Proposedactivity:AnINTIMATEexample

StefanEngels&ChristineLane

Generalaims
Weproposetoorganiseacrossworkinggroupinitiative,spanning20132014,whichwillactasa
trainingexerciseforEarlyStageResearchers(ESRs),avehicletoincreasethecooperationbetween
different INTIMATE members and a means of generating an INTIMATE showcase record. The
primaryelementofthisinitiativewillbeatrainingschoolforstudentsandEarlyStageResearchers
(ESRs) from across the INTIMATE community, to be held during the summer of 2013. The training
schoolwillfocusonasitethatallowsadiscussionontheimportanceoftheINTIMATEframeworks
andprotocols,andthatcanbethebasisforamultidisciplinaryinvestigationofLateglacialtoEarly
Holoceneecosystemchanges.
WeaimtowelcomeadiversegroupofESRstothe5daysummerschooltoanalysecommon
problems in different (ice core, marine and terrestrial) depositional environments related to
chronological and palaeoclimatological issues; to instruct students on how to link such records; to
discusshowresultscanbeusedbythemodellingcommunity;andtostudytheimpactsofclimate
changeondifferentpartsoftheenvironment.
Wewillinviteagroupof1620enthusiasticMSc/PhDstudents/ESRswhoenjoyworkingin
a multidisciplinary team and who want to expand their knowledge on the latest methods used in
palaeoclimatology. We especially encourage applications from students and ESRs that have the
opportunitytocontinuetoperformanalysesonthesedimentsafterthetrainingschool.Thisformula
ensures a training school that transcends the traditional approach of lectures and discussions, but
aims to let the participants make a scientific contribution to the INTIMATE aims and objective.
Within an online forum and during a brief closing workshop to be held alongside the INTIMATE
Zaragozameetingin2014,theresultsoftheindividualprojectswillbecombinedandinterpretedby
the students themselves. The workshop will be an essential step to ensure the scientific
disseminationoftheresultstotheINTIMATE communityaswell asininternationalpeerreviewed
journals.

Aimsanddetailsofthetrainingschool
WeselectedLakeHmelsee,N.Germany,asthefocusofthetrainingschool.Thissitewaspreviously
investigated in the 1960s and the 1990s, and the produced lithological and palynological results
show the potential of the site for highresolution multiproxy investigation of Lateglacial climate
change.LakeHmelseeislocatedinanareathatissensitivetochangesinoceanicandatmospheric
forcing and is therefore of interest to the modelling community within INTIMATE. The sediment
sequence partially consists of varves and contains at least two tephra, allowing direct linkages to
marineandicecorerecords.Finally,thedepositionalenvironmentallowstheuseofproxiesthatwill
providequantitativepalaeoclimatologicalreconstructions,inlinewithINTIMATEobjectives.

Thetrainingschoolwillnotbebasedaroundaseriesoflecturesonpublishedresultsgiven
byexperiencedresearchers.Rather,itwillbefocusedondiscussionsbetweenthestudents,aiming
to develop a critical attitude towards siteselection, research design, chronological issues and
quantification techniques. These discussions will be supervised and guided by senior scientists.
Ultimately,thesetoolsareneededbyanystudentwhowishestopursueacareerinscienceandwho
willindependentlydesignresearchprojects(e.g.forpostdoctoralresearchprojects).
Wewillstartthetrainingschoolwithtwodaysofexampledrivenlecturesanddiscussionson
topicsthatinclude:AnintroductiontoINTIMATE;Anintroductiontochronologyandreconstructions
(toolbox);Siteselectionandsamplingstrategies;andKeyresearchquestionswithinINTIMATEand
the wider palaeocommunity. Supervised by experienced researchers, students will discuss and
evaluatethe pros,consandsynergiesofdifferentarchives(marine,ice,terrestrial).Theywillthen
design a research strategy from site selection and sampling, data collection and production, to
1

meaningfulinterpretationofresultsandintegrationwithexistingpalaeoclimaterecords,byapplying
theINTIMATEprotocols.
Thetrainingschoolwillcombineclassroombaseddiscussionswith23daysofhandsonfield
and laboratory based research, exploring the challenges involved in investigating environmental
settingonregionaltolocalscales.Collaborationacrossdifferentdisciplineswillbestimulatedboth
byworkingwithinsmallresearchteamsandbypresentinganddiscussingfindingswithinthelarger
group.
During the training school, each student group will be responsible for designing and
implementingindividualprojectsusingasedimentcorethatwewillcollectatLakeHmelseeduring
thetrainingschool.Usinginitialdataproducedduringtheweek,studentswilllearntointerpretand
discusstheirfindingsandstarttopreparetheirresearchprojects,whichcouldbecarriedoutattheir
homeinstituteorthroughexchangeprojects(STSMs).

