This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 858092
A direct link to the article is: https://issuu.com/euresearcher/docs/improve_eur38_h_res and can be cited as “Papale, P., Davoli, R., Maaß, R. (2024). Beneath the surface for new volcano imaging systems. EU Research, Summer 2024 vol. (38), pp. 28 – 29″. It can be disseminated under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. Thanks to all ESRs, and, in particular, to Regina Maaß and Roberto Davoli who contributed more directly.
The Fourth Network School “Multi-facet Science: data, models, infrastructure, industry and communication“ was organized at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany, from 27 to 31 May 2024.
The course covered a variety of subjects and presented examples in data analysis, numerical modeling, analogical approaches, and the use of infrastructures for science, highlighting them as key elements for multi-scale science. The course included both scientific and technological aspects, presented through relevant application cases such as source modeling through the integration of multidisciplinary approaches and multiparametric data. One relevant aspect was represented by examples of cooperation involving industry and small-medium enterprises, aimed in particular to present how scientific knowledge contributes to define industrial advance.
The course also focused on additional skills such as project management, research leadership, and effective communication. Additional transferable and soft skills included project scouting, reading project calls, project preparation and writing, career planning, and goal setting. Finally, non-academic contributions were addressed, including business-oriented planning and organization, cost and time management, value engineering, and work-life balance.
One day was dedicated to visit Berlin, including a river tour designed to showcase the many facets of the city from a different perspective. This trip also provided an opportunity to continue discussions involving the teachers and the students.
The IMPROVE 4th School in Potsdam was attended by 19 students, represented by the 15 IMPROVE ESRs plus other 4 external students.
The Marie Sklodowska-Curie European Training Network “Innovative Multi-disciplinary European Research training network on VolcanoEs” (MSCA-ETN IMPROVE) is a project funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme. In IMPROVE, 15 Early Stage Researchers are trained to innovative research in volcano science extending across the academia-industry bridge, and including cooperative work, leadership skills, and independent thinking. Volcano science includes from innovative monitoring and prospecting to advanced lab experiments, High Performance Computing, and Artificial Intelligence.
The understanding of sources in Earth processes requires the knowledge of physical and geochemical parameters spatial distribution and their variations in time. This is for example relevant in industrial environment such as geothermal companies, where there is the need to gather knowledge on structural aspects of the geothermal reservoir and mechanisms associated with the harnessing of fluids is fundamental to optimize the heat transfer from the source for the production. The use of existing infrastructure and how to use them in scientific questions is also of importance. In the Potsdam (Germany) School, we will consider several various examples of data analysis, numerical modelling, analogical approaches, use of existing infrastructure as key elements for Science at multi-scale. One important aspect of the school will be to see how industry and small and medium enterprise use this knowledge to define industrial projects. The School will also dedicate specific topics such as project management, research leadership, good communication and career/life optimal paths.
| May 27 | Arrivals & Ice-breaker |
| May 28 | Multi parametric observations methods Multi parametric modelling |
| May 29 | School trip: Discovery of multi-cultural Berlin |
| May 30 | Infrastructures and integration approaches |
| May 31 | Multi ways to transfer Science |
| June 1 | Departure |
Klaus Bauer, Marco Bohnhoff, Sascha Brune, Valérie Cayol, Gilda Currenti, Maryory Sarria Dulcey, Christian Haberland, Andre Kloth, Martin Lipus, Shane Murphy, Bjarni Palsson, Paul-Eric Potie, Simona Repensburg, Claudia Rey Crowie, Umberto Riccardi, Matthias Roseneau, Ute Weckman, Philipp Weis, Christopher Wollin, Josef Zens.
PhD candidates and early stage postdocs.
Each student will pay a contribution towards the true costs. This includes ice-breaker party, lunch, coffee breaks, social dinner, school materials, and a mid-school visit of Berlin. The cost is €160,00 per participant.
The school is open to a maximum of 15 students, besides IMPROVE fellows. Participants will be selected on the basis of demonstrated relevance of the school for their research and career development.
Deadline for Registration: 13 May 2024
Information on Acceptance: 15 May 2024
Applications should be sent to philippe.jousset@gfz-potsdam.de. The applicants must include a max. 5 lines statement explaining why the school is relevant for their activities and career.
The school will be held at the GFZ Potzsdam, Germany. See more information on the venue here: https://www.gfz-potsdam.de/en/
The Fifth Specialized Short Course on “Petrophysical Properties: From the Laboratory to the Field and Modelling” was held at Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany, from April 8 to 10, 2024. The course was organized by Professor Bettina Scheu, Dr. Jackie Kendrick, and Dr. Anthony Lamur, who also conducted the lectures, laboratory tours, and hands-on practice.
Participants were introduced to theoretical concepts and various techniques for characterizing petrophysical properties both in the field and in the lab. Further lectures comprised scaling aspects from lab to field, and the complementarity of petrophysical knowledge with geophysical data and models.
During the practical sessions, participants were trained in both field and lab techniques to measure and/or calculate various petrophysical properties, such as bulk density, connected porosity, and permeability, using a set of Krafla rock samples. Later the participants analyzed and discussed different methods to deepen further their understanding of individual benefits and shortcomings, as well as associated precision, of the individual techniques, and of their usage. A total of 13 students participated in the course: 8 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) from the IMPROVE project and 5 external participants from LMU Munich.
