank logging sheets and training manuals will be made available on a shared site to those who register.

Please contact the organising BSRG PGS representatives with any queries: rose.bainbridge@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk and drew.brown@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk.

Previous Masterclasses, Workshops and Training Courses

We would like to thank all previous workshop organisers and host institutions. If you are interested in hosting a masterclass in the future then please contact our postgraduate representatives.

24 September 2026: Stratigraphic tools and techniques: applications and limitations presented by Gary Nichols
12 February 2026: Carbon capture and storage virtual workshop - led by Dr Jon Noad

9 November 2023: Recipe for a good scientific illustration virtual workshop - led by Dr. Charlotte Priddy
31 August - 1 September 2023: Coding, modelling and plotting your data - hosted at the University of Liverpool
10 May 2023: Industry panel and CV virtual event
25 November 2022: Recipe for a successful poster presentation virtual workshop
21 - 22 September 2022: Marine sediment core workshop - hosted at BOSCORF at NOC Southampton
28 October and 17 November 2021: Panel Discussions: How to navigate through your PhD - organised by Marijke de Vet, University of Hull
26 May 2021: How to network online - organised by Dr Catherine Russell, University of Leicester
26 - 27 May 2021: Cryogenian glaciation, the extraordinary Port Askaig record and its comparators (virtual)
15 March 2021: Plastics in the Environment 2021 - hosted at The Geological Society
9 and 11 November 2020: How to write a scientific paper (virtual) - led by Dr Mike Clare
11 - 12 March 2020: An introduction to stratigraphic forward modelling - hosted at the University of Liverpool
17 - 19 February 2020: Palynological applications to sedimentology workshop
8 - 10 September 2017: Core workshop, from core to depositional environments in deep-marine systems
5 - 6 December 2015: Petrophysics short course - hosted at the University of Leicester
7 - 9 November 2015 - Field Safety Leadership Course - hosted at Eastbourne
11 - 12 September 2015: Ichnofabric workshop - hosted at University of Manchester
14 - 15 June 2014: Seismic interpretation workshop - hosted at Imperial College London
9 - 10 May 2014: Core workshop and field day, the ultimate carbonate experience - hosted at the British Geological Survey, Keyworth and Wirksworth
21 - 23 March 2013: Deep-water core workshop and field trip - hosted at the British Geological Survey, Keyworth and Castleton, Derbyshire
30 March 2009: Core workshop at the 7th Petroleum Geology Conference - hosted at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London
26 February 2008: Applied ichnology short course, joint with AAPG - hosted at Imperial College, London
26 June 2007: Petrel course in reservoir modelling and the visualisation of geological data - hosted at Imperial College, London
25 May 2004: Contaminated sediments workshop - Manchester Metropolitan University
08 June 2003: Field meeting on alluvial fans joint with BGRG - Sorbas, Almeria, SE Spain
19 May 2003: Wireline log interpretation workshop - hosted at University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
06 January 2003: Core workshop - DTI/BGS Core Store, Edinburgh

Recording of CCS workshop