Session Proposals

10 years since the Kaikōura earthquake – lessons learned from a large multi-fault earthquake

The Mw 7.8 2016 Kaikōura earthquake was an exceptional seismological and geological event. The earthquake resulted in two fatalities and caused significant damage across a wide region of northern Canterbury and Marlborough, with closure of S.H. 1 lasting for over 13 months. Ten years afterward we are still learning from the event and debating exactly what happened during it and previous multi-fault earthquakes in the Kaikōura region. We invite talks and posters that span the breadth of understanding the Kaikoura earthquake including seismology, geodesy, geology, paleoseismology, emergency management and engineering and from wider understandings related to active tectonics and multi-fault earthquakes.

Session Convenors: Robert Langridge, ESNZ, Camilla Penney, University of Canterbury, Jesse Kearse, Victoria University of Wellington

Artificial intelligence in geosciences

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly being applied to various fields within geosciences. It is commonly used as a powerful assistant that can handle and process large and complex datasets. By automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks, deep learning approaches enable specialists to focus on more complex tasks such as interpretation of results and strategic decision-making, as human expertise will always be necessary to validate any AI-generated models, results, and outputs. The goal of this session is to encourage presentations about application of such technology and different uses of AI in geosciences.

Session Convenors: Martin Tetard, ESNZ, Giuseppe Cortese, ESNZ, Matthieu Civel-Mazens, ESNZ

Bridging Geoscience Models and Decision-Making: Evaluating, Understanding, and Communicating Models, Forecasts, and Scenarios

Geoscience models help us reconstruct the past, understand processes, simulate future conditions and hazards, and estimate risk. However, designing models that meet decision needs, and that are understood and used appropriately, remains a significant challenge across decision contexts. This interdisciplinary session invites physical, computational, operational, and social-science perspectives on how models, forecasts, maps and scenarios are evaluated, interpreted, communicated, and used. We welcome contributions, including case studies, on model assumptions, limitations and uncertainty, cascading hazard scenarios, operational forecasts, and the communication, development and evaluation of practical decision-support tools. Models presented may be conceptual, physical, numerical, statistical, probabilistic, machine-learning, or hybrid.

Session Convenor: Emma Hudson-doyle, JCDR, Massey University, Danielle Charlton, ESNZ

Carbon in the Environment

This session will highlight research on carbon transport, transformation, burial, and release across the entire carbon cycle, spanning timescales of days to millennia. We invite submissions on organic and inorganic carbon research across marine, terrestrial, hydrological, and atmospheric Earth Systems. Topics include natural and engineered sequestration pathways including carbon capture and storage (CCS) and marine and terrestrial carbon dioxide removal (mCDR, tCDR), Blue Carbon in coastal to deep sea environments, and carbon in the atmosphere, lakes, peatlands, water networks, and geological systems. With carbon research expanding in Aotearoa, this session welcomes submissions across geoscience sub-disciplines and career stages.

Session Convenors: Greer Gilmer, ESNZ, Scott Nodder, ESNZ, Lorna Strachan, University of Auckland 

From Melt to Manifestation: Volcanism of Aotearoa and Beyond

Aotearoa New Zealand’s diverse volcanic systems provide an exceptional natural laboratory for understanding links between magma generation, transport, eruption, and the geological record. This session invites contributions across volcanology, including magmatic processes, eruption dynamics, hazards, and volcanic products and deposits such as tephra and volcaniclastic sediments. We welcome studies of active, dormant, and ancient systems from across the motu, with particular interest in Rotorua volcanic systems, including the Ōkataina Volcanic Centre and Rotorua Caldera. Contributions from volcanology, geochemistry, geophysics, and related disciplines are encouraged, especially those integrating field, laboratory, remote sensing, and modelling approaches.

Session Convenors: Marlena Prentice, University Of Waikato, Jenni Hopkins, Victoria University of Wellington, Anke Zernack, Massey University

Geoeducation, geoheritage, and geoconservation. Earth Sciences outreach around the motu and beyond

This session provides an opportunity to hear from those working in the fields of geoconservation, geoheritage, and geoeducation. Within these well recognised fields in Aotearoa and worldwide, there are multiple opportunities for facilitating Earth Sciences outreach, education and research to the benefit of all of society. This will be a valuable opportunity for researchers, educators, practitioners, and advocates to share their latest work with the wider geosciences community.

