Programme
August 17 – Icebreaker at 18.00
August 18 – Meeting 08.30–17.30, conference dinner at 19.00
August 19 – Meeting 08.30–17.30, meeting ends
August 20 – Excursion to Sala 08.00–18.00
Note that the abstract submission deadline is the 15th of May.
The full programme can be downloaded here.
General sessions
1) 3 billion years of geological evolution – the build-up of Sweden
(invited presentations only)
This session addresses the geological evolution of Sweden from the Archaean through the Proterozoic and Phanerozoic to the present. Contributions that deal with various aspects of the building of the country with focus on tectonic processes are welcome. Contributions addressing the biotic evolution during the Phanerozoic in the context of the closure of the Iapetus Ocean and the break-up of the supercontinent Pangaea, impact cratering and Quaternary glaciations, which have largely shaped the land as we know it today, are also welcome. We will organize this session as a series of talks that takes us firstly from the earliest evolution in the Archaean through orogenic and rifting events during the Proterozoic, when the major part of the Swedish land mass and its resources were formed. The session will continue by providing the broad picture through the Phanerozoic, including orogenic and rifting events, the diversification of life, changing climates and extinctions.
Session Chairs: Åke Johansson (ake.johansson@nrm.se), Vivi Vajda (vivi.vajda@nrm.se), Michael Stephens (michael@stephens.se)
2) Geology and society
In this session we welcome papers that address earth science contributions to societal challenges. The Geological Society firmly believes that geoscience is a vital part of a sustainable society. We seek contributions that discusses earth science as part of a solution for a sustainable development. We especially welcome contributions in relation to the United nations sustainable development goals and the role of geosciences.
Session Chairs: Katarina Persson Nilsson (katarina.nilsson@svemin.se), Erika Ingvald (erika.ingvald@sgu.se), Pär Weihed (par.weihed@ltu.se)
3) Geoeducation
What is the shape of education in geosciences in Sweden today? Does Earth Science have the role it deserves based on the societal needs? Are we doing the right things at our Earth Science departments in Sweden and if not, what could improve and change? In a time when society is changing perhaps more rapidly than ever, are the forms of teaching right and are the pedagogic skills relevant? The fundamental lack of education in geology in primary school and high school, what are the consequences and how can we mitigate this lack?
Session Chairs: Anders Scherstén (anders.schersten@geol.lu.se), Magnus Hellqvist (gyttjelera@gmail.com), Emma Rehnström (emma.f.rehnstrom@gmail.com)
4) 150 years anniversary – the evolution of geoscience through time
In the early days of science, the disciplines were integrated and during the last 200–300 years the science evolved into separate disciplined like chemistry, physics, biology and geology. In this session we aim to shed light on this evolution within the framework of the birth of the Geological Society of Sweden (Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholm) 150 years ago until today.
Session Chairs: Jörgen Langhof (Jorgen.langhof@nrm.se)
Thematic sessions
The thematic sessions seek contributions within its field that are of general interest to the Swedish earth sciences community. These sessions are thus focussed on the advances of the research frontiers within each field of geosciences. Presentations can be of general interest as well as addressing Swedish case studies.
1) Applied geosciences
A holistic understanding of geology and the interaction of bedrock, soil and groundwater systems is key to the successful completion of any infrastructure project. Sweden is currently investing heavily in a wide range of major infrastructure projects as well as supporting research, looking to help solve a wide range of future infrastructure challenges. Swedish geoscientists are playing key roles in the increased utilization of underground space in our cities, improved regional connections with rail and road transport as well as in the energy sector with the long-term storage of high-level radioactive waste, development of geothermal plants and carbon sequestration facilities. This session will focus on the contribution of geosciences to improving all aspects of Sweden’s current and future infrastructure.
Session Chairs: Paul Evins (paul.evins@wsp.com)
2) Economic geology
Mineral deposits provide essential raw materials for the modern society and are critical components in the development of renewable energy and green mobility. Sweden is a leading mining nation in Europe, providing over 90% of its iron, large proportions of other raw materials such as zinc, lead, gold and silver and has considerable potential for the development of new mineral resources. This session will focus on deposits and mineralisations in the Swedish part of the Fennoscandian shield. We welcome contributions from all aspects of mineral deposits research including ore forming processes, mineral exploration, economic mineralogy and geometallurgy. Naturally, the main focus of the session will be on Swedish mineral deposits, but we also welcome contributions on relevant mineral deposit types from other countries, particularly those of the Fennoscandian shield.