Individualprojectsandworkshop
Followingthetrainingschool,weanticipatethatthestudentswillproducearangeofchronological
and palaeoclimatological data for this site during individual research projects. We appreciate that
somestudentswillhavenoorverylimitedtimeonlyforfollowupresearchprojects.Nonetheless,
even these students can be actively involved in the follow up trajectory, e.g. as the persons
responsiblefordatahandlingandintegration,settingupthe2014workshop,etc.
Student research projects will not be prescribed ahead of the training school; instead,
students will be expected to design their own input to the COST INTIMATE collaborative research
project and present their individual proposals on the last day of the meeting. They will, as a
subgroup, be responsible for the analyses of a set of research questions that they developed
themselvesduringthetrainingschool.Theprojectscanbeperformedintheframeworkofexchange
visits (STSMs) as well as within the students own lab. We will facilitate interaction between the
studentsbysettingupadigitalcollaborationplatformon(e.g.)Googlegroupsthatwillenablethe
sharingofdata,thediscussionofideas,andtheinterpretationoftheirresults.Wewillconvenea1
day workshop alongside the Zaragoza meeting in 2014 where the results of the project will be
broughttogether.Wewillencourageallinvolvedscientiststocontributetothisworkshop/session.
The outcome of this workshop should be the preparation of one (or more) manuscript(s) on this
INTIMATEshowcasesiteaswellasapresentationofthemainresultstotheINTIMATEcommunity
duringtheZaragozameeting.

Whodoesthisconcern
Wewillinviteagroupof1620enthusiasticstudents/ESRstothetrainingschool.Theapplicantswill
beaskedtocomposealetterofmotivationthatsetsouttheirownresearchinterestsandwhatthey
hope to gain from the INTIMATE example project. If more applications should arrive, a selection
committeewillreviewtheapplicationsandrankthemaccordingtotheirmotivation.Ouridealgroup
of trainees would include ESRs from across the scientific and geographic breadth of the INTIMATE
community including people who work on marine or terrestrial sites, icecores, or on climate
modelling.Theproposedworkingformatofsubgroupsofstudentswhowilleachberesponsiblefora
certainpartoftheresearchproject(seeAppendix3)wouldgreatlybenefitfromabalancedmixof
students.
So far, weve received enthusiastic responses from about 30 experienced scientists who
indicatedtheirinterestinbeinginvolvedinthisproject.Differentpeoplehaveofferedtheirhelpby
invitingstudentstoapplyforSTSMsintheirlab,byrunninganalysesintheframeworkoftheproject
or by providing statistical or logistical support. The comments and suggestions of all interested
partieshavebeenconsideredinthisdocumentwhereappropriate.

Solicitedsupport
FollowingthesuccessfulplanningmeetinginAmsterdam(78Feb2013),wenowsolicitsupportfor
the organisation of the outlined fieldbased training school. We ask for a contribution of 10,000,
whichwouldprovidesometravelandsubsistencesupportforstudentandESRattendance,leavinga
relativelylowregistrationfee(250)forparticipatingstudents.Inordertoencourageparticipation
ofESRsfromsouthernandeasternEuropeanCOSTcountries,thebudgetwillallowforanumberof
waived registration fees. Furthermore, travel grants will be focussed on supporting top class
applicantsfromtheseareas,whomayhavefurthertotraveltoattendthecourse.Externalfunding
sourcesarecurrentlybeingexploredwhichmayalsoaidattendancefromstudentsand/ortrainers
whowoldotherwisebeunabletomeettravelandregistrationfees.
A1dayfollowupworkshop,relatedtotheZaragoza2014meeting,willfollowthesummer
school.Theworkshopwouldstimulatestudentstocarryouttheirlaboratorywork,setadeadlinefor
the interpretation of the results, create a platform to scientifically discuss their results with each
otheraswellaswithseniorscientistsinterestedintheproject,andprovideameanstodraftoneor
more manuscripts for publication in peerreviewed journal(s). We will therefore request some
financial support to cover room bookings and facilities (as well as limited travel support for a few
participants)forthismeetingwithintheautumn2013budgetcall.

