MARUM Research Academy

Thanks to the generous support of the MARUM Research Academy, I had the opportunity to attend my first major international research conference—the Goldschmidt Conference 2025 in Prague. Goldschmidt is the premier conference in the field of geochemistry, encompassing a wide range of topics from the exosphere and atmosphere to the deep Earth, oceans, and even the intersection with the social sciences.

This week in Prague was an incredibly enriching experience. I had the chance to meet and connect with researchers from around the world—scientists with whom I may one day collaborate. I also gained valuable insight into the latest advancements in scientific instrumentation and analytical techniques. The plenary and keynote lectures were especially inspiring, encouraging me to think more broadly and to explore more complex scientific questions about our planet.

A particular highlight of the conference was meeting Prof. Timothy Eglinton, a world-renowned expert in freshwater and ocean biogeochemical cycles at ETH Zurich. I first crossed paths with him briefly at the escalator and later had the chance to engage in a 15-minute conversation during a poster session. To my great surprise, he invited me to visit him at ETH Zurich to meet his research group—an opportunity I’m truly excited about. Meeting Prof. Eglinton was undoubtedly one of the most memorable moments of the conference.

I presented my own research in the form of a poster, based on my participation in the MARUM cruise M192 in 2023. My poster showed the first geochemical data from a newly discovered hydrothermal vent field, discovered during the research cruise M192 led by Dr. Solveig Bühring. I received highly positive and encouraging feedback, and I had the pleasure of engaging in insightful discussions with several researchers working in the field of hydrothermal systems. The poster session proved to me, to be a very productive environment for scientific exchange.

With over 4,000 participants across the globe and similar numbers of presentations and posters, it was impossible to attend every session of interest. Fortunately, Goldschmidt provides access to recorded talks and posters for 30 days post-conference, allowing participants to revisit and catch up on sessions they may have missed due to scheduling overlaps.

Another valuable aspect of my experience was participating in the Goldschmidt 2025 Mentor-Mentee Program. I was fortunate to be matched with Prof. Alexandra Turchyn from the University of Cambridge. From the start, she offered thoughtful guidance, encouragement, and personal support. Our research interests overlapped in unexpected and exciting ways, and it was rewarding to engage with her both at her talk and during her visit to my poster session. We’ve continued to stay in touch, and she kindly invited me to visit her group at Cambridge University in the future.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Goldschmidt Conference to any PhD student in geochemistry. It offers an inspiring environment filled with opportunities to grow, network, and connect with leading researchers—many of whom I had previously only known through their publications.

I am deeply grateful to the MARUM Research Academy for their financial support, and to my supervisor and research group for their encouragement and for sharing this experience with me.