NESE is one of a series of conferences organized jointly by European, American and Japanese scientific institutions with a strong affiliation to Neutron Scattering.

The symposium, integrated on the EGU Conference, was held in Vienna on April the days 25 and 26. Two days of interesting talks showing the most recent experiments carried out with neutrons in the areas of Earth Science and Environment. 32 Speakers from the States, Japan and Europe reported about the advances on the effectiveness of the neutron techniques providing information about atoms arrangements and dynamics of minerals.

The potential of neutrons in this area of science has been demonstrated:
How neutrons can play an important role on the investigation of earth materials at combined high pressure and temperature, the effect of hydrogen on properties of minerals and magmas, the large penetrating power of neutrons that makes them ideal probes to investigate bulk samples, the role of neutrons in tectonic studies, the contribution to the study of storage of hydrogen and other interesting environmental issues and.... a large list of applications.

The limitations of the actual instruments have been identified and requirements for the future have been indicated. A Foresight Study summarizing the future scientific needs in Earth and Environmental Sciences, where the role of neutron science is fundamental for the development of these areas, is being elaborated. The findings will help neutron facilities to further adapt their infrastructure to the requirements of the wider scientific community.

Each session was attended by some 70 scientists on average although the Symposium took place in an over-dimensioned room for the event. Most of the participants had to do with neutrons. Only a small percentage of the attendance had not hear about the neutron's potential before.

The symposium was held in the context of the biggest European event for the Earth Sciences, the European Geosciences Union - General Assembly 2005. The meeting brings together geoscientist from all over the world: more than 3000 papers, nearly 7000 posters and 400 thematic sessions. About 8000 scientist! interested on the disciplines of Earth and Planetary Sciences filled the streets of Vienna this springtime to attend this interdisciplinary and successful event.

This Web production is also intended to make the results of the NESE Symposium available to the wider audience of EGU who could not attend the Symposium because of the superposition of many contemporary events of interest in such a large gathering.

Scope of NESE, organizers, supporting organizations and other details of the symposium

PROGRAMME on EGU's Website - Abstracts

Have a look to the summary of a similar Workshop about Neutrons and Energy for the Future held in Washington 4–5 June 2004.

CONTENT

Have a look to the content of the symposium and download the presentations:

Setting the scene

Mineralogy, Petrology, Geochemistry Volcanology • Mineral phases and phase transitions in situ. • The hydrous component in mineral phases. • Silicate melts, rocks, magmas and glasses. • Active Volcanoes.

Rock Physics, Geomaterials & Magnetism • Rock textures, stress and strain analysis. • Porous rocks and fractal dimensions. • Magnetism.

Cryosphere, Planetary and Solar System Science.

Energy, Resources and the Environment.

Instruments development

NESE Poster Session (JPG 8,9MB)