<![CDATA[FLUXBEATS - Newsletter]]>

<![CDATA[FLUXBEATS - Newsletter]]>Tue, 08 Sep 2026 14:06:23 +0200Weebly<![CDATA[Greetings from the second FluxBEATS summer school]]>Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:31:35 GMThttps://www.fluxbeats.eu/newsletter/greetings-from-the-second-fluxbeats-summer-schoolThe second FluxBEATS summer school, held from June 3 to 12, 2026 in Germany, was an important network-wide event that deepened participants’ training in both scientific and soft skills.

The main organizer of the summer school was the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, and during the summer school, we even had the opportunity to spend a day on a research vessel.

In this newsletter, we are sharing the highlights of the summer school, so hop on board!

Exploring the depths of the Baltic Sea…

The official program started on Thursday, June 4, with a day cruise with the German RV Alkor to the Western Baltic Sea near Boknis Eck. For most participants, this was their first experience aboard a research vessel, making the day both scientifically and personally an exciting experience.

The research vessel Alkor in front of GEOMAR. The 55 m long vessel was built in 1990. Photo: Elina Lehtonen.

During the cruise, we had the opportunity to observe the seafloor using underwater drones, including a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).

The first objective of the cruise was to locate a permanently stationed lander from GEOMAR and to identify areas suitable for sediment sampling on the seafloor. After the mini-ROV made ground contact for the first time and produced sediment clouds that made navigation very challenging, we instantly understood the advice shared by its operator, who underlined the importance of avoiding contact with the seafloor. This was also a very nice showcase for the difficulty of deep-sea scientific work.

Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Albert I.. Photo: Elina Lehtonen.

Once a suitable sampling location was identified, it was time for hands-on action!

Sediment and water sampling were carried out using a multicorer (MUC) and a conductivity-temperature-depth instrument (CTD). The CTD is a traditional but still very important and reliable oceanographic sampling tool, with several Niskin bottles attached to a rosette system. These bottles can be filled with seawater from different depths in the water column. The CTD continuously measured the conductivity, temperature, and density of seawater.

MUCs, on the other hand, allow sampling of the uppermost sediment layers on the seafloor. During this expedition, participants had a chance to observe the collected sediment and participate in sample handling. Layer by layer, the sediment was transferred into small tubes before being labeled. The extremely soft texture of the sediment led to quite a muddy experience for some of the sampling volunteers.

The collected sediment and water samples can later be analyzed in a geochemical laboratory, depending on the exact aim of the research project.

All cruise participants enjoyed the view on a windy but nice day, and at 17:15 it was time to dock at the pier. The collaboration with the ship’s crew worked perfectly, and we felt very welcome on board. Thanks to Captain Klaus Bergman and his crew, the cruise was a great success. And thanks to GEOMAR for this unique opportunity.

…and the geology around Kiel

Just like in the first summer school in Iceland, participants had the chance to explore the region’s geology through a field trip. This time, we spent one day in the field.

The theme of the field trip was “traces of the last glaciation” around Kiel. At the beginning of the excursion, we visited the cliffs near Stohl – a classic geological locality for the regional students.

Dr. Philipp Brandl introduced the geology of the area and the evolution of the North German Basin and the geomorphological evolution during and after the last ice age more than 10 000 years ago.

Site of our geological excursion. The beach includes a variety of different rock types as pebbles and boulders, and thus it was a great place to discuss how different types of rocks can be identified. These rocks were transported here from Scandinavia mainly during the last ice age, ca. 10 000 years ago. Photo: Elina Lehtonen.

In addition, the beach provided a good opportunity to identify different rock types found as pebbles and boulders at the beach, fostering field expertise for those PhD researchers whose projects do not include extensive fieldwork.

Discussions led by Philipp Brandl and Professor Christoph Beier focused on the petrology and lithology of the beach rocks, many of which were transported by glaciers from Norway and Sweden, for example. The rocks included sedimentary (chalk, carbonates, flint, black shales), metamorphic (gneiss), and magmatic rocks (basalt, gabbro, granite, diorite, porphyry).

From Stohl, the participants continued to the town of Eckernförde. As a third stop, we visited a view tower on the top of Aschberg, the highest point of the last glacial terminal moraines of the Hüttener Berge.

Views from a view tower on the top of Aschberg. Photo: Elina Lehtonen

Learning from others

One important aspect of the network is the interaction between researchers at different levels. This summer school was an excellent opportunity for the members of the network to identify and see how individual PhD projects are scientifically connected.

We had the pleasure of having two external advisors of the network, Professor Marie Edmonds from the University of Cambridge and Professor John Jamieson from the University of Ottawa, join the summer school and give presentations of their research.

Marie Edmonds gave a talk related to volcanic degassing and trace metal volatility in a joint research seminar with GEOMAR’s Research Division 4 “Dynamics of the Ocean Floor” and the FluxBEATS summer school. Photo: Elina Lehtonen.

First, Edmonds gave an informative presentation related to volcanic degassing and trace element volatility, and their implications for both volcanic hazards and ore deposit formation. The talk was part of a joint research seminar with Research Division 4 of GEOMAR and the FluxBEATS summer school – a good opportunity to meet resident researchers.

Two days later, John Jamieson gave an engaging “Pint of Science” lecture to introduce us to research on hydrothermal vents. The lecture was highly entertaining (including a bingo using the term “seafloor”), particularly through personal insights and the presentation of deep-sea videos and photographs.

