About Us

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Since 1996, nearly 700 researchers have come to IsoCamp at the University of Utah to be trained in the fundamental environmental and biological theory underlying isotope fractionation processes and a broad spectrum of ecological and environmental applications.

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Our History

The first IsoCamp was in 1996 at the University of Utah. Through collaborations already years in the making, the need for a specialized course in stable isotopes and their application in environmental and ecological studies became apparent. The first class was small, but enthusiastic. Each class has brought together faculty from different universities and representing multiple disciplines.

The idea behind IsoCamp is to bring students and researchers together from around the world, teaching them about stable isotopes in biogeochemistry and ecology, and developing careers in this next generation through lectures, training sessions, and laboratory experiences. In 2013, a companion course, Isotopes in Spatial Ecology and Biogeochemistry (aka “The SPATIAL Short Course”), was introduced. SPATIAL extends on the fundamentals covered in the IsoCamp course to develop theory and techniques for applying isotope and biogeochemical tracer data to spatial problems at a range of scales.

S.I.R.F.E.R.

The Stable Isotope Ratio Facility for Environmental Research, or SIRFER, is the facility where students gain hands=on laboratory experience. SIRFER operates and maintains 7 different Finnigan MAT isotope ratio mass spectrometers and associated analytical equipment. These isotope ratio mass spectrometers are fitted with different preparatory and separation devices that allow measurement of the stable isotope composition of a wide-ranging variety of biological and environmental materials.