2nd Workshop on "From the Phanerozoic Base Line to New Frontiers in Earth's History

September 26th to October 1st, 2016, Prague, Czech Republic

 

The 2nd BASE-LiNE Earth workshop on "From the Phanerozoic Base Line to New Frontiers in Earth’s History?" was held from September 26th to October 1st, 2016 at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Czech Republic (PI: Prof. Michael Komárek) with the around of 54 participants coming from 20 different nations all over the world.

The research tasks of the three scientific work packages were presented by the corresponding WP leaders: Claire Rollion-Bard, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, France (WP1); Juraj Farkăs, University of Adelaide, Australia & Michael Komarék, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic (WP2) and Robert Frei, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (WP3), and the ESRs - who gave a presentation on preliminary results of their individual research task.

One of the main goals of the workshop was the interdisciplinary integration of individual projects. In the framework of the workshop scientific talks considering the multidisciplinary approach of BASE-LiNE Earth have been presented by seven senior scientists. Three external speakers have been invited: Prof. Dr. Alexander Gagnon, University of Washington, USA, Dr. Matthias Haeckel, GEOMAR, Germany, Prof. Dr. Voitech Ettler, Charles University, Czech Republic.

 

A special emphasis of this workshop was on carbonate diagenesis and the extraction of original information. Besides the analytical training, statistical methods for data reduction and proxy calibration were taught. The scientific talks focused on:

  • Geochemistry and Biomineralization
  • Small compositional signals with a big impact: understanding biomineralization and reconstructing climate records with microanalysis
  • Statistical methods for Geosciences and Geochemistry (including a lecture as well as a practical session)
  • Interpreting diagenetic processes using isotopes: deciphering sources of fluid flow and reactions (including a lecture as well as a practical session)
  • Quantifying diagenetic processes via transport-reaction modelling of isotope signatures (including a lecture as well as a practical session)
  • Modelling of mineral-fluid geochemichal reactions using PHREEQC and/ or visual MINTEQ (including a lecture as well as a practical session)
  • Introduction to water-rock interaction models of carbonate diagenesis for selected trace elements and isotopes (Banner & Hanson Modell)

Subsequent to the meeting, a complementary course on “Diversity and gender in science” was offered by Dr. Monika Schoop from the Gender Equality Office at the University of Cologne, Germany, who is working as a coordinator and lecturer for Gender Studies. Dr. Schoop shed light on the potentials of including gender and diversity perspectives in research and cleaning up the typical clichés between female and male scientist by using an interactive communication.

One of the highlights was the geological excursion: “Paleozoic strata & fossils in the Prague Basin”, which was guided by Prof. Dr. Jiri Fryda from the Czech University of Life Sciences, Czech Republic. Furthermore, a guided tour through the historical center of Prague was provided by Dr. Martin Novak, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.