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Working Group Members

Full Members of this Working Group were selected based upon their scientific contributions, participation in educational activities, leadership as evidenced by participation and chairing national and international committees and symposium, editorships, career awards and recognition, experience in launching new initiatives and a willingness to participate in public and policy discussions on important issues related to marine radioactivity and radioecology.  Proposed WG Members were also chosen to be widely representative of international expertise in the field and to span a range of skills and knowledge in marine radiochemistry and radioecology.  Associate Members were considered important to expanding that scientific and regional expertise, and will be invited when possible to join us at WG meetings and will be called upon between meetings to assist with specific WG deliverables, as needed.

Full Members

NameemailPlace of WorkExpertise
Ken Buesseler*kbuesseler@whoi.eduWHOI, USAMarine radiochemistry, C cycle, public education
Minhan Dai*mdai@xmu.edu.cnU. Xiamen, ChinaCoastal biogoechemistry, radionuclide applications
Michio Aoyamar706@ipc.fukushima-u.ac.jpU. Fukushima, JapanMarine radiochemistry, global nutrient cycling
Claudia Benitez-Nelsoncbnelson@geol.sc.eduU. So. Carolina, USA

Marine radiochemistry, nutrient biogeochemistry, methods development, science comunication and outreach


Nuria Casacubertancasacuberta@phys.ethz.chETH, SwitzerlandSr, U and other radionuclide tracers
Sabine Charmassonsabine.charmasson@irsn.frISRN,Laboratory for Continental and Marine Radioecological Studies, La Seyne/mer, FranceMarine Radioecology (natural and artificial radionuclides)
Pere MasquePere.Masque@uab.catUAB, SpainMarine radiochemistry, environmental radioactivity and teaching
Paul MorrisP.J.Morris@iaea.orgIAEA, MonacoRadium isotopes and ocean radionuclide data bases
Deborah Oughtondeborah.oughton@nmbu.noUMB, NorwayRadioecology and radioecological risk assessments
John SmithJohn.Smith@dfo-mpo.gc.caBIO, CanadaRadionuclides in Arctic and other basins
* = co-chairs   

Associate Members

NameEmailPlace of WorkExpertise
Jordi Vives I Batllejvibatll@SCKCEN.BESKC-CEN, BelgiumRadioecology and radological protection
Roberta Delfantiroberta.delfanti@enea.itENEA, ItalyRadionuclides as ocean tracers of physical proceses
Jose Godaijmgodoy@puc-rio.brPUC, Rio BrazilRa, Po, Pb isotopes and groundwater discharge
Gary HancockGary.Hancock@csiro.auCSIRO AustraliaSoil erosion and sediment transport
Kathryn HigleyKathryn.Higley@oregonstate.eduOregon State Univ.Radioecology and Health Physics
Andy Johnsonandy.johnson@bhsu.eduBlack Hills State Univ., USATeaching radiation literacy
Vladimer Maderichvladmad@gmail.comInst. of MMSP, UkraineRadioactivity dispersion and fate models
Billy Mooremoore@geol.sc.eduUniv. of S. Carolina, USAMarine radiochemistry, methods and teaching
Sandor Muslowsandormulsow@uach.clICML, U. Austal de ChileRadiotracers, stable isotopes and benthic ecology
Reiner SchlitzerReiner.Schlitzer@awi.deAWI, GermanyData management and visualization

Working Group contributions

While all Members will participate in all activities of the group, a short description of each full WG Member’s unique professional activities and interests, as well as contribution to the WG is provided below.

Ken Buesseler specializes in the study of natural and artificial radionuclides in the ocean and their application to better understanding ocean processes. He will serve as co-Chair of the WG. He leads the Center for Marine and Environmental Radioactivity, the goals of which include increasing scientific and public understanding of radioactive substances in the environment, and training the next generation of marine nuclear radiation experts - all are key components of the RiO5 mission.  Buesseler chaired SCOR WG 116 on Sediment Trap and 234Th Methods for Carbon Export Flux Determination.

Minhan Dai uses a suite of radionuclides to examine carbon and trace metal biogeochemistry in marginal seas and estuarine systems, and investigates the geochemistry of radioactive elements in surface and ground water.  He will serve as WG co-Chair and contribute by promoting links to research and radioecology in China and in Southeast Asia and will host a WG meeting at Xiamen University.

Michio Aoyama works on the geochemistry of 137Cs in the world ocean from global fallout, and nuclear power plant accidents and has developed a marine radioactivity database, HAM, for artificial radioactivity in the world ocean. He will contribute by further developing and linking current databases of artificial radionuclides in marine systems.

Claudia Benitez-Nelson is an expert in the development of new radiochemical techniques and in the application of short-lived naturally and artificially occurring radionuclides in Marine Systems.  A gifted teacher and mentor who has received numerous accolades for her ability to communicate her science to the broader community, she will contribute by coordinating the writing of the overview manuscripts and in the development of classroom and broader public education and outreach materials.

Sabine Charmasson's field of expertise is mainly radioecology with use of both natural and artificial radionuclides as tracers of transfer processes within ecosystems (primarily land-to-sea fluxes, sediment recording, food chain transfer). She will contribute by promoting links with EC research and radioecology, in the development of education and training tools, and with public dissemination.

Roberta Delfanti’s research uses radionuclides as tracers of marine processes, including water dynamics in the Mediterranean Sea, and sedimentation and bioturbation in coastal and deep-sea environments.  She will contribute by promoting links with eastern European research and radioecology, as well as education, training and public dissemination.

Pere Masqué’s research focuses on using both natural and artificial radionuclides as tracers of processes in the ocean at various time scales, from present to paleooceanographic. A former member of the scientific steering committee of GEOTRACES, he will contribute by coordinating database efforts and in the development of education and outreach materials.

Paul Morris has worked with natural radionuclides to study ocean processes such as particle export and mixing rates. Currently, Morris works for the IAEA as the manager and coordinator of the Agency’s Marine Information System (MARiS), and will contribute by further developing and linking current MARiS to other emerging data bases on artificial and natural radionuclides in marine systems.

Deborah Oughton’s research includes the use of radioactive isotopes as environmental tracers as well as socio-ethical aspects of radiation risk assessment and stakeholder engagement. She will contribute by promoting links with EC research and radioecology, as well as education, training and public dissemination.

John N. Smith carries out targeted research focusing on applications of radioactive tracers to studies of sedimentation and particle transport, fish growth and other biological processes, biogeochemical cycling, ocean circulation and climate change.  He will contribute by promoting links with North American research and radioecology, as well as education, training and public dissemination.