Norwegian Research School on Dynamics and Evolution of Earth and Planets

The Norwegian Research School Dynamics and Evolution of Earth and Planets (DEEP) seeks to strengthen the national and international network within the field and to give efficient and specialized training on Earth's structure and evolution in a comparative planetology context. DEEP provides a minimum of six scientific courses annually. The courses regularly cover the four primary themes of the research school: 1. Planetary Physics and Global Tectonics, 2. Planetary Interior: Materials, Structure, and Dynamics, 3. Solid Earth: Composition and Evolution, and 4. Solid Earth - Fluid Earth Interactions. Also, DEEP aimed to provide courses that cater to the educational needs of each of our PhD students. That is why we also offered courses-on-demand, specialized courses organized as needed or upon request of the research school members and teachers. We issue four calls each year for "Courses-on-Demand," which can be specialized courses that offer academic credits or training sessions aimed at enhancing skills. This specialized courses with credits explores state-of-the art principles, methods, and techniques within selected topics in DEEP research school themes. Here is a list of some of the specialized courses we offered: "Earth Magnetism and Paleogeography", "Mineralogy of Planetary Surfaces and Biosignatures," and "Earthquakes and Seismic Hazards", "Interactions between star-planet couples (from Sun-Earth to Star-Exoplanet)", "Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)". Some of them, such as "Earth Magnetism and Paleogeography" and "Mineralogy of Planetary Surfaces and Biosignatures" are offered multiple times. Our regular and specialized courses have been instrumental in offering our PhD members the comprehensive education they require. Furthermore, by inviting eminent international lecturers, we have not only enriched their academic experience but also facilitated the development of valuable professional networks. This combination of robust coursework and global networking opportunities has empowered our PhD candidates to excel in their respective fields. Alongside our regular courses, we have consistently managed to offer one generic course each semester. Some of these courses are listed here: "writing with results", "science illustration", "Python for Dynamics and Evolution of Earth and Planets", "Introduction to MATLAB", "DEEP Writing retreat", "Communication with impact", "How do I know how I am doing?" and "Science Communication - knowing and reaching your audience". Many of these general courses are organized multiple times due to high demand from our PhD members. We have received a lot of positive feedback, highlighting that our courses not only assist PhD candidates during their higher education but also equip them with skills and knowledge they can carry into their post-PhD lives and careers. PhD candidates build networks among themselves while attending our courses, but we also organize an annual General Assembly. This event is structured as a mini-conference with invited international speakers, poster presentations, and discussions. We place particular emphasis on fostering the national network that PhD candidates will be part of throughout their research careers. We also successfully held our last general assembly at Oscarsborg in Oslo from 17-19 March 2024. The theme was 'The History of Earth from Rocks.' In this regard, we invited four keynote speakers and all PhDs had a poster presentation. we also managed to organize a PhD-Day focused on presentation techniques and communication skills. This was particularly relevant as we observed how COVID-19 had impacted our physical activities and face-to-face presentation skills, shifting everything to digital formats. Many PhD students began to feel slightly, or at times, completely insecure about giving in-person presentations. This workshop helped them to learn how to present in-person their research in a clear, effective, and convincing way. Additionally, we provided travel and research grants to ensure PhD candidates can access top-tier laboratory facilities, consult with leading specialists in their field, and join essential field excursions. We offer travel and research grants up to 30,000 NOK three times annually. These grants play a crucial role in expanding our PhD candidates' international networks.

DEEP forskerskole beriket det akademiske landskapet betydelig ved å tilby intensive kurs og tematiske workshops som tidligere var nesten utilgjengelige. Disse kursene og workshopene dekket et bredt spekter av emner som geofysikk, mineralogi, geokjemi og komparativ planetologi, og ga studentene mulighet til å fordype seg i tverrfaglige områder innen geovitenskap. Dermed fikk studentene en omfattende utdanning som gikk utover det tradisjonelle geofaglige pensumet, noe som gjorde dem i stand til å få en mer helhetlig forståelse av feltet. Gjennom generelle kurs og tematiske workshops utviklet studentene også verdifulle overførbare ferdigheter, som tidsstyring, nettverksbygging, kommunikasjon, vitenskapelig skriving, prosjektledelse og samarbeid. I tillegg har finansiering av kortere forskningsopphold gjort det mulig for studenter å få praktisk erfaring ved andre prestisjetunge institusjoner, få tilgang til spesialiserte fasiliteter og samarbeide med ledende eksperter. Dette har styrket både deres akademiske og praktiske kunnskap. Disse tiltakene har betydelig økt studentenes kompetanse og ansettelsesmuligheter. Videre lærer studentene om den nyeste forskningen og de siste trendene innen geovitenskap gjennom samarbeid med fremstående eksperter på sine respektive felt. Disse erfaringene styrker deres tekniske ferdigheter og fremmer innovativ tenkning og problemløsning. Å bli eksponert for ulike akademiske kulturer og nettverk beriker utdanningen deres og forbereder dem på en vellykket karriere i et globalt forskningsmiljø.

The proposed Dynamics and Evolution of Earth and Planets research school will educate solid Earth and planetary scientists in a holistic way, placing the Earth's structure and evolution in a comparative planetology context. Norway?s Geosciences institutes have limited resources for attention to global, large-scale processes and changes related to the evolution of the core, mantle and crust and their interaction with the atmosphere and hydrosphere. We will gather the best national and European expertise to educate graduate students in the DEEP research school in the following overarching themes: 1. Planetary Physics and Global Tectonics; 2. Planetary interior: materials, structure and dynamics; 3. Solid Earth: composition and evolution; 4. Solid Earth - Fluid Earth Interactions. These courses will be offered in pairs every second year. In addition, we propose courses on public outreach and student supervision, and will organise each year one topic workshop as well as the General Assembly of the DEEP School, where the students present their results. Several of the international partners host experimental facilities unique in Europe, and welcome doctoral students for research projects that currently cannot be performed in Norwegian laboratories. This will put the students at the forefront of research in Earth and planetary sciences and strengthen and broaden Norwegian research. The students will have the opportunity to receive small travelling grants from the DEEP research school to get support visiting the facilities, conduct field work or take part in courses, which are offered abroad. Further benefits of the school will be more collaboration between the senior scientists in both research projects and research education, nationally and internationally, as well as in improving supervising skills. We expect that this will result in more students completing their PhD programs in the allotted time and fewer students leaving before finishing.