Goldschmidt 2018, Boston.
by David van Acken.
The 28th Annual Goldschmidt Conference was held at the Hynes Conference Center in Boston, MA, from August 12th to 17th 2018, assembling around 3500 geochemists from all over the world. With the usual wide spread of topics from the origins of the solar system via biogeochemistry to the management of mining and nuclear waste, this year’s edition had a distinct tilt towards low-temperature geochemistry. Over five days, 16 parallel sessions, plus a joint poster and industry exhibition area allowed for scientific exchange. Plenaries covered topics of exploration of habitable planets, oxygen cycling in coastal waters, inclusivity and diversity, microbial life in planetary interiors and the evolution of Earth’s volatiles. Notably, the poster session on outreach and public education was running on all conference days, highlighting the commitment of the geochemistry community to reach a broader audience than just specialists in the respective fields. Workshops were organized around the conference schedule covering the same wide range of topics presented in the scientific program, and pre- and post-conference field trips allowed for exploration of the geology and marine life of New England.
The science presented at the meeting was excellent, with many presentations by students showcasing their projects. Decade-old paradigms such as the Lunar Cataclysm were called into question, showing that the Goldschmidt conference is the prime outlet for new results and hypotheses in geochemistry.
The social events took full advantage of the diversity of the culture and academic landscape of Boston: in addition to the icebreaker and the society receptions, events were held and Fenway Park, home stadium of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, and the Harvard Mineralogical and Geological Museum. The banquet dinner took place in the ballroom of the conference centre.
The conference was a well-organized success, supported by many student helpers and the organization committee. Next year’s edition in Barcelona is eagerly anticipated!
Geochemistry Group 