The summer school included several lectures from GEOMAR researchers. Professor Mirjam Perner, who has done a lot of research in the field of hydrothermal microbes, gave a lecture related to microbiology at mid-ocean ridge vent systems. Dr. Anna Krätschell held a workshop related to GIS and data processing. In the beginning, the participants learned how the first detailed geological map of the Lau Basin at the Australian-Pacific plate boundary was developed and where reliable data sources for the doctoral researchers’ own mapping projects can be found. In the practical part of this workshop everyone worked on their own GIS application, with the aim of creating and exporting an overview map of their study area.

Engage, inspire and impact!

One central theme for the summer school was how to communicate your research. During our visit to GEOMAR, we experienced an immersive documentary movie, “A traveller’s guide to the seafloor” made by Dr. Tom Kwasnitschka in the ARENA2 visualization lab – a great example of how to visualize geological information.

We also joined a tour led by Dr. Sven Petersen, who showed us around GEOMAR’S research infrastructure and the core repository that hosts thousands of meters of cores from the seafloor. This was quite a refreshing experience, since most of the samples are stored at a temperature of 4°C.

Sven Petersen giving a tour at GEOMAR. Photo: Elina Lehtonen.

For the doctoral researchers, Dr. Kimberly Crow gave a workshop related to scientific writing. The workshop involved practicing communicating their own research to each other and reflecting on scientific writing methods. The workshop included the opportunity for one-on-one consultancy with Dr. Crow.

Dr. Lorenz Adlung from NAWIK (National Institute for Science Communication) held two workshops during the summer school. The first one was related to science communication for grant proposals and was aimed at senior researchers of the network. The second workshop, aimed at doctoral researchers, concentrated on the basics of science communication. Both workshops included practical exercises.

Doctoral researchers had to, for example, think about the importance of having a core message for the research. According to Adlung, the core message should address three key questions:

What is your research about?
What conclusions do you aim to draw?
And what gap in existing knowledge are you attempting to address, i.e., why is your study important?

The doctoral researchers practiced formulating their core messages in small groups and provided peer feedback to one another. The exercises continued with discussions related to target audience and building a clear structure for an imaginary scientific presentation.

Adlung introduced the participants to the European Science Engagement Association (EUSEA) and their material that could be used as a basis for planning. This exercise was also done in small groups, in which one person was responsible for presenting, and the other acted as the audience and asked questions and gave feedback.

Overcoming challenges

Scientific research involves various challenges, ranging from mentally demanding situations to hazardous work environments. For instance, geological fieldwork can be conducted in remote locations, sometimes requiring several weeks or even months aboard the same research vessel.

Christoph Beier and Philipp Brandl gave a workshop reflecting on working in challenging environments. They shared their experiences in the academic environment and especially from working in the geosciences. The workshop was very open and engaging. Everyone was invited to share previous and current challenges in academia.

“It was intriguing to see that many of us share similar challenges, which felt like a very supportive and connecting thing in our parallel PhD journeys”, Shima Soheili and Lisa Heinz described their thoughts after the workshop.

“Doing a PhD sometimes feels very challenging, but we also know that we can learn a lot along the way.”

Fittingly, Prof. Colin Devey’s lecture, which began after the workshop, opened with the golden sentence: “You cannot plan things!”

The lecture itself concentrated on the basics of mid-ocean ridges and volcanism on the seafloor and the tectonic aspects of the mid-ocean ridges, and Devey also showed that an academic career, however well planned, will always be full of surprises.

The summer school included several workshops related to both scientific and soft skills training. Photo: Elina Lehtonen.

Reviewing the yearly progress

One goal of the summer school was to conduct the annual assessment of each research project and its progress. As part of this, each FluxBEATS doctoral researcher created a poster about their project. These posters were exhibited in a poster session held at GEOMAR and at the science café during the latter part of the summer school.

Presenting the posters both to network members and visitors gave an excellent opportunity to practice making a scientific poster and how to present it. Based on the poster presentation, we also gathered tips for future posters, so keep an eye out at upcoming conferences for FluxBEATS posters!

Based on assessing the first year, all doctoral candidates of the FluxBEATS network have successfully begun their research. One take-home message from the summer school was the importance of setting realistic goals and regularly monitoring progress.

“It is wonderful to see how the network has progressed and how our activities provide an opportunity for interaction among different individuals and institutions”, project manager Dr. Elina Lehtonen says.

“This sets a good foundation for planning next year’s summer school in Finland.”

(Most) participants of the FluxBEATS summer school.

This newsletter was mainly written by the doctoral candidates of the FluxBEATS network: Shima Soheili and Lisa Heinz. Additional contributions came from Philipp Brandl and Elina Lehtonen. Doctoral candidate Jakob Rahner and Christopher Beier reviewed the text.

FluxBEATS is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

]]><![CDATA[Introducing our doctoral researchers Shima, Ana Clara and Faez]]>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:33:51 GMThttps://www.fluxbeats.eu/newsletter/introducing-our-doctoral-researchers-shima-ana-clara-and-faezA total of ten doctoral researchers have been recruited to the FluxBEATS network at the end of 2025, and we are in full operation.

This 5th FluxBEATS newsletter includes the introductions from our doctoral researchers Shima, Ana Clara and Faez.