Deliverables
Theproposedtrainingschoolwillhavebothtangibleandindirectdeliverables.Mostimportantly,the
training school will train a new generation of scientists to apply the INTIMATE frameworks and
protocols. These students and ESRs will furthermore get the chance to strongly improve their
scientific network: (1) by carrying out research in subgroups with a diverse background, they will
intensively interact with each other during the training school; (2) through the possibility of the
exchangeprojects,aswellasthroughthefollowupworkshopin2014,theywillcomeincontactwith
experiencedscientists.
One or more manuscripts describing the results of the training school and the individual
student projects will be compiled during the 2014workshop. If successful, this training school
providesatemplateforsimilarfutureinitiativesacrosstheINTIMATEtimescaleandareaofinterest.
Astatementofinteresttowardsthisendhasalreadybeenofferedtotheorganizingcommittee.

Appendices:
1.Proposedtimetableofthetrainingschool
2.Budget
3.Peopleinvolved
4.Initialproposal(Sept2012)
5.Meetingreportplanningworkshop(Feb2013)

Appendix1:Proposedprogramforthetrainingschool

Day1(Monday)
Topics:IntroductiontoINTIMATEandINTIMATEresearchgoals;Analysisofpotentialandproblemsofdifferent
typesofsites
Intros/icebreakers
(morning)IntroductiontoINTIMATE,background,organisation,focusofworkinggroups
o AimsandobjectivesofINTIMATE
o Exampledrivenlecture(s)onINTIMATEresults
o Introtochronologyandreconstructions(toolbox)
(discussion)Whataretheopenquestions?
o Howwouldyougoabouttryingtoanswerthesequestions?
o Prosandconsofdifferentrealms(ice/marine/terrestrial)&typesofsites(lakes,peat)
Linksbacktoproxies&researchquestions
o Whichgeographicalregion(s)?
(taskafternoon)informationonanumberofsiteswillbeprovidedstudentsdiscuss&present
whichsitetheywouldchoose&whatshouldbeinvestigated

Day2(Tuesday)
Topics:Introductiontoexamplesite;howtosetuparesearchproject
(morning)Introductiontothelocalregion
o Geology,deglaciation
o Currentclimateandtheinfluenceofatmosphericandoceaniccirculation
o Hmelseepreviouswork
(task)Definingresearchquestions(withinx4groups)
Discussionofsamplingapproaches
o Coringstrategy
o Multiproxyapproach
o Resolutionofproxies
o Positionofsampling
o Comparablemethods
(afternoon)Fieldexcursion:Wholegroupdaytoprovidecontexttosite

Day3+4(Wednesday+Thursday)
Topics:Handsonexperienceinfield;lithologicalanalyses;discusspotentialresearchquestions
Forday3and4wewillsplitupthestudentsinto4groups,eachcontainingarangeofspecialities.Theywill
worktogethertotacklepartofthelongcorethatwillberetrieved,andwillpresenttheirresultsonFriday.4
groups(2DAYS,eachbulletpointhalfaday)
Group1:(atthesite):
coring
profiling,watercolumnmeasurements;gravitycoring
Group2:(atthesite):
Group3:(athotel):
lithologicaldescription,stratigraphy,photographing
Group4:(athotel):
subsamplingforownresearchproject

Day5(Friday)
Topics:Summarizepreviousactivity;defineresearchprojects;discussfutureprospectsandplans
Presentationofinitialresults:
o Lithology
o Stratigraphy
o MagSusc;XRF
o Sampling(resolution)discussexpectedresults
o Compareagainst1999results
(task)Defining/writingindividualresearchprojects
(task)Discusshowtointegratetheresults
o Howtointegrateexpectedresults(a)withotherdatafromsamecore(b)withothersites
and(c)withintheINTIMATEframework?
o Organisereturnmeeting(program)

