GD
Geodynamics

edited by Constanza Rodriguez Piceda

She is a postdoctoral researcher at University of Plymouth (UK). Her research interests span from the role of fault networks with complex geometries in earthquake processes to the link of the lithospheric structure with observed seismic deformation. She is co-editor-in-chief of the GD blog team.

Cratons: building blocks of continents and their economic importance

, and December 17, 2025
Cratons: building blocks of continents and their economic importance
A map showing how mineral deposits are often concentrated along the edges of the thick lithosphere. The coloured boxes represent distribution of large igneous intrusions, which contains Ni-Cu-PGE deposits and the circles represent distribution of carbonatites which might contain REEs (Lithosphere thickness data from Priestley et al, 2024, Carbonatite locations from Liu et al., 2022, large igneous intrusion locations from Smith and Maier, 2021)

The 4.5 billion years of geologic evolution has shaped the tectonic processes in Earth we see today. Over the span of time, Earth has changed from being a magma ocean to a tectonically active planet, by transitioning through different tectonic regimes.  A silent witness of this journey have been cratons which have survived for billions of years. Therefore cratons preserve clues of past tectonic pr ...[Read More]

The hidden effects of academic excellence: workaholism in Academia

and September 17, 2025
The hidden effects of academic excellence: workaholism in Academia
Figure generated using VEED IA.

Years have passed since I started my academic career, and I have come to realise that, in academia, excellence appears to come with a price tag. Stress and pressure have become commonplace for academics, often normalising certain behaviours such as workaholism. This essay explores how workaholism have become a common practice in these working environments. It was late, the library lights were blin ...[Read More]

How do rocks fail and flow: A beginners guide to rock rheology

and September 3, 2025
How do rocks fail and flow: A beginners guide to rock rheology

The field of rock rheology may seem a bit ‘odd’ at first glance to those geoscientists who are vaguely familiarized with the topic of geodynamics. Often, rocks are considered massive and competent geomaterials that display a sudden (and sometimes violent) brittle failure (earthquake alert!). However, when considering the high temperatures and large timescale characteristics of most geo ...[Read More]

Balancing pregnancy, family, and a scientific career: a look at the challenges faced by women in STEAM

and May 14, 2025
Balancing pregnancy, family, and a scientific career: a look at the challenges faced by women in STEAM
Women in STEAM: Balancing research with raising a family. (Image generated by SEAART.IA)

In this week’s blog post, Dr. Katherine Villavicencio (University of Pisa) explores how women in STEAM navigate pregnancy and family life while advancing in their careers and examines the support (or lack thereof) provided by academic and research institutions. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) careers are undoubtedly demanding. For women in these fields, juggling the ...[Read More]