Linking & promoting Australia’s geochemistry research capabilities
Confocal laser scanning micrographs illustrating the sub-micrometre topography of laser ablation pits in the mineral apatite. Image: Dr Samuel Boone
Established in 2019, the AuScope Geochemistry Network (AGN) is a national consortium of Earth science institutions working together to strengthen Australia’s geochemical research infrastructure. By connecting laboratories, researchers, and data through the EarthBank project, the AGN enables coordinated, high-quality geochemical research at a national scale.
Our mission
Our mission is to build a national network of geochemical laboratories and researchers that strengthens and sustains Australia’s geochemical research infrastructure — both its people and its facilities — while fostering collaboration, innovation, and professional development across academia, government, and industry. Through this network, laboratories contribute data to the AuScope EarthBank platform, enabling research that addresses national and global challenges.
The AGN links geochemical laboratories (EarthBank nodes) and their data into the AuScope EarthBank platform, a FAIR data repository enabling researchers to address national challenges of today and tomorrow. Image: EarthBank
Why this matters
Geochemical data are critical to understanding Earth processes, resource systems, and environmental change. However, these data are often fragmented and managed in inconsistent formats across institutions. The AuScope EarthBank project addresses this challenge by connecting laboratories through the AGN, enabling more efficient, collaborative science and maximising the value of publicly funded research.
Our work
Through the AuScope EarthBank project, the AGN is working with collaborators Lithodat to develop EarthBank, a FAIR-based open geochemistry data platform that serves as an interface between institutional, collaborative, and public domains, enabling laboratory data upload, management, interrogation, dissemination, and long-term reuse. The AGN supports method-specific Expert Working Groups of geochemists to ensure data reporting and QA/QC requirements for the platform are met and to develop best-practice recommendations for the wider community.
Visit EarthBank
Learn more about the AuScope EarthBank project and explore data, tools, and resources supporting Australia’s geochemistry community.
Our News
STAY INFORMED & COLLABORATE
Get in touch with the AGN to learn more about our work and how to get involved.
ABOUT US
The AGN is composed of a number of partner institutions (EarthBank nodes) from across Australia with the aim to create, coordinate, promote and develop national geochemistry research infrastructure and maximise its use by the Australian research community.
EARTHBANK NODES
Curtin University
The University of Melbourne
Australian National University
James Cook University
Adelaide University
University of Queensland
University of Tasmania
University of Western Australia
Wollongong University
University of Sydney
EARTHBANK ASSOCIATES
Monash University
Queensland University of Technology
AGN CONTRIBUTORS
CSIRO
Geological Survey of WA
Geoscience Australia