Supported by the Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Graduate School of Geosciences (GSGS) at the University of Cologne offers two promising international doctoral candidates the opportunity to pursue a doctorate as a part of an existing coordinated research programme, including CRC1211, supervised by a Cologne Geoscientist.

Deadline for applications is 31. January, 2023.

Further information can be found through the call website.

an opportunity for knowledge transfer, networking, and international co-operation

The threat of Covid-19 pandemic-related impediments (e.g. health issues, travel restrictions) forced the cancellation of the CRC 1211 summer school, which was originally planned to be conducted in Namibia in October/November 2022. In response to the cancellation, the IRTG (project Z05) provided an alternative opportunity for knowledge transfer, networking, and scientific debate by organising a training week. The event was conducted between 09^th and 15^th October 2022 in Koenigswinter, Germany. It was convened by Tibor Dunai and Dietmar Quandt, and organised by Joel Mohren. The training week was not only dedicated to represent a platform for interaction among the participants, but it also aimed at providing an introduction into scientific methods and state of the art science related to research conducted within the framework of CRC 1211.

Apart from including members of the CRC, efforts were made to invite students and PhD candidates affiliated to research institutions from the two focus countries of the CRC. As a result, we could welcome participants from the University of Namibia and from the universities Católica del Norte (Antofagasta) and Universidad de la Serena in Chile. The favourable conditions met at the venue promoted social interaction among the participants and may have provided the gametes for future collaboration. A great enrichment to the training week proved to be the presence of participants from outside the CRC, expanding the opportunities of scientific exchange. Apart from presenting their research, the participants who came from Namibia and Chile also shared their first-hand experiences on various research-related topics, which may help CRC members on future fieldworks and facilitate collaboration with our Chilean and Namibian partners.

Relocating the event to Germany implied a better control on disruptive factors at the expense of the general desert ambience present in Namibia. In terms of teaching, however, the conduction of the training week in Germany had positive effects on the availability of teaching capacities. The teaching aimed at including both theoretical and practical teaching blocks in the scientific fields of Bio- and Geosciences. Members of all CRC clusters prepared lectures tailored to the scopes of the training week. The participants could gain insights into the geological background, Earth surface processes and local biota associated to the Siebengebirge Volcanic Field and its vicinity during a one-day excursion led by Carsten Münker, Tibor Dunai, Julia Bechteler, and Joel Mohren. As a further scientific highlight, the conveners invited Prof Carina Hoorn from the University of Amsterdam to provide a glimpse into her research on past and present Geo-Bio feedbacks in the Amazonian region and in the Asian continental interior. In addition, the participants presented their own work on short orals during a poster session.

The training week was a great success as it did not only introduce the participants into the various research fields condensed within the domain of CRC 1211, but it also laid the foundation for future collaboration amongst the participants. Such events are vital to spread the spirit of interdisciplinarity and to establish a network between the early career scientists affiliated to the CRC and beyond, and will ultimately lead to more holistic scientific advances.

The conveners and the organiser thank all participants for showing their enthusiasm and open mindedness during the training week. Furthermore, we thank Esteban Acevedo-Trejos, Julia Bechteler, Steven Binnie, Bárbara Blanco, Dominik Brill, Patrick Grunert, Anna Hakobyan, Christine Heim, Carina Hoorn, Claudia Knief, Marcus Koch, Martin Melles, Carsten Münker, Stephanie Scheidt, Jan Schween, and Bernd Wagner for putting so many efforts in their teaching and presentations.

Author: Joel Mohren

Fig.1: Group photo. Photo: Joel Mohren / Hannah Hartung

Fig.2: Carsten Münker explains the geology of the Siebengebirge Volcanic Field. Photo: Joel Mohren

Fig.3: Martin Melles explains the sedimentary sequence of drill cores from Chile. Photo: Joel Mohren

Fig.4: Prof. Carina Hoorn (University of Amsterdam) presents her research. Photo: Joel Mohren

Fig.5: A participant presents her poster. Photo: Joel Mohren

Fig.6: The final schedule of the training week.

Projects: A03, C04, C09, D02, D06

Between end of September and mid October 2022 a mixed group of scientists from the A03, C04, C09, D02 and D06 subprojects conducted a 21-day field excursion to the Atacama Desert guided by Dr. Benedikt Ritter and Dr. Damian Lopez. The group consisting of young researcher (two PhDs, five Post‑Docs) visited and conducted on-site experiments and sampling in all three focus areas of our CRC1211. With the collected samples and on-site data, we aimed to characterized the gradual change of aridity throughout the Atacama Desert. Major tasks focussed on extensive tephra sampling for our D06 Tephrochronology subproject, sampling of datable CaSO₄ samples and silicates for U/Pb dating of the D02 subproject, on-site analysis of dust emission using a mini ‘tornado’ machine (PI-SWERL) on various intact and destroyed soil and surfaces, as well as soil and sediment sampling for the characterization of biological fingerprints on and in CaSO₄ crusts and soil promoting surface stabilization. The campaign was rounded off with numerous samples for exposure dating and CaSO₄ wedges from old surfaces increasingly threatened by destruction (by nitrate/iodine mining) and a visit including sampling to the Salar Grande salt mine Bahia Blanca.

The intertwining interaction of all scientific branches of our group led to lively discussions in the field and close collaborations of all fields within an interdisciplinary approach.

Author: Benedikt Ritter

Fig.1: Due to the strong cooperation with our Chilean colleagues we are only able to conduct this CRC in the Atacama Desert. Again, many thanks to Prof. Eduardo Campos for all his help and patience with us. “Ver mas alla – See beyond” Photo: Benedikt Ritter

Fig.2: Our mini “tornado’ machine in action (PI-SWERL). Main question, at which windspeeds we can start the emission of dust and how does the soil and its composition and structure help to prevent aeolian erosion. Photo: Benedikt Ritter

Fig.3: Repeated measurements allow a statistical evaluation of windspeed and dust emissions. Experiments were conducted on various soil and surface types, as well as on intact and destroyed surfaces. Photo: Benedikt Ritter

Fig.4: Atacama soil and sediment sampling using empty trenches from presumably prospection work from nitrate/iodine mining companies. Photo: Benedikt Ritter

Fig.5: Halite outcrop at the Bahia Blanca Halite Mine in the northern part of the Salar Grande basin. Thanks to SPL for the visit and the scientific cooperation with us. Photo: Benedikt Ritter

Fig.6: Impact and creeping of the famous ‘camanchaca’ (fog) into the Salar Grande basin on its south-western rim. Photo: Benedikt Ritter