Rock alteration as the key to unlocking deep-sea processes: Shima Soheili aims for a broader understanding of the seafloor

Shima Soheili joined the Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon Terre, Planètes, Environnement (LGL-TPE) at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 in the beginning of November 2025.

Her research in the FluxBEATS position DC3 focuses on understanding hydrothermal systems and alteration processes in the oceanic lithosphere, particularly the relationships between tectonics, magmatism, and hydrothermal activity at slow-spreading ridges.

Shima completed her Bachelor of Science in Geology and her Master of Science in Petroleum Geology at the Shahid Beheshti University of Tehran, Iran. During her academic training, she gained laboratory experience in petrography, including thin section preparation and optical microscopy, as well as geochemical analysis techniques (e.g., ICP-OES). She also worked as a Research Assistant, where she developed skills in data organization, analysis, and scientific documentation.

Shima Soheili

The more you explore marine life, the more enchanting it becomes; you simply cannot stop searching!

“My master’s thesis explored the estimation of the quantity and maturity of total organic carbon in the Kazhdoumi Formation, Iran, using well-log and pyrolysis data”, Shima says.

“This work provided me with interdisciplinary experience combining rock physics, geophysics, and geochemistry, and strengthened my interest in understanding physical and chemical processes recorded in rocks”, she continues.

In FluxBEATS, Shima investigates hydrothermal processes at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, with a particular focus on the Rainbow Massif, an ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal system. Her research aims to better understand the diversity and dynamics of seafloor hydrothermal environments by examining interactions between deformation, fluid circulation, and mineral alteration.

“I am especially fascinated by serpentinization processes, where the original minerals of the rock are transformed, and the geological record preserved in hydrothermal deposits, which provide important insights into seafloor evolution and global geochemical cycles”, Shima explains.

Photo caption: Serpentinized ultramafic rock displaying mineral veins formed by fluid circulation during hydrothermal alteration. These features provide valuable insights into fluid-rock interactions and the evolution of hydrothermal systems at the mid-ocean ridges. This sample was collected during the Arc-En-Sub Cruise in 2022. Photo: Shima Soheili.

What inspires Shima most in her work is the complexity of marine geological processes and the opportunity to investigate environments that remain largely unexplored. She is particularly motivated by how small-scale features, such as mineral veins in serpentinized rocks or hydrothermal chimneys, can reveal and shape large-scale geological and geodynamic processes. She is also enthusiastic about marine fieldwork and research cruises, which provide direct access to the environment she studies.

Beyond her research, Shima enjoys nature photography, cycling, and cooking. She is passionate about exploring natural environments and continuously learning from both scientific research and field experiences.

Diving into deep time: Ana Clara Legora Woitech Hecksher studies ancient seafloor to better understand processes in the early Earth

Ana Clara Legora Woitech Hecksher joined the Centre of Deep Sea Research, University of Bergen in August 2025.

She started in the FluxBEATS position DC7 , and her research focuses on element fluxes in ancient seafloor hydrothermal systems, with the goal of better understanding geochemical fluxes in the early Earth. The rocks which Ana Clara studies were formed in Archean, which is some ca. 4000 to 2500 million years ago.

Before joining FluxBEATS, Ana Clara worked both in academia and in the mining industry. Her background is in geology and geophysics, and she has previously worked as an exploration and development manager in a gold mining company in Brazil.

Ana Clara Legora Woitech Hecksher

I find it particularly exciting that different geochemical signals can also provide clues about the evolution of the Earth’s crust and the development of the early continent.

“Alongside my industry experience, I have also been involved in academic research in regional geology, paleotectonic, geochronology and geochemistry, which motivated me to pursue a PhD”, Ana Clara says.

“What inspires me most in my work is the possibility of understanding large-scale geological processes by combining different types of geochemical data”, she continues.

Recently, Ana Clara has been especially fascinated by the geochemistry of sulfur and how much information can be obtained from studying a single element. Sulfur isotopes can record details about hydrothermal activity, ocean chemistry, and redox conditions, allowing us to reconstruct processes that happened billions of years ago.

“I find it particularly exciting that these geochemical signals can also provide clues about the evolution of the Earth’s crust and the development of the early continents”, Ana Clara explains.

By studying isotopic compositions in ancient hydrothermal and sedimentary systems, it is possible to investigate how weathering, crustal growth, and ocean chemistry changed through time and how these processes shaped the early Earth.

“Working with isotopes often feels like searching for hidden clues”, Ana Clara says and continues, “Small variations in isotopic composition can reveal the origin of a material or the processes it experienced, and I enjoy putting these pieces together to understand the history of our planet.”

Ana Clara is originally from Brazil. “Moving to Bergen to start my PhD has opened many new doors for me, both scientifically and personally”, she says.

Being part of an international research network has allowed her to interact with people from many different countries and academic backgrounds, which has been very enriching according to her.

“I really enjoy exchanging ideas with colleagues from different fields, because every conversation becomes an opportunity to learn something new”, Ana Clara says.

“Living in Norway has also introduced me to activities that were completely new to me, such as cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and I have been very excited to explore these winter sports. At the same time, I still enjoy climbing, yoga, and spending time outdoors, so Bergen has been a great place to combine my academic work with an active lifestyle close to nature.”