The third IMPROVE Specialized Short Course on “Data Analysis and Pattern Recognition” was held from January 24 to 26, 2024, in Granada, Spain, and was organized by Professor María del Carmen Benitez at the University of Granada.
The main goal of the course was to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of Data Analysis and Pattern Recognition, techniques that are crucial for analyzing the massive amounts of data collected from volcano monitoring system and for identifying potential sensor problems or malfunctions.
The course was attended by 17 students, including 5 Early Stage Researchers from the IMPROVE project. The other 12 students came from various high-level European research institutions.
The IMPROVE field experiment on Mount Etna took place from July 23 to August 2, 2023. All of the IMPROVE ESRs actively participated in the experiment, which involved deploying instruments, periodically checking their functionality, downloading data and starting their analysis, and finally dimantling the instrumentation. The organization of the experiment primarily involved personnel from INGV – Etnean Observatory, with secondary support from personnel from INGV Pisa. The experiment mainly focused on two aspects of the shallow Mount Etna dynamics: its degassing and the movement of magma.
The instruments deployed during the experiment included: two broadband seismic stations, four high frequency GNSS receivers, one clinometer and one diffused degassing measurement device, two seismic arrays with ~100 nodes, an about 1 km long fibre optic and dedicated acquisition system, and finally a high speed visible and an infrared camera plus microphone positioned on the crater rim. This network worked together with the permanent monitoring network of the INGV Etna Observatory, consisting of about 200 multi-parametric instruments. The collected data provide the basis for the analyses by six ESRs who are developing their PhD on Mount Etna. Initial analyses triggered vivid discussion, particularly in the context of numerical solutions for the dynamics of magma convection in underground volcanic systems.
The experiment also included a two-day field trip aimed at providing the ESRs with an understanding of the structural complexities that characterize an active volcano. Specifically, the trip focused on the major structures along the North-East and East volcano flanks of Mount Etna and how these structures impact the setup of a volcano monitoring system.
The Etna IMPROVE school took place from July 24th to July 28th, 2023, in Nicolosi, on the flank of Mount Etna. It was held at the INGV building, as well as in the nearby premises of the conference center of the Nicolosi municipality, which were generously made available. The school was attended by a total of 30 students, consisting of the 15 IMPROVE ESRs and an additional 15 external students who were selected through an open call from among nearly 40 applications received.
The students were trained in the use of sophisticated software, representing the culmination of several years of research and technological development at INGV and partner universities. The ultimate goal was to provide the students with as much practical training as possible in “multiparametric volcano monitoring, data processing, analysis, and modeling”. The first day was dedicated to lessons and exercises on volcano deformation, complemented by a demonstration of the EPOS portal (https://www.epos-eu.org/dataportal) for accessing multi-parametric data from Earth observation systems, including data from volcano observatories. The second day was dedicated to volcano degassing, the fourth day focused on volcano seismicity, and the fifth day involved a simulation exercise. During the exercise the different groups of students simulated a real volcano observatory dealing with a volcanic crisis, and had to use the instruments and tools provided and taught during the school to respond to the crisis. In the late afternoon, each group presented their results together with different statements prepared by them for communication to civil protection authorities and to the media, with ample discussion with senior researcher, particularly those from the INGV Etna Volcano Observatory. The third day of the school was dedicated to the field trip to Mount Etna. The trip was led by Boris Behncke from the Etna Observatory, who presented with engaging and compelling attitude the history and evolution of the volcano, adding stories and anecdotes about recent and past eruptions as well as about volcanologists who worked on the volcano.
The IMPROVE Open Day took place on May 17, 2023, at the Foy Centre in Carlingford, Ireland. Its goal was to engage and spark interest among various audiences, including primary and secondary school students, as well as the local community. The audience was involved in experiments led by IMPROVE ERSs, alongside other PhD students joining them, covering various aspects of volcanology and seismology.
The children generated their own earthquake by jumping on the floor and then observed the corresponding seismogram on a screen. Moreover, they had the opportunity to view live earthquakes from around the world on the Raspberry Shake website. Two trays of jelly and premade ‘buildings’ constructed from sticks and marshmallows were used to mimic various earthquake-resistant structures.
Slinkys and ropes were utilized to illustrate various types of seismic waves and their propagation, while different waveforms on the spectrogram were displayed using a keyboard and a guitar.
The children also observed a cross-section of a volcano created using a fish tank and various other materials designed to represent the internal composition of a volcano. They were able to examine several volcanic specimens, appreciating the density differences between tuff and basalt samples and learning about the magnetism associated with specific rocks. The rheology of magma was explained using Oreo cookies, and volcanoes were created using an old glass bottle, expanding foam, and paint. The eruption was instead simulated using vinegar and baking soda. An experiment was set up with water, ketchup, and honey in plastic cups, and air was blown into them using a straw to demonstrate the different viscosities of various fluids. A CO2 meter was also introduced to simulate the increasing CO2 levels during an eruption. Finally, the children witnessed an outdoor volcano eruption: a traffic cone was transformed into a real-life volcano. Inside the cone, Pepsi and Mentos were mixed together to create a highly explosive eruption!
The day attracted a total of 213 primary school students and members of the public. There were 182 students from two primary schools, along with 22 teachers and assistants in attendance. The feedback from the participants was extremely positive. The children found the day to be a fun and educational experience, and the teachers and staff appreciated the organization and management of the Volcano Open Day. Overall, it was a highly successful and beneficial public outreach event.
