In this first of two blog posts, we showcase the experiences of the ECR bursary recipients who attended our first international conference hosted by MAGMA Lab at the University of Liverpool earlier this year.
Read all about the first VIPS conference here.
Exploring the Mysteries of Volcanic Plumbing Systems: My Experience at the VIPS Conference
Rahul Subbaraman, University of Manchester
I am a 3rd-year PhD student in Volcanology at the University of Manchester. Originally from India, I completed a 5-year BS-MS Dual Degree in Geological Sciences with a minor in Chemical Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.
My background is in Igneous Petrology and Geochemistry, and my current research focuses on the chemistry and textures of volcano-derived nodules from Gígöldur, Iceland. These nodules are believed to be fragments of erupted crystal mushes -cohesive yet porous crystal frameworks with interstitial melts – that form the plumbing systems of active volcanoes. Through this research, I aim to enhance our understanding of the evolution of the physicochemical properties of these mushes.
I am thrilled to have attended the 1st International Conference of the IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic & Igneous Plumbing Systems (VIPS). This conference was a unique opportunity to engage with an international community of researchers and expand my network beyond the familiar faces of volcanologists from the UK and Ireland. I am especially grateful for the IAVCEI-VIPS ECR Travel Bursary, which covered my registration fees and travel expenses, making my participation possible.
The conference featured captivating themes and sessions. I resonated with the topics of “Modelling Plumbing System Processes” and “Volcanic-Plutonic Connections,” which closely align with my own research interests. A highlight was the keynote address by Dr Adelina Geyer, whose insights into the challenges of understanding volcanic plumbing systems, particularly regarding the Volcanic-Plutonic connection, offered fresh perspectives and inspiration for my work. Additionally, I participated in a workshop titled “Exploring Crystal Histories,” led by Dr Katy Chamberlain and Dr Geoff Kilgour. This workshop introduced us to the theory of diffusion chronometry and provided hands-on experience with data analysis, enriching my understanding of crystal growth and evolution.
I presented a poster titled “Icelandic Nodules – Windows into Actively Evolving Mush Systems.” This study uncovers the processes within the crystal mush systems beneath Gígöldur in Central Iceland by examining gabbro nodules. I employed integrated high-resolution 3D μCT imaging alongside chemical analysis via electron microprobe to construct a detailed picture of the mush system’s structure and composition. This approach allows for a thorough assessment of the physical framework – encompassing intricate geometry and porosity – as well as the chemical composition of these crystal mushes. By illuminating the interactions and evolution of melts and fluids in this environment, we can enhance our understanding of the behaviour of mushes before and during eruptions.
Presenting my research was incredibly rewarding; engaging with an audience genuinely interested in the intricacies of magma reservoirs reinforced the significance of my work. I enjoyed connecting with fellow researchers studying nodules, who shared diverse perspectives based on varying tectonic settings and compositions. My discussions with experienced researchers also helped me contextualise my study within the broader topic of volcanic plumbing systems. Attending the VIPS conference was an invaluable experience that broadened my horizons and solidified my passion for understanding the complex systems that drive volcanic activity.
The first international conference on Volcanic and Igneous Plumbing Systems: An ECR perspective
Lorenzo Mantiloni, University of Exeter
I am a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Exeter, UK. I am currently working on numerical models of deformation and stress within and outside of magma-mush reservoirs under different conditions of magma supply, with the aim of studying the stability and failure of magma chambers. As a result, I recently won a bursary from the IAVCEI commission on Volcanic and Igneous Plumbing Systems (VIPS) to attend their first international conference in Liverpool held between June 18th and June 20th, 2024. As the title of the meeting (“First international conference on Volcanic and Igneous Plumbing Systems”) suggests, it was the first conference of its kind organized by the VIPS commission, and I am sure that expectations were high among both the organizers and the attendees. From the experience that I had along with many colleagues, I can say that those expectations were fully met!
