TERRAFORM Researchers Present at IGRM2025
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
Plant-Climate Interaction Lab at the iCRAG SUMMIT 2024
iCRAG Summit 2024
On June 25th and 26th, 2024, the iCRAG annual summit was held at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone. Researchers from multiple universities and institutions across Ireland attended, focusing on Geoscience research. Prof. Jennifer McElwain and Dr. Sate Ahmad from the Plant-Climate Interactions Lab, Botany Department, were among the attendees.
The summit featured updates on recent research in Earth System Change, Earth Science and Society, and Earth Resources. The iCRAG Census results were presented, highlighting areas for improvement in equity, diversity, and inclusion. This was followed by training on Education and Public Engagement (EPE) and innovation, covering intellectual property and patents. Dr. Ahmad presented preliminary results on estimating transpiration and evapotranspiration from upflow willow-based treatment systems during a poster session.
Day 2 began with a morning dip in Lough Ree, followed by breakout sessions within and across different research areas. Prof. McElwain, leading the Earth System Change challenge, moderated the discussion around how to best get insights into Ireland’s future climate by analyzing its past climate through the Cenozoic era, using paleoproxies and climate archives. The summit brought together scientists from various disciplines to collaborate towards a better future.
by Dr. Sate Ahmad