Looking at the origins of life on the Earth – Faez Robin-Champigneul studies microbes living in the deep sea

Faez Robin-Champigneul joined the Centre of Deep Sea Research, University of Bergen in the beginning of November 2025.

He was recruited to the FluxBEATS position DC9, and he is studying the microbial communities hosted within the oceanic crust, which is likely one of the oldest and possibly largest microbial habitats on the Earth.

“I will be studying how microbes grow on basalt, how their communities are structured and evolve, and how they influence dissolution rates in the ocean crust”, Faez explains.

Faez Robin-Champigneul

One of the most interesting aspects of my work, to me, is how universal the questions are, and how long we as humans have been asking ourselves the same things: where do we come from? How did life on Earth arise?

“I was very excited to start on this project and to contribute to our understanding of life”, Faez says. “I’m also eager to expand my own biology-oriented perspective by gaining more understanding of the geological side of things, in particular through the other doctoral researchers of the FluxBEATS network as well as the secondments organized as part of training.”

“My academic path so far has been rather all over the place”, Faez says. Before joining the FluxBEATS doctoral network, he has studied, for example, ecology and evolution at Maastricht University, the Netherlands, and linguistics at SOAS University of London, United Kingdom.

“I have a MSc in palaeobiology, for which I studied one semester at the University of Lille in France and did the rest of my degree at Uppsala University in Sweden”, Faez tells. “It is through my master’s thesis that I entered into my current field of geo(micro)biology, where I studied phosphate biomineralization by a methanogen strain from the Tekirova ophiolite in Türkiye.”

“One of the most interesting aspects of my work, to me, is how universal the questions are, and how long we as humans have been asking ourselves the same things: where do we come from? How did life on Earth arise?”, Faez says.

These questions surrounding the origins of life on Earth led him to geomicrobiology in the first place. Understanding how life works in extreme or unusual environments helps researchers shed more light on this topic. “This helps us also to imagine potential life beyond our planet”, Faez says and continues: “In this specific project, it also relates to how profound the effects of life have been on our planet, already long before the rise of multicellular life.”

In his free time, Faez enjoys reading, particularly fiction, playing flute, going out for coffee, and otherwise wandering about.

“In Bergen, I particularly enjoy the landscape, I’ve already been up for a hike on Fløyen, and am looking forward to many more in Spring! In the winter I also very much enjoy going ice skating”, Faez adds.

Meet the other PhD researchers!

Catch up on our previous newsletters: Meet Linus, Francesco and Jaime in here, and Martina, Lisa, Yadav and Jakob here.

FluxBEATS launches its Code of Conduct

In December 2025, the FluxBEATS team came together for an inspiring online workshop on “Equitable and Inclusive Collaboration” led by our deputy coordinator, Desiree Roerdink from the Centre for Deep Sea Research, the University of Bergen.

Together, our doctoral researchers and supervisors discussed barriers in scientific collaboration and co-created a Code of Conduct for the network.

With members from different countries, disciplines, languages, and cultural backgrounds, this Code reflects our commitment to respectful, inclusive, and transparent collaboration – helping make FluxBEATS a successful and diverse research community.

Check out the full Code of Conduct from our website.

]]><![CDATA[Introducing our doctoral researchers Lisa, Martina, Jakob and Yadav]]>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:27:33 GMThttps://www.fluxbeats.eu/newsletter/introducing-our-doctoral-researchers-lisa-martina-jakob-and-yadavIn November 2025, one year has passed since the FluxBEATS doctoral network was launched.

A total of ten doctoral researchers have been recruited to the network and the first data are being gathered. In this newsletter, we will introduce four of them.

Analyzing the oceanic crust: Martina Spinella aims to determine its modern composition

Martina Spinella joined the University of Münster, Germany, in the beginning of June 2025.

With her research in FluxBEATS position DC1, she focuses on determining the chemical balance of the oceanic crust by combining major and trace element analyses with isotopic ratios. “This approach will allow us to refine existing models with the aim of quantifying mass fluxes between the mantle and the oceanic crust”, Martina explains.

Martina Spinella

“What fascinates me most is how small fragments of rock can help us better understand the wonders that surround us.

Before embarking on her career in the FluxBEATS doctoral network, Martina completed a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Natural Sciences at the University of Messina, Italy, and a Master’s degree in Geosciences for Sustainable Development at the University of Pavia, Italy.

During her Master’s, Martina took part in an Erasmus internship in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where she carried out her thesis research.

“My work focused on analysing volatile elements in basaltic glasses from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, with the aim of investigating the role of mantle heterogeneities. What fascinates me most is, how small fragments of rock can help us better understand the wonders that surround us”, she says.

Martina’s analyses will be carried out on whole-rock samples collected from different sites in the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic Ocean. Examples of her study sites are Hess Deep and the Galapagos Ridge in the Pacific Ocean.

“I am currently focusing on the first stage of sample preparation, grinding them into powder”, Martina describes. She has also begun analysing the major elements of some of her samples.

“I am highly motivated and eager to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this field, alongside my colleagues”, Martina adds.

On the trail of hidden processes: Lisa Pirko Heinz uses trace elements and isotopes to better understand how black smokers form

Lisa Pirko Heinz joined the Marine Mineral Resources Group at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany, in the beginning of July 2025.