Session Chairs: Erik Jonsson (erik.jonsson@sgu.se), Iain Pitcairn (iain.pitcairn@geo.su.se), Christina Wanhainen (christina.wanhainen@ltu.se)
3) Environmental geosciences
This session deals with environmental archaeology and environmental forensics. Environmental archaeology examines past environments, climates and human activity using a wide variety of proxy sources, ranging from fossil insects and plants to hyperspectral imaging and ancient DNA. Interpretation of on-site archaeological deposits are common, but the subject overlaps considerably with Quaternary geology and almost always encompasses a comparison of anthropogenic changes with the natural background. Environmental forensics uses state-of-the-art analytical techniques to trace the origin, transport pathways and geochemical processes affecting the distribution of elements in natural and anthropogenically affected soils and waters. New emerging contaminants such as technology-critical elements are an important research topic.
Session Chairs: Lena Alakangas (lena.alakangas@ltu.se), Karin Eliaeson (Karin.Eliaeson@sgu.se), Geoffrey Lemdahl (Geoffrey.lemdahl@lnu.se)
4) Hydrogeology
Hydrogeology is an important component within the applied geosciences, especially in terms of society’s development and water supply needs. Hydrogeology is a very critical aspect within infrastructure projects and groundwater is often the only available potable water supply both in Sweden and in the rest of the world. The long-term sustainable management of groundwater systems is necessary for the future of our society. The session covers all aspects of groundwater flow and chemistry in both bedrock and soil, including groundwater modelling, drinking water supply, groundwater and infrastructure, geothermal energy, management and protection of aquifers, contaminant transport, investigation methods and interaction between groundwater and surface waters.
Session Chairs: Roger Herbert (Roger.Herbert@geo.uu.se), Bo Olofsson (boolof@kth.se)
5) Geochemistry
Geochemistry is a very broad field of geoscience providing tools for studying the origin of the Earth and its chemical evolution as well as the understanding of the surficial processes of element mobility between and within the various compartments in the environment. The chemical composition of near-surface materials (rock, soil, sediment, water) is crucial for all life (humans, animals and plants) on Earth. Life depends upon the availability of chemical elements in correct proportions and combinations. Natural and anthropogenic processes continuously modify the chemical balance of our environment, and therefore, it is important to determine and to monitor the distribution and mobility of chemical elements across the Earth’s surface. In this session, we call for a broad spectrum of topics within geochemistry. We invite contributions from basic science, applied geochemistry, pilot studies, method development, laboratory experiments and geochemical modelling that deal with natural Earth materials, from rocks and sediments to soil, water and organic materials.
Session Chairs: Anna Ladenberger (anna.ladenberger@sgu.se), Anna Neubeck (anna.neubeck@geo.uu.se)
6) Geochronology and Isotope geology
Geochronology and isotope geochemistry are essential tools for modern geologists. Indeed, ascribing a precise age for rocks is the basis of any geological investigation. Furthermore, isotope systematics specifically, radiogenic isotopes, are a powerful tool for tracing the mantle and/or crustal source of igneous rocks, the nature of the protoliths of metamorphic rocks as well as the contribution of fluids to the chemical characteristics of these rocks. Stable isotopes are also critical to a broad range of applications in the geosciences, ranging from tracing recycled subducted material in the mantle to complementing petrogenetic studies, as well as illuminating paleoclimate studies. In this session, we welcome contributions using isotope geochemistry for a large range of applications and representing a broad spectrum of disciplines. Contributions presenting innovative techniques and applications with non-conventional isotopes are also welcome.
Session Chair: Renaud Merle (renaud.merle@geo.uu.se), Martin Whitehouse (martin.whitehouse@nrm.se)
7) Geophysics
Monitoring and mapping of physical phenomena, such as variations in the magnetic field with space and time, has made substantial contributions to our understanding of geology and geological processes. Some of these geophysical methods date back to medieval times and they have been very important from both an economical and a scientific perspective. In this session on geophysics we welcome contributions that highlight the role of geophysics for the Swedish geoscientific community. Contributions with national or international focus are equally welcome and we invite presentations covering the entire spectrum of geophysics, from instrument development, geophysical mapping and applied geophysics to basic research on e.g. tectonics and geodynamics. Presentations with a historical perspective are particularly welcome.
