History of the OGU
The Organic Geochemistry Unit (OGU) at Bristol is a well established group with more than 30 years of international research activity employing hyphenated mass spectrometric techniques as its principal analytical tool. It is based within the Organic and Biological Section of the School of Chemistry, University of Bristol. With its origins in the former research groups of Professor Geoffrey Eglinton, FRS and Professor James Maxwell, FRS the unit is a hub for organic geochemical research where many of the concepts, discoveries and techniques now widely employed in the field, throughout the world, were developed. A multitude of people have either studied at, or visited, the OGU over the last three decades many of whom are now prominant researchers in the same field (or related fields) at institutions spanning the globe.
With the return of Professor Richard Evershed to Bristol in 1993 and the recruitment of Dr Richard Pancost in 2000 the research portfolio of the OGU has been broadened to include subject areas such as archaeological chemistry, soil biogeochemistry and geomicrobiology. The unit is stengthened further by the additional activities of Dr Ian Bull (soil and freshwater molecular biogeochemistry, forensic biogeochemistry). In addition, the OGU continues to house the Bristol node of the NERC Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry Facility providing a further focus for the seeding, development and implementation of cutting edge research by UK based life scientists.
Originally established by Professor Geoffrey Eglinton, FRS, and now led by Professor Richard Evershed the Bristol Biogeochemistry Research Centre is an official University of Bristol research centre comprising groups (OGU, ACRG, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Geochemistry, and the Bristol Glaciology Centre) from three University departments with 5* RAE ratings (the School of Chemistry, the Department of Earth Sciences and the School of Geographical Sciences). In 2002 the OGU benefited from leading a successful bid to the Science and Research Infrastructure Fund (SRIF) entitled ‘A Molecular and Isotope Biogeochemistry Research Centre for the 21st Century’ coordinated between the component groups of the centre. Of the £2m awarded approximately £1,082M was used in support of the OGU with £882k being spent on the acquisition of new analytical instrumentation and IT support and £200k for the refurbishment of the group's offices and laboratories to provide excellent, modern working conditions to facilitate future research.
