The Research Center for Coal Geology and Environmental Sciences focuses on Coal Geology (in Romanian: Centrul pentru Geologia Zacamintelor de Carbuni si Protectia Mediului), Environmental Sciences, fossil plant systematics, taxonomy, phytostratigraphy, and paleoecology. It is a small group of research that strives for survival in spite of all epistemological and financial odds, centered around the Department of Geology and Paleontology, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest. The Center takes its pride in doing its duty in a country that is a true bonanza for Coal Geology, Environmental Sciences and Paleobotany. The material under research is usually collected from Romania, but foreign material is also under current study as well. Members of the Center are represented by Faculty members, graduate and undergraduate students of University of Bucharest. The Center is located in the Department of Geology and Paleontology, Laboratory of Paleontology, 1, Balcescu Ave., Bucharest.

The aims of our Center are linked to research, and to the promotion for education, of coals, environment and macro- and micro- fossil plants from Romania or from other countries, for a better understanding of their Geology and Paleobotany (systematics, taxonomy, paleoecology and stratigraphy) and to provide tools for a better exploitation of coal resources in Romania or abroad. The Center focuses on Geology, Coal Geology, Environment Science and Paleobotany & Palynology as its main fields of expertise. The Faculty members of the Paleobotany Research Group also accomplish a strong educational activity, by developing curricula in Geology, Coal Geology, Ecology, Paleobotany and Palynology for undergraduate and graduate students in Geology, Geography and Biology.

The Center was created by the late Professor Nicolae Ticleanu, faculty member of the Department of Geology and Paleontology, University of Bucharest. His death in 2009 was a tragic loss not only for the Center, but for the whole geological community in Romania. We lost not only a highly skilled professional and teacher, but a great friend too.

MEMBERS OF THE RESEARCH CENTER FOR COAL GEOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

1. Dr. Mihai E. POPA, faculty member, Director of the Center;

2. Dr. Doru BADESCU, faculty member, Executive Director of the Center;

3. Dr. Basarab DRAGOMIR, faculty member, Scientific Secretary of the Center;

4. Dr. Simona SAINT-MARTIN, member;

5. Dr. Valentin PARASCHIV, member;

6. Radu DUMITRESCU, member;

7. Raluca M. POPA, member;

8. Milan RASCOV, member.

RESEARCH PROJECTS OF THE CENTER

1. PNII-PC nr. 31-063/14.09.2007: DIVERSITATEA GEOLOGICA A PALEOZOICULUI SUPERIOR DIN ROMANIA SI RELATIA CU SCHIMBARILE CLIMATICE GLOBALE (Paleoclim), PI: Mihai E. Popa (2007-2010);

2. PNII-Idei nr. 436/1.10.2007: ECOSISTEME TERESTRE DE VARSTA JURASIC TIMPURIE DIN ROMANIA, PI: Mihai E. Popa (2007-2010).

3. MassExtinct, Marie Curie Excellence Research Project, PI: Jennifer McElwain, University College Dublin (2006-2010).

4 . PNII-PC nr. 56 /14.09.2007: MACROZONAREA SEISMICA A TERITORIULUI ROMANIEI, FUNDAMENTATA PE INTENSITATI MACROSEISMICE REEVALUATE, COROBORATE CU DATE GEOLOGICE SI GEOFIZICE COMPLEXE, PI: Doru Badescu, (2007-2010).

 

EQUIPMENT OF THE CENTER
Equipment associated with the Laboratory of Paleobotany and Palynology

1. Waldner HF fume hood for all types of macerations using strong acids, accomplying to all acid standards, including HF standards;

2. Hettich EBA 20 Analytical centrifuge;

3. Carl Zeiss Axioscope A1 transmitted (optical) light microscope with:
- fluorescence capability (HBO 50 source)
- high quality Carl Zeiss objectives (N-Achroplan, A-Plan, EC-Plan-Neofluar) for bright field, contrast phase and fluorescence microscopy;
- Canon Powershot A640 attached digital camera (first camera);

4. Carl Zeiss Stemi 2000C dissecting microscope with PCL 1500 LCD light source with:
- Canon Powershot A640 attached digital camera (second camera);

5. Carl Zeiss Stemi GZS dissecting microscope;

6 . An Acer graphic station computer with Axiovision software for image aquisition, processing, analysis and archive (Axiovision Extended Focus and Asset Archive modules), connected to the Canon digital cameras of both Carl Zeiss microscopes;

7. The Mihai E. Popa Paleobotany and Palynology library, including more than 6000 titles in Paleobotany, Palynology and Geology, recorded with Endnote ver. X3 reference manager;

8 . Computers (Acer stations), laptops (Fujitsu-Siemens, Acer), printers (Sharp AR-M276, Lexmark E120), scanners (Canon), etc.

9 . Digital cameras:
- Panasonic DMC-L10 with Leica D Vario Elmar 1:3,8-5,6 / 14-50 mm zoom lens,
- Panasonic DMC-FZ18 with super-tele capability (18x optical zoom),
- Canon Powershot S3-IS with supermacro capability and 15x optical zoom.

10. Coal, Paleobotany and Palynology collections.

Carl Zeiss transmitted light and dissecting microscopes of the Center.

Waldner fume hood accomplying all acid standards in the Laboratory of Paleobotany and Palynology.

Cuticle and spores and pollen preparations in the Laboratory of Paleobotany and Palynology.

Former undergraduate and graduate students associated with:
1. Mihai E. Popa: Bogdan Savescu, Andreea Zaharia, Mirela Sandu, Paula Androne, Valentin Boian, Victor Dinu, Valentina Fodolica-Cirimbei, Angela Toma, Bona Beca, Daphne Dimopolos, Elena Calarasu, Gabriela Burghelea, Madalina Ciupercianu, and many others.

Links
- University of Bucharest website;
- Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest website;