Session Chairs: Christopher Juhlin (christopher.juhlin@geo.uu.se), Thorkild Mack Rasmussen (thorkild.maack.rasmussen@ltu.se), Lena Persson (lena.persson@sgu.se)
8) Marine geosciences
About 71 % of the Earth surface is covered by the world’s oceans and seas. Marine sediments, submarine landforms, and seafloor structures are the result of a wide range of processes within the ocean and seas, for example, biological activity, ocean currents, marine glacial activities, submarine mass wasting, and tectonics. Hence, these marine geological features are indicative of ongoing processes as well as comprising archives of the history of the oceans and seas. Geological sediments and landforms also form important environments or habitats for many life-forms in the oceans and seas and provides a range of valuable marine ecosystem services. In Sweden, the Albatross expedition 1947–1948 led by Hans Pettersson from the University of Gothenburg became an international milestone for the field of paleooceanography, where marine sediments are used to study the ocean history. Marine geophysics was established as a research area at Stockholm university shortly thereafter in the 1950s by Ivar Hessland. In this session we welcome papers on geoscientific research addressing scientific questions concerning the past, present and future of the marine environment. The session welcomes studies concerning the smallest of the marginal seas, such as the Baltic Sea, to the deepest parts of the world’s oceans. Papers may also include marine geological, geophysical, geobiological and geochemical methodological approaches to study the marine environment, including numerical modelling.
Session Chairs: Martin Jakobsson (martin.jakobsson@geo.su.se), Lovisa Zillén Snowball (Lovisa.zillen.snowball@sgu.se)
9) Sedimentology & Palaeontology
Earth’s sedimentary rock cover is the ultimate archive for interpreting past Earth surface processes, climate change and the rise and evolution of Life. We hope to assemble a large group of researchers and students interested in these research questions and this session therefore welcomes a broad range of contributions within the fields of pre-Quaternary stratigraphy, sedimentology and palaeontology, including advancements within Geobiology and/or Biogeology. Contributions may focus on Sweden or northern Europe, or any part of the world. Given the expanding interest in abrupt or transient global Earth system changes we encourage also submissions on integrated studies within stable isotope chemostratigraphy, biotic turnovers and changing environments relating to either climate change or diversification and extinction events in the Phanerozoic.
Session Chairs: Lars Holmer (lars.holmer@pal.uu.se), Mikael Calner (mikael.calner@geol.lu.se)
10) Petrology & Mineralogy
This session embraces all aspects of modern mineralogical and petrological research, with emphasis on, but not limited to, Sweden and geologically related surrounding regions. Contributions with results from theoretical, experimental and applied directions of research in these fields are also welcome.
Session Chairs: Jenny Andersson (jenny.andersson@sgu.se), Ulf B. Andersson (ulf.b.andersson@lkab.com), Hannes Mattsson (hannes.mattsson@geo.uu.se), Dan Holtstam (dan.holtstam@nrm.se)
11) Quaternary geology
We welcome contributions that collectively cover all subjects within the multidisciplinary field of Quaternary geology, which can include onging Quaternary research in Sweden and abroad. Given the rich tradition of Swedish Quaternary geology and a good international reputation that has been built up over the lifetime of the Geological Society of Sweden, we also encourage including an historical perspective of your discipline or geographic area and future challenges, if only briefly.
Session Chairs: Mark Johnson (mark@gvc.gu.se), Ian Snowball (ian.snowball@geo.uu.se)
12) Structural geology & Tectonics
This session addresses research in structural geology and tectonics in Sweden, neighboring countries and related analogues from other parts of the world. Topics cover all scales from small-scale micro-structural features through outcrop-scale structural geology to regional-scale tectonics. We invite contributions from field based studies, laboratory experiments and modelling that cover basic structural geological research as well as applied structural geology and tectonics.
Session Chairs: Tobias Bauer (tobias.bauer@ltu.se), Karin Högdahl (karin.hogdahl@geo.uu.se), Stefan Luth (stefan.luth@sgu.se)