Dear InterPore colleagues,

Occasionally, I play around with ChatGPT, a fun and curious tool. It has interesting capabilities for literature research, in particular if you want to become familiar with a new topic. I also tried to make it write an editorial for me, but that wasn’t very successful. Very average statements and no sudden plot twists. Our brains are still better at applying Black Swan Theory in expressing ourselves.

Besides, ChatGPT is based on what is available online, and in the Newsletter, we intend to update you with new stuff (and some reminders), for example, the 2023 winners of the InterPore Rosette. Congratulations to them! In other news, new meetings are announced, InterPore has a very short survey (please take a few minutes for it), and… in contrast to ChatGPT’s rather lengthy editorial, I’ll improve on it in that way, too, and wrap it up here!

All the best,

Matthijs de Winter
Editor-in-Chief
InterPore News

Registration Deadline for all Presenters

All presenters of an abstract at InterPore2023 should have completed their registration by Friday, 05 May. Abstracts for which the designated presenter is not registered is subject to be removed from its presentation slot. Please contact us if you need additional time to register or change the designated presenter of your abstract.

Conference Check-in

Check-in for the conference will begin at 8:00 am on Monday, 22 May, at the Edinburgh International Conference Center. Early check-in will be available on Sunday, 21 May at the Leonardo Hotel Edinburgh Haymarket from 12:00 – 6:00 pm. To facilitate the check-in, you will need your registration ticket with the QR code. You can retrieve your ticket from the Conference website under My Ticket from the My Conference page. You can print the ticket or save the PDF to your mobile device.

Photographer Wanted!

We’re hoping to find a volunteer to help capture images of the speakers, attendees, and activities at InterPore2023. If you’re passionate about photography, we’d love to have you join our team. You’ll have the opportunity to showcase your skills and be a part of a great community of volunteers.

If you’re interested in volunteering as a photographer, please contact us.

New Exhibitor

We welcome Surface Measurement Systems as exhibitor at InterPore2023!

SPONSOR Spotlight: TESCAN

TESCAN enables nanoscale investigation and analysis within geosciences, materials science, life sciences and semiconductor industries. The company has a 30-year history of developing innovative electron microscopy, micro-computed tomography, and related software solutions for customers in research and industry worldwide. For example, TESCAN’s TENSOR is the first 4D-scanning transmission electron microscope (4D-STEM) built from the ground up for a totally new level of performance and user experience. As a result, TESCAN has earned a leading position in micro- and nanotechnology.

Come and visit us at Booth 7 and chat with our experts about our latest solutions in micro-computed tomography.

For more information visit the TESCAN website or look for more info on micro-CT here.

Platinum Sponsor for InterPore2023

Share Your Thoughts: InterPore Strategic Planning Survey

Our Strategic Planning Survey is now underway. If you have not already, please complete this short survey to assist us in strategic planning. The survey should take only a few minutes, and the responses are anonymous. Please complete it ASAP to have your responses included in the initial analysis, although we will keep it open through the Annual Conference.

You may also access the survey via the above QR code.

Kimberly-Clark Distinguished Lecturer 2023

Professor Adrian Bejan from Duke University, USA, continues to successfully present his award winning lecture, Vascular materials: Predicting Design Evolution, at various universities and institutions around the world.

Most recently, he presented his lecture at the University of Stuttgart, Germany; Oregon State University, USA; and at the Turkish Japanese Science and Technology University, Turkey.

His next presentations include the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Brazil, in July; and the Journées d’Etude des Milieux Poreux (JEMP2023), France, in October.

We are now receiving requests to host the 2024 InterPore Kimberly-Clark Lecturer, Prof. Ruben Juanes. Please visit our website for further information on how to apply.

Australia Chapter Webinar

As part of the webinar series organized by the Australia InterPore Chapter, Dr. Bahman Tohidi from the Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering at Heriot-Watt University, UK, will give a Special Edition online presentation entitled “How Am I Fighting My Glioblastoma Brain Cancer?”

When: 5-6 pm (Sydney time), 11 May 2023
Where: MS Teams link
More info: Flyer (pdf)

Webinar: Underground H2 Storage – enabling an H2 economy at scale

Speaker: Dr. Karin de Borst, Shell Global Solutions International B.V.
Duration: 1 hour
Date/Time: 9 May 2023 at 4 pm CEST

Abstract: Hydrogen is considered a key enabler of a net-zero emission energy system. It provides a balance between energy supply and demand over possibly long distances and periods of time and, thus, allows the introduction of a higher share of renewable energy sources in the overall energy mix. Offering a balancing mechanism to the energy system will require a large-scale storage of hydrogen, which can be most cost-effectively realized in the subsurface using mined salt caverns, depleted reservoirs, or aquifers. This webinar will provide an introduction to H2 subsurface storage technologies and highlight the critical role of the geosciences and petroleum engineering in their de-risking and further development. It will address performance characteristics, remaining challenges, suitable geological resources, and ongoing piloting activities and commercial-scale developments.

more info

Short Course: Linear Poro-Elasticity – From Quasi-Static Consolidation to Acoustic Waves