With her research in FluxBEATS position DC5 she aims to understand the controls of critical meltal fluxes from the mantle to the crust and into the water column at spreading centers. She is focusing on hydrothermal systems in back-arc basins and the magmatic processes associated with these.

Lisa Pirko Heinz. Photo © Lisa Harms

“My research allows me to combine my love for the ocean with my experience in petrology and mineral resources.

Lisa studied geosciences at the University of Tübingen, and completed her MSc at LMU Munich focusing on economic geology and mineral resources. Afterwards she went to Camborne School of Mines to investigate the resource potential of UK mine waste.

Before joining the FluxBEATS doctoral network, Lisa was working in industry, mostly doing science communication. She developed virtual lab environments for Earth Science students, and was guiding and lecturing about geosciences and climate change in polar areas.

At GEOMAR, Lisa now works on a hydrothermal system in the Southwest Pacific. Using geochemical data as tracers, she aims to find out more about the processes forming “black smokers” in the East Manus Basin. “My research allows me to combine my love for the ocean with my experience in petrology and mineral resources”, she explains.

She is excited to cooperate with the other PhD candidates in the FluxBEATS project, for example during the doctoral network’s summer schools. “The planned secondments are a great opportunity for us to visit relevant research institutions and industry partners”, Lisa adds.

In her free time, Lisa enjoys being close to the ocean. From enjoying kite-surfing in Denmark, she now wants to learn sailing in Kiel. “Being on the water makes me happy and relaxed. One highlight in Kiel is my daily ferry ride to GEOMAR.” What a nice way to start and end your workday!

Modelling the deep-sea – Yadav Krishna aims to create a model for hydrothermal systems

Yadav Krishna also joined the GEOMAR Helmholz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany, in July 2025.

He was recruited to FluxBEATS position DC6 , and his research aims to address the multi-scale permeability-temperature-heat flux tryptic quantification at deep-sea hydrothermal systems and its implementation in a “unifying model.”

Yadav Krishna

“I am deeply inspired by the significant real-world application of this project in geosciences, energy, and environmental sustainability.

“I am deeply inspired by the significant real-world application of this project in geosciences, energy, and environmental sustainability”, Yadav says.

“By improving our understanding of heat and mass transfer in hydrothermal systems, the research will refine global heat budget models, aiding climate and ocean circulation predictions”, he continues. Yadav’s research also has implications for sustainable deep-sea mining by informing the extraction of critical minerals while minimizing environmental impact.

Before joining the FluxBEATS doctoral network, Yadav was a Junior Research Fellow at the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG). He was involved in paleoclimatic reconstruction of the Arabian Sea using magnetic studies on samples from the international ocean discovery programme (IODP).

Yadav graduated with an integrated BSc-MSc dual degree at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal.

“There I became interested in Earth and Environmental Sciences, and I started majoring in this discipline. My master’s thesis focused on the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility analysis of the Pachmarhi dyke swarms within the Deccan Volcanic Province”, Yadav explains.

Beyond academic research, he is passionate about applying high-performance simulations to real-world challenges including geothermal energy, subsea engineering, CO2 storage, and environmental fluid dynamics. Yadav aims to leverage his computational skills for both scientific discovery and industry innovation.

In his free-time, Yadav loves to spend his time on photography, travelling, reading and playing games like volleyball and table tennis.

Reading the smoke signals: Jakob Rahner explores hydrothermal plumes in the ocean

Jakob Rahner joined the Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering at Politecnico di Torino, Italy, as a PhD student in the beginning of June.

In his position as DC10 , he works on hydrothermal plumes in the ocean, examining the dynamics of fluid transport and chemical reactions by means of numerical simulations.

Jakob Rahner

“What led me to study Environmental Sciences in the first place, was a desire to perceive the complicated entanglement of nature and humanity as a whole.

Jakob completed his BSc. in Geoecology at the University of Potsdam and his MSc. in Marine Environmental Sciences at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg. In his MSc thesis, he used numerical modeling to study the transport of plant seeds in the North Sea – research he expanded during a six-month internship at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, where he focused on the dispersal of mangroves and coral larvae.

“What led me to study Environmental Sciences in the first place”, he says, “was a desire to perceive the complicated entanglement of nature and humanity as a whole.”

“But as my studies progressed, I felt myself more and more drawn to the language of physics. I see my position in the FluxBEATS network as a symbiosis of these two inclinations: the interdisciplinarity of the network and the rigor of computational fluid dynamics”, Jakob continues.

Just before the first FluxBEATS summer school in Iceland , Jakob spent two weeks at the University of Helsinki working with his second supervisor Ekaterina Ezhova.

“After half a year, I already had the chance to meet many inspiring researchers in three different countries”, he says. “I value this opportunity as something very unique that keeps me motivated every day.”

Beyond his work, Jakob is passionate about climbing, reading, literary translation and movies.

FluxBEATS doctoral researchers Linus, Francesco and Jaime have been featured in previous newsletter. If you missed their introductions, get to know them in this newsletter.

In the next newsletter you’ll get the chance to meet rest of our doctoral researchers. Follow us in Facebook and LinkedIn to stay updated!