Session Convenor: Ilmars Gravis, Geoid SIG (GSNZ); The Geocnservation Trust Aotearoa Pacific

Geological maps and mapping – advances and opportunities

This session showcases recent advances in geological mapping, from foundational field-based studies to emerging digital and analytical approaches. We welcome contributions presenting new maps (bedrock, regolith, geomorphological, or integrated), as well as work on structural, stratigraphic, and geophysical interpretation. Particular emphasis is placed on how mapping and associated datasets support geotechnical and applied outcomes, and on student-led primary mapping studies.Topics include evolving methodologies, LiDAR-enhanced geomorphic interpretation, spatial portrayal of publicly available datasets (e.g. geotechnical, petrophysical property and water well databases), digital delivery, cartography, and emerging tools such as 3D visualisation and AI-assisted workflows.

Session Convenors: Oliver Mcleod, Waikato Regional Council, Mark Rattenbury, ESNZ, Dougal Townsend, ESNZ, Matt Sagar, ESNZ

Geothermal Aotearoa: Science, Energy, Community and Environment

Geothermal systems provide renewable energy while supporting unique landscapes, ecosystems, tourism, cultural values, and regional development. This session welcomes contributions across geothermal exploration, geophysics, geochemistry, hydrogeology, reservoir science, monitoring, drilling, and resource management. We encourage presentations on geothermal energy, direct-use heat, geothermal heat pumps, superhot systems, critical mineral recovery, and emerging technologies, alongside research on geothermal surface features, environmental stewardship, tourism, and cultural perspectives. The session highlights innovative science and multidisciplinary approaches that advance the sustainable understanding, protection, and utilisation of geothermal resources in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.

Session Convenor: Anya Seward, ESNZ

Making Sense and Managing Multiple Hazards across the Motu

Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) is exposed to many types of natural hazards that can cascade, compound, and interplay in complex ways. This session brings together researchers and practitioners interested in exploring the intersections of multiple hazards and how we understand, communicate, research, and manage their associated risks to create meaningful impact. We encourage submissions that explore challenges arising from multiple natural hazards in our varied environments, approaches for translation of knowledge into action, and research stories about how we can grow resilience to the many hazards that impact te motu.

Session Convenors: Mary Anne Clive, ESNZ, Danielle Charlton, ESNZ, Victoria Miller, ESNZ, Lauren Vinnell, Joint Centre for Disaster Research

Marine geosciences, from coast to ocean

Marine geosciences studies the processes that shape coastal and marine environments from the shoreline to the deep ocean. Geological processes operating in the marine environment influence seafloor morphology, sediment dynamics, habitat distribution, and overall, the evolution of ocean basins. Acting across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, these processes are fundamental to understanding Earth system dynamics and their interactions with oceanographic, ecological, biological, and biogeochemical systems.The aim of this session is to bring together researchers investigating dynamic seafloor and coastal processes and their consequences across marine systems, and advance understanding of the connections between geological processes and the broader marine environment from coast to ocean.

Session Convenors: Marta Ribó, Auckland University Of Technology (aut), Dr Sally Watson, ESNZ, Dr Alan Orpin, ESNZ

Our changing landscapes; surface process dynamics, evolution, and hazards

If you research any aspect of landscape dynamics or landscape evolution, or the impacts of Earth surface processes, then this session will be a great place to present your work. The session aims to showcase measurements and observations of the changing surface of Earth or beyond, over contemporary to geological timescales, and contribute new understanding to what drives these changes, and the environmental and hazard impacts that they impart.

Session Convenors: Sam McColl, New Zealand Institute Of Earth Science, Shaun Eaves VUW, Katie Jones, ESNZ, David Barrell, ESNZ, Phaedra Upton, ESNZ, Sophie Horton, University of Canterbury

Paleontology across the spectrum - big and small, young and old

Aotearoa New Zealand has a rich and diverse macro and micro fossil record. This session is open to presentation of all aspects of palaeontologic research from across the spectrum of macro to micropaleontology, spanning new fossil finds to application of paleontology in decoding geological histories and events, and outreach activities based on fossils.

Session Convenor: Catherine Reid, University of Canterbury

Powering the future: geoscience for New Zealand’s energy transition

Meeting the dual challenges of energy security and decarbonisation needs geoscience to harness Aotearoa New Zealand’s natural advantages. This session invites contributions across renewable energy and critical minerals, spanning research on tools, methods, technological innovations, and case studies.We welcome presentations on current advances and future directions in the transition to a low-emissions, resilient energy system. Topics can include geothermal systems, hydrogen, wind energy, carbon removal, and other emerging opportunities. Submissions from early-career researchers, students, and professionals from across the energy sector are particularly encouraged.

