Dr Lauren Howard

Biography

Employment history:

2008-Date:  Electron Microscopist, EMMA Division, The Natural History Museum

2006-2007:  Petrology Curator, The Natural History Museum

2002-2003:  Exploration Geologist, Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

Education:

2003-2006:  PhD Planetary Sciences; Imperial College London

1998-2002:  1st Class Honours Degree, MSci Geological Sciences; Imperial College London

1996-1998:  A-levels (A-Geology, B-Maths, A-Dance), Dartford Grammar School for Girls

Expertise

Equipment Expertise

In my Electron Microscopist role at the NHM I am responsible for the operation, maintenance, training and development of several electron beam instruments.  These include:

Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM):

LEO 1455 VP SEM

Philips XL30 FEG SEM

Hitachi S2500 SEM

I also have experience in using a CamScan X500 and Jeol 5900 VP

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM):

Hitachi 7100 TEM

Confocal:

Leica TCS SP1

CT Tomography:

Gatan X-ray Ultra-Microscope (XuM):  This is a high-resolution 3D x-ray tomography accessory for an SEM.  It is attached to our Philips XL30 SEM and is capable of producing 3D tomography at a resolution of approx. 500nm.  In addition to high-resolution, it's data has a phase contrast component which is unachievable in conventional CT-Scanners.  This allows cracks, voids and boundaries to be visualised in an otherwise homogenous material.

The NHM is one of the first institutes globally to have such and instrument and I have been responsible for the development of this instrument with Gatan.

Analytical Techniques

I have an advanced knowledge of Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) analysis.

Sample Preparation Expertise

Fixation, dehydration and critical point drying

Research

Interests

My research interests are in the field of planetary sciences, in particular Meteoritics, which largely involves the geochemical and petrological analysis of meteorite samples using high-resolution analytical equipment, such as Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEMs).  I am particularly interested in analysing the principle components of primitive chondritic meteorites, in order to understand their origins, subsequent alteration and deformation and what they can tell us about conditions in the solar nebula or on their parent asteroid.

Publications

Casting Light on Dark Inclusions:  New Analyses of Allende.  Sephton M. A., Howard L. E., James R. H. & Bland P. A. (2008) Meteorite (In Press).

Dark Inclusions of Allende: Evidence for Nebula or Parent Body Processing? Gordon, S. H.; Howard, L. E.; Menzies, O. N.; Bland, P. A.; Hammond, S. J.; Rogers, N. W.; Prior, D. J. (2008) Lunar and Planetary Science, 39, Abstract 1391

Characterising Primitive Chondrite Matrix: A SEM/TEM/EBSD Study of Acfer 094.  Duffy, C. M.; Bland, P. A.; Russell, S. S.; Prior, D. J.; Mariani, E.; Kearsley, A. T.; Howard, L.; Chater, R.; Ardakani, M. G.; McPhail, D.; Shollock, B. A.  (2008) Meteortics & Planetary Science 43, Abstract  5229.

Insights into the Thermal History of AOAs in Carbonaceous Chondrites. Howard, L. E.; Bland, P. A.; Prior, D. J.; Russell, S. S. (2007) Meteortics & Planetary Science 42, Abstract  5209.

Petrofabrics in a Chondruel Rim - Evidence for a Nebula Origin. Bland, P. A.; Howard, L. E.; Prior, D. J.; Wheeler, J.; Hammond, S. M.; Gordon, S. H. (2007) Workshop on the Chronology of Meteorites and the Early Solar System, Abstract  1374.

Delving into Allende’s Dark Secrets. Sephton M. A., Howard L. E. & Bland P. A. (2006) Astron. Geophys. 47: 37-38.

Fabric Analysis of Allende Matrix Using EBSD.  Watt L. E., Bland P. A., Prior D. J. & Russell S. S.  (2006)  Meteortics & Planetary Science 41: 989-1001.

Studies of Minor Phases in Primitive Chondrite Matrix. Bloom, J. L.; Bland, P. A.; Kearsley, A. T.; Watt, L. E. (2006)  Lunar and Planetary Science, 37, Abstract  1714.

Trace element evidence for evaporation during chondrule formation, and chondrule/matrix complimentarity.  P. A. Bland, O. Alard, G. K. Benedix, A. T. Kearsley, O. N. Menzies, L. E. Watt & N. W. Rogers.  (2005)  PNAS 102, 13755-13760

Fayalitic Olivine in Allende Matrix:  Evidence for a Secondary Origin.  Watt L. E., Bland P. A., Prior D. J. & Russell S. S.  (2005)  Lunar and Planetary Science, 36, Abstract 1305.

Olivine in CV Chondrite Matrices: Structure, Size-Distribution & Morphology.  Watt L. E., Bland P. A., Prior D. J. & Russell S. S.  (2005)  Meteortics & Planetary Science 40, Abstract  5224.

Fabric Analysis of Allende Matrix Using EBSD.  Watt L. E., Bland P. A., Russell S. S. & Prior D. J.  (2004)  Meteortics & Planetary Science, 39, Abstract  113.

Canali are Lava, Not River, Channels. Ghail, R. C.; Rolfe, S.; Watt, L. (2004) Lunar and Planetary Science, 35, Abstract 1760.

High Resolution Digital Elevation Models of Venus. Davis, A. M.; Ghail, R. C.; Watt, L. (2002) Lunar and Planetary Science, 33, Abstract 1665.