Appendix2:Budget

Priceestimatesfrominternet,Feb2013:
Pensionwithfullboardnearbystudysite=35pp/pn
Rentofaminivan=~100percar/pd

Costs
1)Boardingofstudents
2)Scholarshipsstudents
3)Boardingoftrainers
4)Travelmoneytrainers

5)Consumables

6)Totalcoststechnicians

7)Localtransport

4,250.00
2,500.00
1,500.00
1,750.00
500.00
1550.00
3,000.00
15,050.00

Total

Funding
A)Expectedexternalfunding

500
B)GrantedfundingUtrechtUniversity
800
C)Registrationfeesstudents

3,750.00
D)FundingrequestedfromINTIMATE
10,000.00
Total

15,050.00

Motivation
Ad1)20students,6nights,35Eurpp.pn.ThisincludeslodgingandfullboardingatTagungshausDrbberholz,
locatednearHmelsee.Theaccommodationalreadyindicatedthatroomisavailabletohouseourtraining
school
Ad2)Thisamountincludestravelmoneyfor5studentsfromSorEeuropeancountriesatupto500each;
thesestudentsarealsonotexpectedtopayregistrationfees(seeFunding)
Ad3)Fourtrainersfulltime(6nights,35eurpp.pn.)plusadditionalnightsforvisitingtrainers(seeAppendix3)
Ad4)TwotrainerswilltravelfromtheNetherlands(total=150gasmoney);1trainerfromBerlin(100gas
money);1trainerfromLondon(250Euro).Remainderisbudgetedtobringinexpertsforfewdayseach
Ad5)Expendablesforinthefield(e.g.coringtubes)aswellasduringpreparations(e.g.productionfliers)
Ad6)Thiscoverstravelexpenses,lodgingoftechnicianplussupportingstudentfromtheNetherlands,aswell
asthewagesforthetechnician.TheselattercostsaresponsoredbyUtrechtUniversity(see#B)
Ad7)Thiscoversrentofthreeminivansplusgasmoneyfortheentiretrainingschool

AdA)OngoingrequestsatQRAandINQUAtocover(1)visitofkeynotespeaker(s)and(2)studentfrom
outsideEurope
AdB)WagesofthetechnicianaresponsoredbyUtrechtUniversity(see#6)
AdC)Currentlysettheregistrationfeeto250,15payingstudents

Appendix3:PeopleinvolvedintheINTIMATEexampleproject

Trainees
WewillsendoutacalltoallpeopleinvolvedintheINTIMATEnetworkandhopetowelcomea
diversegroupofapplicantswithdifferentresearchbackgroundsandfromacrossallmemberstates
oftheINTIMATE.Ideally,thatwouldincludePhDstudentsandESRswithspecializationsinmarine,
terrestrial,icecoreandmodelingstudies.Theproposedworkingformatofsubgroupsof5students
eachwouldbenefitfromhavingrepresentativesofthesefieldswithineachsubgroup.Applicantsto
thetrainingschoolwillbeaskedtocomposealetterofmotivationthatsetsouttheirownresearch
interestsandwhattheyhopetogainfromtheINTIMATEexampleproject.Wecaninviteupto20
studentstothetrainingschool;ifmoreapplicationsshouldarrive,aselectioncommitteewillreview
theapplicationsandrankthemaccordingtotheirmotivation.

Coretrainers
ChristineLane
Chronology
StefanEngels
Palaeoecology
DirkSachse

Geochemistry
WimHoek

Sedimentology

Proposedadditionaltrainers
Inadditiontotheaforementionedpeoplewhowesuggestshouldbepresentthroughouttheentire
trainingschool,weaimtoinviteexpertsacrossallINTIMATEtopicstoattendthefirsttwodiscussion
days(orlongerdependingontheirowninterest).Thesetopicswouldincludeicecorechronology
andinterpretation,marinegeology,climatemodeling,andvariousaspectsofchronologynot
coveredinthecoregroupoftrainers(e.g.varvechronology,radiocarbondating).Ideally,these
additionaltrainerswouldbebasedinrelativeproximitytoNGermany,sothattravelcostsstaytoa
minimum.

