Geosciences Barcelona (GEO3BCN-CSIC), in collaboration with the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), has been chosen as the venue for the upcoming Deformation Mechanism, Rheology, and Tectonics (DRT) meeting. This event is scheduled to take place from the 9th to the 11th of July 2024 in the UB Earth Sciences Faculty.
The DRT conference revolves around a comprehensive scientific program dedicated to structural geology research, with particular emphasis on rock deformation, deformation mechanisms, rheology, and tectonics. Furthermore, the DRT conference actively encourages student participation, fostering their involvement in these events.
Since the last DRT meeting held in 2022, Maria Gema Llorens, GEO3BCN-CSIC researcher, has assumed the role of president of the European DRT society, which was officially established in 2019. The new European Society for DRT, a registered non-profit charitable organization, aims to provide support to the scientific community, research endeavours, and students engaged in the study of rock deformation across various scales. Its goals are mainly focused on public utility, as outlined in its articles of association, and achieved through the support in the organization of biennial scientific DRT meetings. In addition to Llorens, the board team comprises vice-president Paul Bons from the University of Tübingen, treasurer Gaetano Ortolano from the University of Catania and secretary Eugenio Fazio from the University of Catania.
Over the years, 23 DRT conferences have been organized in various European countries, including the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Belgium. Barcelona hosted the event in 1979, while Oviedo was the most recent Spanish city to organize this geological meeting.
Barcelona 2024
The final details of the upcoming DRT conference are yet to be determined. Nonetheless, the organizing committee, comprising staff members from GEO3BCN-CSIC, UB, and UAB, has confirmed several key aspects, including a pre-conference field trip, three days of sessions encompassing both posters and oral presentations, and at least one post-conference field trip.
“The organization and leading of the DRT-2024 Conference at GEO3BCN will bring us the opportunity to internationalize our institute further”, says Llorens. The researcher and current president of European Society for DRT also adds: “More than a hundred scientists from around the globe will visit our facilities and explore exceptional geological outcrops during the excursions. Furthermore, we will exchange research results and experiences with them, opening opportunities for future collaboration,” explains Llorens.
In line with DRT’s active support for student involvement in these meetings, the society has scholarships available to facilitate the participation of young researchers, along with special prices for students.
The organizing committee for this year’s event includes, from Geosciences Barcelona, Maria Gema-Llorens, Jaume Vergés, Juan Alcalde, Monserrat Torné, Ivone Jiménez-Munt, Daniel García-Castellanos, Joaquina Álvarez Marrón, Dennis Brown, Silvia Zafrilla, Paula Herrero and David Cruset. Additionally, Enrique Gomez Rivas and Pablo Granados from UB, Albert Griera from UAB, and PhD candidates Eloi González-Esvertit, Estefanía Bravo, Baoqin Hao, and Yuanchao Yu are actively involved in the organization of this geological conference.
Registration is not open yet, but it is confirmed that there will be a limit on submissions. Additional updates will be provided soon on the official DRT website.