Speaker: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Steeb, Institute of Applied Mechanics, University of Stuttgart
Duration: 13.75 hours total (2.75 hours per week)
Time: from 1:15 to – 4pm CEST
Location: Online
Dates: The course will take place from 12 June through 10 July 2023 on the following dates:

Monday, 12 June 2023 (1:15 to – 4pm CEST)
Monday, 19 June 2023 (1:15 to – 4pm CEST)
Monday, 26 June 2023 (1:15 to – 4pm CEST)
Monday, 03 July 2023 (1:15 to – 4pm CEST)
Monday, 10 July 2023 (1:15 to – 4pm CEST)

more info

InterPore Rosettes 2023

In Recognition of extraordinary active members

InterPore activities are carried out mainly by volunteers. It takes many voluntary working hours to make an international platform like InterPore a success. Recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for service, encourages a sustained commitment to participation, and inspires others to commit themselves as well.

The InterPore Rosette 2023 will be awarded to the following members, who have made extremely significant contributions to InterPore activities:

Call for abstracts: INTRUSION2023

3-5 July 2023, Bari, Italy

Numerical Analysis, Porous Media, and Water Resources: A Fruitful Contamination

This interdisciplinary workshop aims to bridge the gap between various fields such as geosciences, hydrology, soil science, ecology, applied mathematics, and numerical analysis. We invite presentations of innovative numerical methods and applications related to water resources management, poromechanics, contaminant and multiphase flow, with the idea of fostering interconnections between mathematical and numerical novelties and hydrological and environmental model applications. The workshop is part of the activities of IMACS technical committee Mathematical and Numerical Modelling of Porous Media in Subsurface Environments.

PhD students and young researchers are encouraged to present their work. Limited support for young researchers may be available. Please contact the organization for further information.

The abstract and early bird registration deadline is 28 May. Visit the website for more information and to register.

SAPEM ’23

7-10 November 2023, Sorrento, Italy and Acoustic Valley Institute, Changshu, China

The 7th Symposium on Acoustics of Poroelastic Materials (SAPEM) will be held simultaneously in China and Italy (each day of the conference, half a day will be devoted to presentations which will be broadcast in both places, the other half-day will be dedicated to independent activities on each site).

Eight non-parallel sessions with 20-minute talks are planned with topics around acoustical porous materials.

The key dates are:

• 01 September 2023 : Abstract submission deadline.
• 09 October 2023 : Early registrations deadline.
• 07-10 November 2023 : the conference !

For more information please visit the SAPEM website.

Rapid formation of bioaggregates and morphology transition to biofilm streamers induced by pore-throat flows

Sang Hyun Lee, Eleonora Secchi, and Peter K. Kang

Biomass in porous media is commonly found as aggregates, which strongly affect the physical and biochemical environment of porous media systems. However, the underlying biophysical mechanisms that cause bioaggregation remain unclear. Here, we elucidate the formation and shaping mechanisms of bioaggregates in porous media. First, pore throat structure is shown to cause unique flow structures that lead to an enhanced biomass attachment at the pore throat. Further, bioaggregates show a change in mechanical behavior from elastic to viscous when critical shear stress is reached. This critical shear stress is shown to determine the morphology transition from rounded to streamer-like bioaggregates.

PNAS 120 (14) e2204466120 (2023)
Corresponding Author: Peter Kang

Using python libraries and k-Nearest neighbors algorithms to delineate syn-sedimentary faults in sedimentary porous media

Manuel Martín-Martín, Manuel Bullejos, David Cabezas, Francisco Javier Alcalá

This paper introduces a methodology based on Python libraries and machine learning k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) algorithms to create an interactive 3D HTML model that combines 2D grain-size KNN-prediction vertical sections from which syn-sedimentary faults and other features in sedimentary porous media can be delineated. The grain-size physical parameter is associated to lithological classes. Grain-size data comes from a database of 433 boreholes in the Llobregat River Delta in NE Spain. This methodology is suitable to reduce the immeasurable uncertainty associated to the qualitative geological data used in complex numerical tools aimed at modelling different geological resources or Earth phenomena.

Marine and Petroleum Geology 153, 106283 (2023)
Corresponding Author: Francisco Javier Alcalá

InterPore Members can promote their publications to the community via the InterPore InJournals Section of the Newsletter. If you wish to do so, please submit your publication highlight to newsletter@InterPore.org. Clearly indicate which of the authors is an InterPore member (or the institute with an Institutional Membership). Note that we will not review the entries nor does InterPore endorse the published work. Furthermore, we publish on a “submitted first, published first” basis. The highlighted publication should be no older than 6 months (available online).

The highlight should be short (max 100 words) and contain an illustration. Please note that we offer this opportunity exclusively to InterPore members. If you would like to become a member, please have a look here.

Research Associate

• Research Associate in Upscaling of Immiscible Fluid Flow in Rocks, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Full Professor

• 4-year chair (tenure track) followed by a full professor position in Hydro-ecological couplings and models in the context of global changes, Université de Rennes, France

If you have a job opening in your institute and would like to promote it internationally, please send the description and weblink or PDF to newsletter@interpore.org, and we’ll be happy to add it to the list.