The core of the training program are collaborative research projects, which will lead, for the ESRs, to a Ph.D. degree. The aim of the research projects is to ensure that both ESR and ER will develop an integrated scientific approach based on solving scientific problems rather than being primarily technique-driven. Through the publication and presentation of the scientific outcome of these projects, both ESRs and ERs will develop their communication skills, gain independence, while ensuring the dissemination of the scientific outcomes of the research developed in the network.
2 training-based work packages complete the training program:
The Scientific Training Work Package is composed by:
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Secondments and short visits. Each ESR/ER has at least one secondary affiliation and will visit this affiliation regularly for periods ranging from a week (for discussions and participating in training sessions) to a few months (to acquire specific training and performing experiments).
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Postgraduate-level specialized courses provided by the 7 partner institutions as part of their existing postgraduate programs.
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CRYSTAL2PLATE short-courses and thematic summer-schools (see calendar)
- Short-course on "Processing seismic data " – 5 days – Univ. Bristol
This intensive short course will review common data formats for archiving data and methods for converting to SAC format, present the basic processing steps, and discuss spectral analysis, travel-time picking and seismic array methods. The final part of the course will focus on augmenting the basic capabilities of SAC with macros and stand-alone programs. Shear-wave splitting and receiver function analysis will be demonstrated using real data examples. Students will be taught how to write scripts and how to interface SAC with other programs, including input and output of SAC data and results for use with other programs such as Matlab. The format will be short lectures followed by hands-on practicals in front of the computer.
- Short course on "Thermodynamics: calculating phase equilibria and physical properties using PERPLE_X" – 4 days - ETH ZURICH
This course will teach how to construct phase diagram sections and, from these, extract physical properties from chemical and thermodynamics data. It will be composed of a theoretical introduction on thermodynamics, focussing on equations of state, and a large practical section where the fellows will learn how to use PERPLE_X for calculating and displaying phase diagrams and equilibria and estimating physical properties based on thermodynamical data.
- Short course on “Textures and anisotropy in crystalline materials”- 5 days- Univ. Montpellier
The aim is to show the relations between crystalline structure, deformation, and anisotropy of physical properties from the crystal to the aggregate and larger scales. Theoretical classes will present the origin and description of anisotropy for different properties, the processes leading to the development of textures, and the consequences of textures and anisotropy in both Earth and Materials Sciences. Practicals on measurement, representation, and analysis of textures will be performed using the Crystal Probe EBSD facilities at UM2. Another series of practical classes will deal with the measurement and calculation of anisotropic physical properties.
- Summer school "Thermal convection in complex fluids: from laboratory to mantle dynamics" – 10 days - FAST Orsay
Its goal is to introduce the ESRs to the dynamics of complex fluids: how their rheology can be understood in terms of their micro-scale physical and chemical properties, how it can influence thermal convection, and what important aspects of mantle convection can therefore be modelled using analogous fluids in the laboratory. Theoretical courses will be given on rheology, thermal convection, and theoretical fluid dynamics. A large practical section (1 week long) will be devoted to a laboratory project. Each group of 4 applicants will be given a choice of projects related to mantle convection, plumes and subduction. The practicals will involve to build and run an analogous laboratory experiment, to characterize the fluid rheology using up-do-date rheometers, to measure the different properties of the experimental flow and to interpret the experiment in terms of geodynamics.
- Field trips to major mantle exposures, as the Lherz peridotite massif in the Pyrenees and the Ronda or Beni Boussera massifs in Spain and Morocco.
- annual CRYSTAL2PLATE workshops
(see calendar)
- 1st Crystal2Plate workshop : October 9-12, 2009 @ La Grande Motte, France - program and links to the presentations
The personal and career development training work package is composed by:
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Personal and career-development oriented courses. These courses include additional computer skills, project management, research proposal writing, copyright and IPR, electronic publishing, article preparation, language courses, presentational skills, ethical issues, and enterprise creation workshops. Formations on security issues during laboratory and field work will also be provided.
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Practical activities aimed at helping the ESRs and ERs to develop their communication, management and networking skills.
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Lectures on transfer of technology from academia to industry and on employment opportunities offered by the 4 associated partners.
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Visits to the Schlumberger's Clamart and to Total R&D sites will complete the formation.