TERRAFORM Researchers Present at IGRM2025

The 68th Irish Geoscience Research Meeting (IGRM2025) was held at Trinity College Dublin from February 28th – March 2nd. The meeting included a session on palaeoclimate, at which several project TERRAFORM researchers showcased their current work and scientific advancements. Dr William J. Matthaeus presented his talk titled, Trait-Based Palaeo–Ecosystem Simulations Reveal Shifting Forest Cover Across the Triassic–Jurassic Biotic Crisis, highlighting the exciting potential of utilising plant fossil trait data in deep-time ecosystem modelling. PhD candidates Antonietta B. Knetge and Catarina Barbosa also presented talks on the Triassic–Jurassic Biotic Crisis. Knetge presented her study Palaeoecology and Diversity Loss During the End–Triassic Event at South Tancrediakløft, East Greenland, and Barbosa presented How Counting Method Influences the Interpretation of Plant Palaeoecological Data. Barbosa received an honorable mention for best student presentation. E. Blanka Kovács gave a talk on her research about secondary controls on the natural mercury cycle during large-scale volcanic events, titled Astronomical modulation of enhanced environmental mercury (Hg) fluxes during early Toarcian LIP volcanism. TERRAFORM members have benefited from engaging with Earth scientists from global and regional communities. IGRM is a critical venue for fostering collaborations in Ireland’s emerging geosciences community.

by Antonietta Knetge and Blanka Kovacs