Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ITHERLAB (In-situ thermal rock properties lab)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2016-10-01 al 2018-09-30
Rock samples and ceramic reference materials are measured with standard laboratory devices to determine petrophysical, mineralogical, structural and thermal properties. These data are used as validation data for the autoclave measurements at ambient conditions and the post-autoclave analysis of the micro-structural effects. For these initial measurement campaign, typical crustal rocks, as pure quartz sandstone, pure-calcite limestone, basalt and fine-grained granite are sampled and prepared. Beside the rock samples (minimum 5 samples for each rock type), manufactured ceramic standard samples are characterized. Parameters measured are: thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity (with optical scanning technology and transient divided bar), bulk and matrix density and porosity (Archimedes and He pycnometry), bulk mineralogy (XRD/XRF), and compressional and shear waves (vp, vs) using a mobile ultrasonic sensor. Beside this, thin sections have been prepared and the structure is imaged by µCT (with support by the LIAG institute, Hannover, Germany).
We started to generate new data on rock thermal properties at elevated (in-situ) p/T conditions on the ceramic standards and a variety of different rock types. First measurements of thermal rock properties on ceramic standards and granite has been performed.
Regarding the enhancement of my career perspectives – i.e. the impact on my scientific career – ITHRLAB brought several opportunities to life. I gave university lectures at the University of Greifswald (winter term 2017/18) and University of Potsdam (since winter term 2018/19), supervised the Master thesis of students from Bologna (Italia), Berlin (TU) and Potsdam (UP) and was the advisor for several undergraduates and student workers.
I am currently writing the final papers for a cumulative habilitation at the University of Potsdam and expect to submit the thesis to the beginning of 2020. I also tightened my research network, including existing collaboration, e.g. with Aarhus University (Denmark), where new projects (GEOTHERM DK) and publications (Fuchs, 2018; Fuchs et al., 2019) has been generated. But this also includes new collaborations, for example, with Uppsala University (C. Juhlin, Sweden), the National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad (L. Ray, India), or Freiberg University (R. Wulf, Germany).
I used the fellowship to professionally extend my presentation and teaching skills attending the one-year Potsdam-Graduate-School-Certificate program: ’Senior Teaching Professionals’ (03.2017-02.2018). This module-based course of 8 days’ duration included didactic training, designing competence-oriented lesson, teaching sessions, subject-specific support and feedback by a mentor; and collegial consultation. I further attended courses of the ‘SQB Certificate program’ (sqb | network for academic quality Brandenburg) but didn’t finished this certificate yet. In terms of leadership skills, I was selected for and attended the Helmholtz Academy program ‘Start leading’; which includes leadership skills, self-management, and the understanding complex organisations (The Helmholtz Management Academy; 10 days, 03.2017-06.2018). I furthermore attended the basic module ‘Management Skills for Research and University’; including proposal Training, financial and legal issues; project management; communication and conflict resolution (Potsdam Graduate School; 9 days).
Visibility through ITHERLAB helped me to get a member of the Geo.X working group Geothermics (since 04.2018) to get a member of the speaker’s committee of the DGG (German Geophysical Society) working group geothermics (since 03.2017) and to become an associated editorial board member for the journal Grundwasser (Springer).