On 16th May, 2017, a MOU was signed between the Institute of Surface-Earth System Science,Tianjin University (ISESS) and Scottish Universities Environmental Research Center (SUERC) to launch a comprehensive partnership between the two parties. According to the MOU, ISESS and SUERC will closely cooperate in terms of faculty/student exchange, visiting students, co-supervision of postgraduate students, joint research, etc..
SUERC was established to provide to the Universities of the Scottish Consortium collaborative access to expensive equipment and specialist expertise. This is a highly cost-effective way of adding value to their research, training and teaching activities. The main areas of strength are in geochemistry, radiochemistry and isotope biogeosciences and the Centre houses perhaps the most comprehensive suite of dating techniques available in the UK. Of the thirty or so national facilities operated by NERC, the Centre is host to five, viz. the Radiocarbon Facility (Environment), the Argon Isotope Facility, the East Kilbride node of the Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry Facility, the Isotope Community Support Facility and the Cosmogenic Isotope Analysis Facility.