The conference was hosted by the MAGMA Lab at the University of Liverpool, which opened its doors during the analogue modelling workshop on the first day. The rest of the conference was hosted at the top floors of The Spine complex: a modern and classy building offering – so I was told – the best view over the city of Liverpool. The local organizing team did a fantastic job in both welcoming us and managing the event. Communication with the attendees, organization and timing were spotless. The daily schedule allowed plenty of talks and activities, without being too tight or drawn-out and leaving time to unwind and socialize in the evenings. The direction of the talk sessions was flawless. A floor-level display was arranged in front of the podium so that speakers could keep an eye on their slides and the timer without ever turning away from the audience: something that, as one of those speakers, I very much appreciated. The poster session was equally well-managed. Finally, we were treated with some amazing food at the lunch breaks. All these, however, are relatively minor points. What really made this conference stand out were three highlights.
The first, as I already mentioned, was the analogue modelling workshop on the first day: that is, gelatine-based experiments of fluid-filled crack propagation in elastic media, something in which the MAGMA Lab team and its director, Prof. Janine Kavanagh, are world-leading experts. Janine and her team were brilliant at illustrating the meaning, techniques and applications of gelatine models. Most importantly, they gave us the opportunity to get our hands on some gelatine setups, where we injected different fluids into gelatine moulds and observed how they propagated. I had some experience with similar setups during my PhD, and it was nice to play with them once more. I was also aware of how challenging and time-consuming preparing those gelatine moulds can be: hence my kudos to all the people involved. Thanks also to the team of LaVision, who gave us a demonstration of their amazing particle tracking velocimetry. It was a fun and instructive experience, and I could learn a lot on the newest developments and potential of analogue modelling.
The second highlight, and the most important one for me, was the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere that we all breathed throughout the event. The conference was indeed very international, with researchers from all backgrounds and career stages. While sharing a common research topic, we all brought in very different approaches and skill sets, which made it the perfect opportunity to compare and share our knowledge. More than that, the differences in age and career stage never put any distance between attendees: on the contrary, I felt it extremely easy to meet and talk to world-established researchers as well as students at the very beginning of their PhD, and many colleagues of my age and younger shared the same impression. This resulted, I believe, in an extremely stimulating exchange of ideas and experience, from which I am sure everyone, and especially the younger among us, benefited a lot.
The third highlight, which best showcased my previous point, was the round (well, square) tables session on the last day. I had experienced such a format only once in a previous conference, and I find it an excellent activity to bring junior and senior researchers together and make them learn from one another. The way tables were formed ensured the right proportion between different career stages and expertise, and we all came out of it with some new knowledge or perspectives on what we do as a community. The organizers asked us a series of questions, which each group had to discuss over a given time, before the group’s representative wrapped up the resulting points. The most notable question to me was what the direction, goals and achievements of the VIPS community should be over the next five, ten and twenty years. With that scope in mind, it was hard to come up with well-thought-out answers in such a short time, though a two-hour discussion would have probably not been enough, either. However, it made me realise how much our age, research and academic background can shape our perspectives on what is lacking and what is worth prioritizing in our community. I could tell people about the current limitations of numerical models and why overcoming them is important, but then somebody would open my eyes on how models cannot go far without better constraints from observation, be it from the field or the lab. The inverse also happened. From the role of machine learning to cutting the costs and risks of fieldwork, to enabling fast and free access to data and promoting engagements with local populations in volcanic areas, it was nice to be drawn out of my expertise bubble and reminded me that research is a multifaceted organism, and works at its best when all its parts keep up with each other.
To sum up, the first VIPS international conference was a success, and I am very grateful to have been part of it. All the people involved, including the staff at The Spine, deserve the greatest compliments. I wish to thank IAVCEI and the VIPS Commission for the travel bursary they awarded me: I could not have made it there without it. It was a beautiful opportunity to meet some old friends, make new ones and, most importantly, share our research in a relaxed environment, no matter our age, status or nationality. I will remember those days with fondness, while looking forward to the next edition. See you in Chile in two years!
Stay tuned for more VIPS Conference ECR testimonials!
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