ResponsesfromtheINTIMATEcommunity
Sofar,wehavereceivedenthusiasticresponsesfromabout30scientistsfromwithintheINTIMATE
communitywhoindicatedtheirinterestinbeinginvolvedinthisproject.Differentpeoplehave
offeredtheirhelpbyinvitingstudentstodoSTSMsintheirlab,byrunninganalysesintheframework
oftheprojectorbyprovidingstatisticalorlogisticalsupport.

Appendix4:ProposalsubmittedtotheINTIMATEMCSeptember2012

Proposedactivity:AnINTIMATEexample
StefanEngels&ChristineLane

Weproposeacrossworkinggroupinitiative,spanning20132014,thatwillactasatrainingschoolforearly
stageresearchers,avehicletoincreasethecooperationbetweendifferentINTIMATEmembersandameansof
generatinganINTIMATEshowcaserecord.

Projectsummary:
WeintendtoselectandsampleasingleterrestrialsiteforamultidisciplinaryinvestigationofLateglacialto
EarlyHoloceneecosystemchanges,inlinewithINTIMATEaims.GuidedbyESRswitharangeofspecialisms,
researchonthesitewouldbecarriedoutbyenthusiasticMSc/PhDstudentswhoenjoyworkinginamulti
disciplinaryteamandwhowanttoexpandtheirknowledgeonthelatestmethodsusedinpalaeoclimatology.
Bydefiningstudentprojectsthatincludethestudyofoneortwopalaeomethodseach,weaimtoconstructan
overarchingresearchprojectthatcoversalargepartoftheentirepalaeospectrumandfacilitates
reconstructionofboththelocalenvironmentalandregionalclimaticchangesoftheLateglacialtoEarly
Holocene.FollowingINTIMATEprotocols,wewillaimtoproduceahighprecisionrecordthatisdirectly
comparablewithotherpublishedterrestrial,marineandicecoredatasets.Evaluationofthetimingof
transitionswithinarangeofarchiveswillcontributetoourunderstandingofthemechanismsandimpactsof
abruptclimaticchange.
OurproposalistoutiliseCOSTfundinginthreestages:(1)aninitialplanningworkshop,involvinga
smallgroupofESRsandsupportingMCmembers,wherewewillselectasite,planfieldworkanddetailstudent
projects;(2)afieldbasedtrainingschool,involvingESRsandstudentparticipants,wherethedifferentstudent
projectswillbeintroducedanddiscussed,coreswillbecollected,materialsampledandindividualprojectswill
getunderway;(3)executionoflaboratorybasedstudentresearchprojects.Forthelatter,weproposeto
submitindividualapplicationsforfundingasShortTermScientificMissionstosupportthenecessary
travel/exchangevisits.
Thisprojectultimatelyservesathreefoldobjective:(1)viaexchangevisitsandthetrainingschool,
ESRswillgaintheopportunitytoworkwithstateoftheartchronologicalandpalaeoecologicaltechniques,
cooperatingwiththeleadingexpertsinthefield;(2)bystructuringthetrainingonasinglesite,toincrease
internationalcollaborationbetweendifferentresearchgroupsingeneralandamongstudentsandESRs
specifically;(3)produceahighresolutionreconstructionofbothinlakeandregionalenvironmental
parametersonawelldatedLateglacialsite,providingforanINTIMATEshowcasesitethatwillserveasa
platformfortheexplorationofclimateteleconnectionsacrossEuropeandtheNorthAtlantic.

Implementation:
Thisprojectwillspan20132014,beginningwiththeinitialplanningworkshopintheNetherlands(early2013).
Thetrainingschoolisproposedforsummer2013,followedbystudentexchangevisitsofvariouslengths,
runningfrommid2013to2014.Afinalwrapupmeetingwhereresultswillbepresentedandpublicationplans
(includingpossibilitiesforaspecialissue)discussed,willbecarriedoutwithinthe2014plenaryworkshop.An
approximatetimetableisappendedbelow.