]]><![CDATA[The first Summer School of the FluxBEATS doctoral network took place in Iceland]]>Tue, 30 Sep 2025 14:25:10 GMThttps://www.fluxbeats.eu/newsletter/the-first-summer-school-in-icelandThe FluxBEATS summer school, held from September 9 to 16, 2025, in the town of Selfoss in southern Iceland was a combination of training and learning about Icelandic geology. Iceland was chosen for its accessible and visible processes related to divergent plate boundaries, which are central to FluxBEATS doctoral projects.

In this newsletter, we are sharing the highlights of the summer school!

“I am always thrilled by the fact that in Iceland you can walk into a plate boundary”, says project coordinator Christoph Beier. “And we even experienced a small earthquake during our first workshop day”, he continues. The earthquake with a magnitude of 3.7 was one of the strongest in the region for a few years.

Photo caption: On-site participants of the FluxBEATS summer school at the Þingvellir, a stunning rift valley located between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Persons standing from left to right are the FluxBEATS doctoral researchers Jakob Rahner (Polito), Francesco Magnani (GTK), Ana Clara Legora Woitech Hecksher (University of Bergen), Yadav Krishna (GEOMAR), Lisa Pirko Heinz (GEOMAR), Jaime Cataldo Bacho (University of Helsinki, UH), Linus Hüne (UH) and Martina Spinella (University of Münster) (back row). Christoph Beier (UH), Elina Lehtonen (UH), Sylvia Sander (GEOMAR), Felix Genske (University of Münster), Joonas Virtasalo (GTK) and Philipp Brandl (GEOMAR) represent the supervisors of the network (front row). Photo credit: Christoph Beier.

Between two plates

In the MSCA FluxBEATS doctoral network each doctoral research project is related to geological and geochemical processes at divergent plate boundaries. Therefore, the location of Iceland between two tectonic plates makes it a geologically unique and perfect location for the summer school. Our program included two full-day field trips.

The first field trip, led by Robert Askew (Natural Science Institute of Iceland, Department of Geology and Geodesy) focused on Icelandic geology, specifically focusing on the Hreppar formation and Eastern Volcanic Zone volcanism.

Photo caption: Robert Askew guiding the FluxBEATS Summer School participants. Mount Hekla, an active volcano, is visible in the background. Photo credit: Elina Lehtonen

The volcanic and clastic rocks of the Hreppar formation were formed during the past 2–3 million years, and the rock record indicates that the rocks were formed in subaerial volcanic eruptions as well as subglacial or subaqueous eruptions (Kristjánsson et al. 1998). Additionally, the Hreppar formation shows a gradual transition in the depositional environment over time, which can be partly linked to climatic cooling (Geirsdóttir 2011).

Photo caption: On the first field day with Robert Askew one of the locations was Háifoss, where you can see a sequence of lavas, tuffs, and sediments from the upper Pliocene. Photo credit: Christoph Beier.

During the field day we saw excellent examples of pillow basalts as well as other signs of magma-water/ice interactions, such as hyaloclastites, but the lavas also displayed entablature and hackly column features providing information on the cooling history and direction of these lava flows.

Photo caption: Þjórsárdalur lava, erupted ca. 5 200 thousand years ago, shows magma-water interaction in the form of entablature and hackly columns. Photo credit: Elina Lehtonen.

The second field day, on the Reykjanes peninsula, towards exposures of the most recent eruptions, was guided by Professor Sæmundur Halldórsson and doctoral graduate student Noemi Löw from the University of Iceland.

The plate boundary of the North American and Eurasian plate runs through the southeastern peninsula, and based on the rock record, rifting and volcanic activity take place at intervals of 800–1000 years (Sæmundsson et al. 2020). The first volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula for a long time occurred in 2021 in Fagradalsfjall.

Photo caption: Lava flows from the Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes peninsula. Photo credit: Elina Lehtonen

From hot magma chambers to hot springs

One integral part of the summer school was to interact with local experts. In addition to the field days, two of our Icelandic colleagues provided us with excellent scientific presentations.

Professor Freysteinn Sigmundsson from the University of Iceland gave an exciting presentation related to crustal formation and the Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT), project targeted at drilling into an active magmatic system.

Photo caption: Freysteinn Sigmundsson giving a lecture on the crustal formation and the Krafla Magma Testbed. Photo credit: Elina Lehtonen.

Freysteinn Sigmundsson introduced us to different ways to study the crustal formation and volcanic activity in Iceland, and participants got a good overview of the causes of the recent volcanic eruptions. The Reykjanes peninsula has experienced an impressive 14 events of diking and 11 eruptions since 2021 (Parks et al., 2023, 2025).

In the FluxBEATS doctoral network several research projects are related to hydrothermal processes at divergent plate margins. A fascinating perspective on this topic was provided in the lecture by Professor Andri Stefánsson from the University of Iceland on the geochemistry of Icelandic hydrothermal systems.

Photo caption: Andri Stefánsson giving a presentation related to hydrothermal systems and their geochemistry. Photo credit: Elina Lehtonen.

With Andri Stefánsson’s presentation we were exposed to the geochemistry of different hydrothermal systems and their associated fluids. Hot springs are also important places for life, and we learned about different organic compounds present in the hydrothermal systems.

And did you know that geological environments contain also superhot hydrothermal fluids with temperatures exceeding 374°C? These occur near magmatic heat sources, such as magma chambers (Stefánsson 2025).

Photo caption: Hot springs in action! During the summer school, we had the opportunity to visit the famous Great Geysir area. Photo credit: Elina Lehtonen.

