This March, the city of Heraklion in Crete hosted the FluidNET Conference, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Innovative Training Network (ITN). Running from the 19th to the 21st, the conference brought together scientists of various ages and backgrounds to discuss important research on fluid-rock interaction.
The first day of the conference set a dynamic tone, with discussions focusing on the central theme of fluid-rock interaction and its broad implications, including fluid transport pathways, mineral precipitation, and the utilization of AI in geological research. Other vital topics covered were radioactive waste disposal, elemental mobility, isotopic geochemistry, and the geological underpinnings of earthquakes, alteration phenomena, and ore deposits.
Day two continued with in-depth explorations into the behavior of fluids within the deep continental crust and the mobilization of critical elements. This was particularly pertinent as EU navigates its path towards sustainable energy solutions, highlighting the importance of new resource identification within the EU. The discussions also covered how fluids can trigger physical and chemical reactions in subduction zones and the crust.
The final day brought the conference to a close with insightful presentations on the sources and time scales of fluids involved in fluid-rock interactions, alongside discussions on practical applications of these interactions in addressing societal challenges. On this day, we had an unexpected visit from local Cretan News TV, which interviewed our ITN coordinator Fraukje M. Brouwer and Greek ESR Stylianos Karastergios. The conference concluded on a high note with a communal dinner, celebrating the collective effort and shared insights.
The trip on the 22nd to the ancient Minoan palace of Knossos and Zeus’s cave, along with a delightful dinner at Agios Nikolaos, was a wonderful complement to our conference. We want to thank Katerina Vavouraki and the local institutions, Region of Crete and Hellenic Mediterranean University, for making the conference experience even better with their warm hospitality.