Session Convenors: Sophie Pearson-Grant, ESNZ, David Dempsey, University of Canterbury, Paul Viskovic, ESNZ 

Societal Risk, Resilience, and the Human Dimensions of Geoscience

This session provides a broad forum for research exploring the interactions between geoscience, hazards, and society. We welcome contributions on disaster risk reduction, resilience, emergency management, risk perception and communication, governance, policy, public engagement, Indigenous and community knowledge, social vulnerability, warning systems, decision-making, and emerging technologies that support risk management. Interdisciplinary studies integrating physical and social sciences are particularly encouraged. The session is for societal and resilience-focused research, welcoming empirical, theoretical, methodological, and applied contributions across all geohazards and climate-related risks.

Session Convenors: Marion Tan, Massey University, Rebecca Fitzgerald, ESNZ, Sally Potter, Canary Innovation

Submarine Volcanic Eruptions

Submarine volcanoes dominate volcanism on Earth and are challenging to study, given their remoteness and the ocean environment. Recent advances in geological, geochemical, and geophysical data techniques are improving our understanding of submarine volcanic systems and their eruptions. Progress in the field is often made through collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches. We invite contributions on submarine volcanic processes, products, hazards, and impacts across different marine settings. We welcome studies that employ remote sensing, seismo-acoustic, field, laboratory, and modeling techniques. We particularly encourage submissions with an interdisciplinary approach to understanding submarine eruption processes.

Session Convenors: Kathleen Mckee, Michigan Technological University, Marta Ribo, Auckland University of Technology

Te Ao Māori: Māori worldview and practices on whenua, moana

Māori have developed detailed knowledge of the whenua through generations of observation, experience, and use. This knowledge is expressed through whakapapa, pūrākau, with the landscapes, stratigraphy, waters, ngāwhā, and volcanic environments.  Māori developed sophisticated understandings of the properties, origins, significance, and application of geological resources. 

This session invites contributions exploring Māori worldview on landscapes, resources, and geological processes. Topics may include waiariki and geothermal systems, volcanism, atua domains, pūrākau, and tikanga associated with geological phenomena; provenance and use of kōhatu; lithic technologies, taonga and whakairo; and case studies relating to pounamu, pakohe, karā, kiripaka, matā tūhua, kōkōwai, and other culturally significant Earth materials. We also welcome presentations on cultural landscapes, natural hazards, environmental stewardship, geological heritage, resource management, and research undertaken with iwi, hapū, whānau, and communities.

Session Convenors: Oliver McLeod, Waikato Regional Council, Wiremu Puke, Ngāti Wairere

The Aotearoa New Zealand geoscience data landscape: getting ready for the AI revolution

Aotearoa’s geoscience is underpinned by digital data and complex data processing workflows, and challenged by the upsurge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. Data discoverability and usability are key objectives for data providers and key requirements for data users.  In this session, we encourage conversations around how the Aotearoa geoscience community can ensure data are accessible, fit-for-purpose, trustworthy and ethically provided and used, including respectful Māori data governance. Contributions from data users or providers on solutions for AI-ready data and from data users on how data are understood and used with AI tools are particularly welcome.

Session Convenors: Elisabetta D'anastasio, ESNZ, Mark Rattenbury, ESNZ, Jenny Black, ESNZ, Jonathan Hanson, ESNZ

Tsunami, Meteorological Coastal Hazards, and Coastal Change – integrated approaches to understanding and preparing for the threats to our coasts

Aotearoa’s coasts are vulnerable to a wide variety of hazards, including tsunamis, storm waves and surges, and coastal erosion processes, all set against a backdrop of changing climate and sea levels. This session invites presentations on these hazards, whether from a perspective of fundamental science, empirical observations, or modelling techniques. It also invites presentations on mitigation of the threats posed to our coasts, whether in the form of monitoring, forecasting and warning; or through land-use and evacuation planning. We particularly welcome presentations that integrate thinking across multiple hazards and/or mitigation measures.

Session Convenors: William Power, ESNZ, Rafael Santana, ESNZ, Edith Bretherton, ESNZ, Jonathan Hanson, ESNZ, Laura Hughes, ESNZ, Mary Anne Clive, ESNZ

Volcanic Lakes: Dynamics, Hazards, and Community Resilience

Explore the fascinating world of volcanic lakes in this multidisciplinary session, focusing on their dynamic processes, inherent geohazards, and critical role in community resilience. Volcanic lakes are vital for monitoring volcanic activity but also pose significant dangers like limnic eruptions, phreatic eruptions and lahars that directly affect communities. Beyond their hazards, they offer unique windows into subsurface volcanic systems. This session will also examine into how volcanic lake sediments record environmental and climatic changes, crucial for understanding surface processes. We welcome research from volcanology, limnology, geochemistry, and biology, showcasing the intertwined aspects of volcanic lake science and its relevance to communities.

Session Convenors: AJ Marshall, Te Herenga Waka - Vuw, Agnes Mazot, Cynthia Werner