Training skills that are needed during the PhD life

A key element of the FluxBEATS doctoral network – and of this summer school – was to focus on both scientific and soft-skills training for our doctoral candidates.

During the workshops in Iceland, we covered topics related to PhD life, project planning and management, scientific writing and presenting, supervision and science communication – all led by our research coordinator Elina Lehtonen.

The data management workshop was delivered remotely by Hela Mehrtens and Doris Maicher from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. It included a playful yet insightful Lego-based metadata exercise, where participants built a submarine vehicle and recorded the process systematically. This hands-on activity illustrated the importance of clear metadata description and accuracy – and brought out the inner child in all of us!

Photo caption: The Lego-based metadata exercise, in which participants systematically built a submarine vehicle, demonstrated the significance of accurate metadata description. Photo credit: Elina Lehtonen.

Participants of the summer school also practiced geological mapping skills under the guidance of Philipp Brandl (GEOMAR) and Felix Genske (University of Münster). Working in pairs, participants investigated the region’s geological features and later collaborated to compile their results in the larger group.

“The locality ‘Silfurberg’, less than 5 km northwest of Selfoss, offers magnificent insights into volcanic units that are common for the volcanic activity during the last glacial period (>8.6 ka) on Iceland”, summarizes Philipp Brandl. Initially the eruption under water or ice formed pillow lavas before grading into pillow breccias and different generations of glass-rich volcaniclastics. A later dyke cuts through the entire sequence.

Photo caption: View towards the top of the Silfurberg, which means “silver rock” in Icelandic. The silver-grey rocks to both sides of the ridge are zeolite-altered hyaloclastites. They are cut in the middle by a dyke that is more resistant to erosion. The base of Silfurberg is formed by basaltic pillow lava and breccias that erupted in a subglacial environment. The person standing on top of the ridge gives some scale. Photo credit: Elina Lehtonen

One primary goal was to foster connections between doctoral candidates and supervisors, which was achieved successfully. The discussions were helpful for both the doctoral candidates and the supervisors, and we are looking forward to exciting research and the next summer school in Kiel, Germany in 2026!

In the next newsletter you’ll get the chance to meet more our new doctoral researchers. In the meantime, make sure to check out the introductions of Linus, Francesco and Jaime, if you haven’t already. Follow us in Facebook and LinkedIn to stay updated!

This newsletter was written by Elina Lehtonen, Christoph Beier, Philipp Brandl and Felix Genske.

FluxBEATS is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

References
Geirsdóttir, Á. 2011. Chapter 16 – Pliocene and Pleistocene Glaciations of Iceland: A Brief Overview of the Glacial History. Developments in Quaternary Sciences, 15, 199–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53447-7.00016-7

Kristjánsson, L., Duncan, R.A., and Gudmundsson, Á. 1998. Stratigraphy, palaeomagnetism and age of volcanic in the upper regions of Þjorsardalur valley, central southern Iceland. Boreas, 27, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1502-3885.1998.tb00863.x

Parks, M., Sigmundsson, F., Drouin, V. et al., 2023. Deformation, seismicity, and monitoring response preceding and during the 2022 Fagradalsfjall eruption, Iceland. Bulletin of Volcanology, 85, 60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-023-01671-y

Parks, M., Drouin, V., Sigmundsson, F. et al., 2025. 2023–2024 inflation-deflation cycles at Svartsengi and repeated dike injections and eruptions at the Sundhnúkur crater row, Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 658, 119324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119324

Sæmundsson, K., Sigurgeirsson, M.Á., and Friðleifsson, G. 2020. Geology and structure of the Reykjanes volcanic system, Iceland. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 391, 106501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2018.11.022

Stefánsson, A. 2025. Superhot Hydrothermal Fluid Reservoirs Identified using Boron and Chlorine Geothermometry. PROCEEDINGS, 50th Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering Stanford University, Stanford, California, February 10-12, 2025, SGP-TR-229.

]]><![CDATA[New faces of the FluxBEATS network and fieldwork stories]]>Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:38:09 GMThttps://www.fluxbeats.eu/newsletter/new-faces-of-the-fluxbeats-network-and-fieldwork-stories

Do you want to join the FluxBEATS doctoral network?

A doctoral candidate position related to alteration of the oceanic lithosphere is open. Read more on the website of the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1. Apply before the 15th of July.

The FluxBEATS doctoral network started in November 2024, and with this newsletter we are excited to introduce three doctoral researchers who have recently joined our team in Finland.

Tiny inclusions, big impact: Linus Hüne studies fluids circulating through the oceanic crust

Linus Hüne joined the Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, in the beginning of May.

His research in position DC2 is about gaining a better understanding elemental transfer via hydrothermal fluids that circulate through the oceanic crust. This is done by studying fluid and melt inclusion in submarine basalts.

Before joining the FluxBEATS doctoral network Linus completed his BSc in geosciences at the University of Bremen and then MSc in geology at the University of Iceland.

“I see a certain parallel: I am just tiny human being and at the start of my scientific career on a massive planet, in a large scientific community and just maybe, I can also make a difference, just like my tiny inclusions in my research."

According to Linus he has been focusing geological fluids, geothermal geology and volcanology throughout his studies. “And guiding tours in Iceland’s lava caves for two summers sparked my interest in volcanospeleology”, Linus adds.

