
This week (August 25 to August 30), the Ada Lovelace Workshop on Numerical Modelling and Lithosphere Dynamics takes place at La Certosa di Pontignano near Siena, Italy.
And the workshop started… how should I put it… electrifying. Literally, because the WIFI device got struck by a lightning bolt and therefore there is (at the time of writing) no internet connection. Can you imagine what this does to a bunch of scientists when they are a few days without internet? Chaos has broken out and everybody is on their own now.
Ok, you got me. I’m exaggerating … a lot.
So, let’s have a look what we are actually doing during the workshop.
Every day is organized with 4 keynote talks in the morning, a plenary discussion with the keynote speakers after lunch and a poster session in the afternoon. The poster session is also preceded by a PICO-like 1-minute oral presentation by every poster presenter.
All of this takes place at the beautiful “Certosa di Pontignano”. Here are a few pictures of the charming venue:
In the following is an overview of the keynote sessions which took place in this beautiful conference room:
Day 1
The first day started with a session about “Planetary Geodynamics”:
#ALWS2019 First keynote speaker: Klara Kalousova (@pragueuni) addresses the dynamics of ice layers in Solar System Moons pic.twitter.com/4uOtAf94yb
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 26, 2019
#ALWS2019 day 1 – second keynote talk: Tina Rückriemen (@GermanAerospace DLR) sheds light on the effects of various core differentiation scenarios on core convection and dynamos pic.twitter.com/ae1z9yJrlt
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 26, 2019
The second keynote session was about “Plate-mantle dynamics in the Early Earth”:
#ALWS2019 day 1 – during the third keynote talk, Alexander Webb (@Webb_Tectonics, University of Hong Kong) gives a geological and insightful view on “heat-pipe tectonics” in terrestrial planets #EGU_GD #science #tectonics #conference pic.twitter.com/oDy9QNuaxX
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 26, 2019
#ALWS2019 day 1 – today’s fourth and final keynote speaker Craig O’Neill (@thecraigoneill, @Macquarie_Uni) discusses several key geological drivers of Hadean tectonics. #conference #EGU_GD #science #tectonics #geodynamics pic.twitter.com/vAVp2I1X7o
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 26, 2019
Day 2
The topic of the first keynote session of the second day was “The emergence of plate tectonics”:
#ALWS2019 day 2 starts with keynote speaker Nicolas Coltice (@Geosciences_ENS) about the emergence of plate tectonics. Engaging and entertaining talk containing Christmas trees, world peace and interesting science. “We all feel like blind football players sometimes” #EGU_GD pic.twitter.com/rRIP5y8ZZ0
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 27, 2019
#ALWS2019 day 2 – the second keynote talk given by Shijie Zhong (University of Colorado Boulder) addresses the dynamic origins of present-day mantle structures. Important results shown and many ,,chicken or egg questions” #EGU_GD #conference #geodynamics #science pic.twitter.com/jCl3xBniKW
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 27, 2019
And the second keynote session’s topic was “Global mantel convection”:
#ALWS2019 day 2 – during the third keynote talk by Juliane Dannberg (@FloridaUniv) we get a broad overview of chemical and rheological hererogeneities in Earth’s mantle and some promising new numerical modelling results. #EGU_GD #conference #geodynamics #Aspect pic.twitter.com/x9L9sTftVN
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 27, 2019
#ALWS2019 day 2 – during the fourth and final keynote of today, Grace Shephard (@ShepGracie, @CEEDOslo) talks about the (in)visibility of the iron spin transition in seismic tomography and possible implementations for mantle dynamics. #EGU_GD #conference #science #geodynamics pic.twitter.com/VgSEyIL7Wv
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 27, 2019
An impression from the poster session in the afternoon:
During day 2, participants have also been asked what they like most about the workshop. Here are their answers:
Very relaxed environment to discuss science with your peers.
It is really nice to get to know the community of geodynamics. And of course the delicious italian food.
There are a lot of serious people with serious answers to serious problems.
The lovely landscape
There is a lot of time to discuss with people.
Meeting the community in a friendly and open environment.
I like the PICO-like poster sessions.
The anomalous overall friendliness of the geodynamics community.
Being together with a bunch of other nerds.
Plenty of informal time to interact and discuss with people and you don’t have to run from one room to another such as in a big meeting.
Juniors can talk to seniors without any borders
I will tell you my answer after the Karaoke session.
Not too big, not too many people: you can get in contact with a lot of people.
We are locked up, so that forces us to talk to each other.
Being tortured by a geologist.
The mobile data connection in my room (for real)
The wine
The compulsory digital detox
The amount of garlic in the food
The perfect venue
Day 3
The first keynote session on Wednesday was about “Plate-mantle dynamics in the Cenozoic”:
Day 3 of #ALWS2019 keynote Eva Bredow (Kiel Uni) presenting case studies of mantle plume and ridge interaction from around the globe. pic.twitter.com/lsTwj7EPul
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 28, 2019
#ALWS2019 day 3 – next up Taras Gerya (@ETH_ERDW) with models of slab tear propagation 1/2 #geodynamics pic.twitter.com/ix6KqAjVFT
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 28, 2019
The second session was about “Modelling deep surface process connection”:
#ALWS2019 Day 3 – Bernhard Steinberger (@GFZ_Potsdam, @CEEDOslo) shows brand new models of mantle plume ascent rates and conduit geometries #geodynamics pic.twitter.com/OH7GOPtqQH
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 28, 2019
#ALWS2019 Day 3. Keynote Valentina Magni (@valentinamagni @CEEDOslo) shares her latest #geodynamic models on melting pathways involving subduction zone arcs and back-arcs. pic.twitter.com/aMB0H2gENP
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 28, 2019
On Wednesday, instead of a poster session there was also a guided tour to Siena where we have learned a lot about this beautiful city with its famous horse race called “Palio” that is organised twice a year.
Day 4
The last day started with a session called “Data assimilation and inverse geodynamic modelling”:
#ALWS2019 Day 4 (and final): keynote Georg Reuber (Uni. Mainz) gives a guide on adjoint based inversions in #geodynamic modelling.
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 29, 2019
#ALWS2019 keynote: next up Georg Stadler (@nyuniversity) Bayesian parameter inference in global instantaneous mantle flow. #geodynamics pic.twitter.com/J7L8rQbGLP
— EGU Geodynamics Division (@EGU_GD) August 29, 2019
And the last keynote session was about “Geodynamics across the scale” where Ylona van Dinther gave a keynote talk “How Tectonics Affects Seismicity”.
So, the non-existent WIFI wasn’t too bad after all. In the end, it brought the geodynamics community even closer.
The workshop will finish on Thursday evening with an epic party. I’ve been even told that some people only have started doing research in geodynamics because of the party at the end of the Ada Lovelace Workshop! So, if you want to take part in the next Ada Lovelace Workshop (taking place in 2021, place TBD), make sure to not miss the registration deadline!
(Note from the author: Although I could update this last paragraph about the party, I am not doing so as the party was indeed epic and therefore “What happens at the ALWS farewell party stays at the ALWS farewell party.” But you should definitely come and experience it yourself next time at the ALWS2021!)
Iris van Zelst
Oh this sounds amazing! Thanks for the funny overview Tobias! I wish I could be there! Enjoy the next few days and enjoy the epic party on Thursday 😀 Fingers crossed it will be reported on this blog as well 😉