Participantsandsolicitedsupport:
Participantsremaintobeconfirmed,howeverweanticipate46studentprojectscarriedoutalongside46
ESRsworkinginrelevantfields,aimingtoprovidedeliverablesacrosstheINTIMATEworkinggroups.These
projectsshouldbeseparatelyfunded,andindividualapplicationstothisendwillbesubmittedtotheSTSM
schemeinduetimebytheinterestedstudentsandhostingESRs.
Atthismoment,wesolicit3000fortheinitialplanningmeetingtoallow~8participants,including
ESRsandanumberofadvisingexperts.Forthefieldbasedtrainingschoolwewillaskforaparticipationfee,
althoughwewouldliketokeepthecoststoindividualsminimal,toencourageattendancefromstudentsfrom
acrosstheCOSTINTIMATEmembercountries.Wethereforeaskforacontributionof10,000,whichwould
providesometravelandsubsistencesupportforstudentandESRattendance.

Workingtimetable:
SeptDec2012:

ReleaseacallforparticipationandadvicefromINTIMATEmembers.

Establishmentofcoreteamforprojectdesignmeeting.
Jan2013:

ProjectdesignmeetinginNetherlands:siteselection,fieldwork(trainingschool),sampling&analysis
strategyplanned.Someexamplestudentprojectsdefined.

AnnouncementtoINTIMATEbyemail,invitingstudent/ESRprojectproposalsandparticipation.
Feb2012:

Selectionoffirstroundstudentprojects.

STSMfundingapplicationssubmitted(asnecessary).
Apr2012:

ShortannouncementatScotlandmeeting,encouraginginputbyinterestedtrainersandtrainees,
aswellasadvicefromcommunity.
May2012:
Deadlinefortrainingschoolapplications.

JulAug2012:

Trainingschool:includingfieldwork,subsamplingetc.

Firstexchange/researchprojectsunderway.
Sept2012:

SecondroundSTSMapplicationsforstudent/ESRprojects(asnecessary).
Through2013:

Continuedcoordinationofresults/projects.

Presentationofresults/progressatINTIMATEplenarymeeting.

Publicationplansunderway.

Appendix5

Workshopreport:
PlanningmeetingfortheINTIMATEExample
trainingschoolproject

UniversityofAmsterdam,TheNetherlands
78thJanuary2013
Organisers:StefanEngelsandChristineLane

Participants(LR):HansRenssen,WimHoek,DirkSachse,Daniel
Veres,JohnLowe,ChristineLane,StefanEngelsandBasvanGeel(not
pictured).

EUCOSTactionES090

Atwodayplanningworkshop,onthetopicoftheproposedINTIMATEExampleproject,washeldat
theUniversityofAmsterdam,from78thFebruary2013.Theworkshopfollowedanautumn2012call
forparticipation,whichpromptedca.30verypositiveresponsesfrommembersacrosstheINTIMATE
community.Ultimately,theworkshopwasattendedbyeightINTIMATEmembersoverthetwodays,
withrepresentativesfromeachoftheINTIMATEworkinggroupsandarangeofexperienceand
expertise(seeparticipantlist).Theinputandadvicegivenbyallwhorespondedwasgreatlyvalued
andplayedanimportantroleindiscussionsoverthetwodays.
ThemainaimoftheworkshopwastobegindesigningtheINTIMATEExampleproject,whichincludes
plansforatrainingschool(July2013),anumberoffollowupresearchandexchangeprojectsanda
finalworkshop(2014).
Thefirstdayopenedwithroundtableintroductions,whereeachparticipantsetouttheirinterest
andinvolvementinINTIMATEresearch.Stefanthengaveashortintroductiontohowtheideaforthe
INTIMATEExampleprojectcameaboutandoutlinedfourspecificobjectivesfortheworkshopthat
providedaframeworkfordiscussionoverthenexttwodays:

1. TodefinethegoalsofAnINTIMATEExample
Balancingscientificvs.didacticalvalues:Thegroupwereinagreementthatthesetwodifferent
aspectsoftheprojectneednotbemutuallyexclusive.However,theconceptofatrainingschool
leadingtoresearchandcollaborationopportunitiesfortheparticipatingESRsremainstheprimary
focusoftheproject.ThegrouprecognisedtherealneedforinculcationoftheINTIMATEapproaches
topalaeoclimaticresearchfromthebottomupandthatthisprojectoffersagoodopportunityto
improvescientificpractisesacrosstheQuaternarycommunity.
EnsuringtheprojectissuitablyINTIMATE:Itwasagreedbyallthattheprojectmustreflect
andcontributetotheresearchfocussesofallfourINTIMATEworkinggroups.Whilstthetraining
schoolwillbecentredaroundinvestigationofaLateglacialterrestrialrecord(2.),forpractical
purposes,theparticipantswillbeexposedtoconceptsandhavetheopportunitytolearnskillsthat
aretransferrableacrossarangeofINTIMATErelatedscience(consideringice,marineandterrestrial
research;questionsrelevanttothewholeoftheINTIMATEtimeperiod;andgenerationofdata
usefultothemodellingandenvironmentalreconstructioncommunities(3.)).
GeneratedeliverableswithinandbeyondtheCOSTAction:Thefinalgoaloftheprojectasa
wholeshouldbetoprovideanumberoftangibledeliverablestotheCOSTAction,again
encompassingbothdidacticalandscientificagendas.Itwasrecognisedthatwhilsttheprojectwillbe
designedforcompletionwithintheremainingtimeframeoftheCOSTAction,thereisalsopotential
forfollowuporspinoffresearchprojectsleadingtopublicationthatwouldprovideanongoing
legacyforCOSTINTIMATE.

2. Tooutlinetopicsforteachingatthetrainingschool.
Adraftschedulewascompiledforthetrainingschoolandwillbesubmittedwiththeproject
proposal.Thetrainingschool,tobeheldinJuly2013,willbe56dayslongandencompassamixture
oflectures,data,planningandscopingexercises,fieldsamplingandlaboratoryprotocolsand
analysis.WewillinviteapplicationsfromacrosstheINTIMATEcommunity,andplantowelcomea
diversegroupofearlycareerscientists.Selectionwillfollowanapplicationprocedureandwillbe
evaluatedbymembersofthesteeringcommittee.
Teachingtopics:Duringtheweekthestudentswillbegivenpracticalinstructionsonlinkingicecore,
marineandterrestrialrecordsandtheirapplicationinmodellingaswellaslearningaboutthe
potentialandproblemsofvarieddepositionalenvironments,includingdatingandcorrelation.The

studentswillalsogainhandsonexperienceofanumberoffieldandlaboratorysamplingmethods
andlearnabouthowtodesignandplanaresearchprojectcentredaroundINTIMATEscience(testing
assumptionsinclimatereconstruction,buildingandcomparingindependentrecords,evaluating
modelsvs.palaeodata,optimisingresearchpotential).Intakingpartinthisprocess,thestudentswill
gainexperienceofresearchcollaborationandnetworking,withintheINTIMATEcommunity.
Followupprojects:Asstatedintheoriginalproposalitisintendedthatstudentswouldbeableto
followupthetrainingschoolbytakingpartinlaboratoryexchangevisitstoworkwithexpertsin
otheruniversities/countriesonaresearchproject.Thegroupappreciatethatsomestudentswillhave
noorverylimitedtimeonlyforfollowupresearchprojects,andthatsomemaybecarriedoutin
theirhomeinstitutions.Nonetheless,eventhesestudentscanbeactivelyinvolvedinthefollowup
trajectory,e.g.asthepersonsresponsiblefordatahandlingandintegration,settingupthe2014
workshop,etc.
Theresearchprojectswillnotbeprescribedaheadofthetrainingschool;instead,studentswill
beexpectedtodesigntheirowninputtotheCOSTINTIMATEcollaborativeresearchprojectand
presenttheirindividualproposalsonthelastdayofthemeeting.