After leaving Iceland in 2023, Linus did research on trace element partitioning between hydrothermal fluids and sulfides in Toulouse, France.

Linus finds inspiration in studying tiny fluid inclusions, only a few micrometers in size, to understand larger geodynamic settings.

“I see a certain parallel: I am just tiny human being and at the start of my scientific career on a massive planet, in a large scientific community and just maybe, I can also make a difference, just like my tiny inclusions in my research”, Linus explains.

Beyond his work, Linus enjoys music, volleyball, board games, and outdoor activities. Having lived near mountains over the past years has developed, Linus has developed a deep fondness for mountain hiking and climbing.

“It is just the most amazing feeling to reach a summit after a long ascend and just enjoying the view. So now I am trying to adapt to Finnish forests, hills and lakes: let’s see how it goes”, he concludes.

Unravelling the secrets of black shales: Francesco Magnani studies the interaction between organic and hydrothermal processes

Francesco Magnani joined the Geological Survey of Finland in the beginning of May.

He was recruited to position DC8, and will study the interplay between organic and hydrothermal processes in the formation of metal deposits at different stages of divergent plate margin evolution.

Francesco studied geology at the University of Bologna, Italy, specializing in the field of raw materials exploration and characterization, with a strong focus on the sustainability of mineral exploitation. During his MSc thesis, Francesco delved into the world of mineral processing, gaining insights into the corporate and industrial aspects of mineral resources management.

Francesco was as an Erasmus student in the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, before internship in France.

“I am eager to contribute my knowledge and experience to support this interdisciplinary and stimulating research network.”

During his PhD project Francesco will conduct comprehensive geochemical, isotopic, sedimentary, and petrographic analyses of metalliferous black shales from various deposits in Finland.

“Now I have the opportunity to return to my roots and tackle a purely geological challenge”, Francesco says.

Francesco is looking forward to engage with the broader European FluxBEATS community, which brings together brilliant minds from different backgrounds to focus on different aspects of global elemental fluxes.

“I am eager to contribute my knowledge and experience to support this interdisciplinary and stimulating research network”, he explains.

On his free-time Francesco is passionate about travelling, photography and cinema. He has also climbed at competitive level in Italy in paraclimbing.

“Climbing has always been a huge part of my life, and I’ve always been glad to help my coach training athletes with various kinds of disabilities, the goal being make sport accessible to everyone”, Francesco concludes.

From Chile to Finland: Jaime Cataldo Bacho’s research on silicic magmas

Jaime Cataldo Bacho joined the Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, as a doctoral researcher in the beginning of June.

His research in position DC4 concentrates on the formation of silicic magmas in ophiolites and at modern divergent plate margins.

Jaime completed his MSc in geology at the Universidad de Chile, graduating with highest distinction. His thesis focused on the geochemical and tectonic evolution of Cambrian basaltic rocks from Antarctica.

Before joining the FluxBEATS doctoral network Jaime worked as a geology consultant for private companies and also spent several years supporting academic teaching and research as an assistant in classrooms and laboratories at different Chilean universities.

“What inspires me most is the opportunity to understand the world around us.”

Jaime has always been very close to nature. “What inspires me most is the opportunity to understand the world around us”, Jaime explains.

“We live on a planet that is constantly changing, and the rocks record those changes and transformations. By studying their chemical signatures and textures we can understand and imagine – or try to – how things worked in the past and why the Earth is the way it is today. The hidden information keeps me curious and motivated in my work”, he continues.

Outside the lab, Jaime spends most of his time in the outdoors: climbing rock and ice, mountaineering, snowboarding, or bodyboarding when he is near the ocean. Jaime says that he is drawn to places that demand effort to reach, where the journey is as rewarding as the view.

“I enjoy being on the move, meeting new challenges, and adapting to new environments – whether on a mountain face or in a research setting”, he concludes.

Fieldwork greetings from the Jormua ophiolite complex, Finland

In the second week of June, doctoral researcher Jaime Cataldo Bacho and Professor Tapani Rämö from the University of Helsinki embarked on a field work in northeastern Finland to examine the famous Jormua ophiolite complex.

The complex is part of Jaime’s research related to silicic magmas in the framework of FluxBEATS project DC4. One of the prime targets are the plagiogranites of the complex (figure below). The Jormua complex, formed ca. 1,95 billion years ago, preserves a typical section of an ocean-continent transition ophiolite, including prominent occurrences of plagiogranites (sensu lato) in the mid-section of the ophiolite.

An outcrop just exposed displays three different types of plagiogranite (sensu lato): mafic, intermediate and felsic, with prominent magma mingling relationship between the mafic and felsic members. These rocks will be sampled and analyzed for whole-rock Nd-Sr-Hf-Pb and U-Pb, Lu-Hf, and O isotopes in zircon. Jaime Cataldo Bacho on the left and Asko Kontinen on the right. Photo: Tapani Rämö.

During the fieldwork Jaime and Tapani were hosted by Asko Kontinen, a retired geologist from the Geological Survey of Finland. Asko Kontinen is the discoverer of the Jormua ophiolite, reported in 1987.

Happy geologists! Right at the beginning of the project, Jaime Cataldo Bacho (in the middle) got to explore the rocks in Finland, which are part of his research, with Asko Kontinen (left) and Tapani Rämö (right). Photo: Tapani Rämö.

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