We are pleased to share the reflections of EMU travel grants recipients at international conferences in summer 2025.

Lisa Tagliacollo (University of Ferrara, Italy), who presented at the Goldschmidt 2025 Conference in Prague, shared:

“The Goldschmidt conference proved to be an exceptionally valuable experience, where I gained a wealth of new knowledge and, despite my initial shyness, actively engaged with fellow researchers, truly opening myself up to new perspectives. This engagement significantly broadened my professional network, laying a strong foundation for numerous promising future collaborations.”

Nana Assam (University of Oulu, Finland), reflecting on her participation at the International Clay Conference in Dublin, said:

“The opportunity to present my PhD research at the AIPEA XVIII International Clay Conference in Dublin was an exciting one. My presentation focused on the thermo-mechanical activation of Finnish clay for use as an SCM as a way of improving sustainability in construction. I quite enjoyed my time in the lovely city of Dublin, and I am grateful to the EMU for the travel award which supported my attendance at the conference.”

Trung Nguyen (University of Umeå, Sweden), also attending the International Clay Conference, expressed:

“Attending ICC2025 in Dublin was a truly enriching experience, where I gained valuable insights into the diverse research and applications of clays and engaged in inspiring discussions. Especially, the conference greatly motivated me in my own research, and I was also honoured to receive the Best Oral Presentation Award for my research. Big thanks to EMU.”

We’re delighted to highlight the participation of three of our young colleagues at major international conferences this summer:

Lisa Tagliacollo (University of Ferrara, Italy) presented at the Goldschmidt 2025 Conference, held from 6–11 July 2025 in Prague, Czech Republic. Her talk shed light on the unique geological features of VMS deposits in Northern Italy, sparking engaging discussions among geochemists and mineralogists attending the session.

Nana Assam (University of Oulu, Finland) contributed to the International Clay Conference, held from 13–18 July 2025 in Dublin, Ireland, with a presentation on the Performance of Thermo-mechanically Activated Finnish Clay: Analysis of Reactivity, Chemical and Mineralogical Changes.

Trung Nguyen (University of Umeå, Sweden) also presented at the International Clay Conference with his work on Cation-Exchange Reactions in Nontronite − Indicator for Water Reservoir and Active Geochemical Processes on Mars. We are especially proud to share that Trung was awarded the Student Oral Presentation Prize for his outstanding contribution.

Below are some moments captured during the conferences:

Lisa Tagliacollo (University of Ferrara, Italy)

Nana Assam (University of Oulu, Finland)

Trung Nguyen (University of Umeå, Sweden)

We’re pleased to share some moments from the recent European Mineralogical Conference EMC 2024 in Dublin, where our talented young researchers, who were awarded the EMU Travel Grant, presented their interesting works.

Check out the gallery below:

Alice Taddei
University of Firenze, Italy

Yuri Galliano
University of Genoa, Italy

Ena Topalovic
University of Zagreb, Croatia

Zhengzheng Chen
GFZ, Germany

Congratulations to all for their outstanding contributions!

We look forward to seeing more from them in the future!

During the Goldschmidt Conference on geochemistry, held from 9th to 14th July 2023 in Lyon, two young researchers, Hannah Pollak (University of Edinburgh) and Ruth Esther Delina (GFZ Helmholtz Centre Potsdam), were granted the opportunity to explore the forefront of geochemical research and immerse themselves in the geochemical scientific community, thanks to the support of EMU Student Travel Grants.
Their wonderful experiences were beautifully captured in the photos shared below.

Hannah Pollak : Understanding interactions between amino acids and nontronite clays: What is the effect of ions?

Ruth Esther Delina : Distribution and speciation of chromium in active and legacy nickel laterite tailings

We wish Hannah and Ruth all the best in their future endeavours and eagerly await the next generation of advanced research results they will bring to the scientific community!