3. Toselectasiteforthetrainingschool.
Thegroupdiscussedsiteselectioncriteriaandidentifiedanumberofpossiblelocationsforthe
trainingschool.
Criteria:Theidealsiteforatrainingschoolshouldbe(i)appropriateforcoring,samplingand
investigationofthetopicsbeingtaught(2.),(ii)havethestratigraphicresolutionandmultiproxy
potentialforaddressingINTIMATEquestions,(iii)beeasilyaccessibletothemajorityofparticipants
tominimisecosts,and(iv)providethescopeforthegenerationofnewandpublishabledata,ofuse
toallfouroftheINTIMATEworkinggroups.Inparticular,wewouldaimtogeneratedatathatis
usefultoanswerresearchquestionsofvaluetothemodellingcommunityandforthisreasonthesite
shouldbeinaregionthatisinfluencedbybothoceanandatmosphericclimatesystems.
Itwasdecidedthattoselectapreviouslyuninvestigatedsitewouldbetoohighariskintermsof
fulfillingtheaboveacademiccriteriaandthatinsteadasiteshouldbeselectedwheresomeresearch
hasbeencarriedoutinthepastsothatwehaveprecedentknowledgeofwhattherecovered
sequencewillcontainandofitspalaeoenvironmentalpotential.
Location:SitesincentralnorthernEurope(Netherlands,Germany,EasternFrance)werediscussedas
thisregionhasahighpotentialforcontainingtephralayersthatwouldfacilitatemakingdirect
comparisonbetweenthechosenterrestrialsequenceandappropriateiceandmarinerecords.The
highnumberofLateglacialrecordsalreadystudiedinthisregionalsoprovidesameanstomakeprior
predictionsabouttheproxysignalsthatshouldbegenerated.Thisbroadareaisalsosuitableinterms
offeasible,economicaccessformostparticipantsandalsointermsoftheavailabilityofcoring
equipment.
AtargetsiteinNorthernGermanyhasbeenselectedthatfulfilsalloftheabovecriteria,withproven
potentialfordirectterrestrialmarineicecorelinkages.

4. TodraftaprojectplanandproposalforMCapproval.
Theseconddayofthemeetingwasspentdetailingascheduleforthetrainingschoolanddraftingthe
projectplanforMCapproval.Itwasdecidedthatthesedocumentswillbecompiledbythepresent
projectcoordinatorsandthencirculatedforcommentsaroundthosemembersofINTIMATEwho
hadpreviouslyexpressedaninterestinsupportingtheproject.

Insummary,theprojectwillbecomposedofthreemainsections:

Thetrainingschool:714thJuly2013(datestobeconfirmed).
Followupresearchprojects:July2013toearly2014.Projectswillbeofvariedlengthsin
differentlocations,andwewillencourageasmallnumberofapplicationstotheSeptember
STSMbudgetforsupport.
Awrapupworkshop,Spring2014:Participantswillreconveneatashort(2day)meetingat
whichresultswillbeintegratedandexploredandpublicationsoutlined.

Anumberofspecifictaskswerealsoidentifiedforcompletioninadvanceofthetrainingschool,by
thecoordinationgroup:

Subjecttoprojectapproval,planswillbefinalisedandacallforparticipation(fortrainees)
distributedviavariousavenues.TheINTIMATEsessionatEGUwillpromotetheprojectanda
breakoutinformationsessionisorganisedfortheApril2013INTIMATEmeetinginBlair
Athol.
DuringthistimewewillalsostarttoidentifyINTIMATEmemberswhowishtoactasmentors
forstudentprojectsorwhomaybeabletoattendandassistintherunningofthetraining
school.However,wewouldlikethestudentstobethedriversoftheresearchquestionsto
beaddressed,thementorstobeselected,andthechronology/proxiestobeworkedon.
Researchingaccesstothesiteandpossibleaccommodationoptions;availabilityof
equipmentandpersonnel;contactingspecificindividualsforfurtheradviceoroffersof
participation.

TheoutcomeoftheworkshopisaclearroadmapforimplementationoftheINTIMATEExample
projectmeeting,whichwillbedetailedintheprojectplandocumentforattentionoftheMCinthe
followingfewweeks.Wehopethattheenthusiasmforthisinitiative,thatisevidentacrossthe
INTIMATEcommunity,willbereflectedinabroadparticipationandthatasaresultitsimpactwill
ensureincreasedawarenessoftherigorousscientificprinciplesupheldbytheINTIMATEAction.

Workshopparticipantlist
Name
StefanEngels
ChristineLane
DirkSachse
DanielVeres
WimHoek
JohnLowe
HansRenssen
BasvanGeel

Affiliation
UniversityofAmsterdam,NL
UniversityofOxford,UK
UniversityofPotsdam,Germany
LaboratoiredeGlaciologieetGeophysiquedelEnvironnement,France
RomanianAcademy,InstituteofSpeleology"EmilRacovita",Romania
UtrechtUniversity,NL
RoyalHollowayUniversityofLondon,UK
VrijeUniversiteitAmsterdam,NL
UniversityofAmsterdam,NL

ESR
y
y
y
y