Numerical, Experimental and stochastic Modelling of vOlcanic processes and Hazard: an Initial Training Network for the next generation of European volcanologists

Volcanic eruptions, and associated hazards, are a constant concern for many European countries and for Europe as a whole.

During last decades, disciplines like thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, and advanced experiments and computation, have been incorporated in volcano science, and formalized treatment of uncertainties has become a prominent means of volcanic hazard evaluation.

This has developed volcanology to the level of a multidisciplinary, quantitative branch of the Earth Sciences. However, critically, such developments have not been accompanied by a comparable evolution of the curricula of students and young scientists undertaking a career in volcanology. The training objective of the NEMOH consortium is that of forming the next generation of European volcanologists, capable of extending further the knowledge and understanding of volcano dynamics and the methods and paradigms for volcanic hazard evaluation.

Research Training is conceived to develop in the context of top level, internationally coordinated research structured in closely interconnected WorkPackages. A distinctive feature of RT within NEMOH is the merging of deterministic and probabilistic approaches in volcanic hazard evaluation, a crucial objective of modern volcanology. Nine Full Network Partners plus 4 Associated Partners (including 2 SMEs and 1 Governmental Civil Protection Department) compose the NEMOH Consortium.

Training is developed through interrelated local and network-wide activities, and is extended to 22 ESRs for a total of 648 research months. Four Visiting Scientists (total of 5 months) complement the staff of trainers within NEMOH. Four Network RT Schools (the last one associated with a 3-days Final Conference), and two special sessions at the EGU General Assemblies in year 3 and 4, represent topical activities within NEMOH. Organization and management includes 9 meetings of the Supervisory Board during the 4 years of the Network.

NEMOH has maintained a continuous dissemination and outreach activity throughout all its 4-years life, through four NEMOH Marie Curie Open Days mentioned above; six NEMOH Newsletters (instead of the two initially foreseen); two long articles in the International Innovation magazine (www.researchmedia.eu); participation (with NEMOH and Marie Curie logos displayed) to several tens of international conferences; articles, citations, etc. in newsletters of other EU initiatives and in local newspapers (see the NEMOH website); opening of the NEMOH Final Conference to external participants; and outstandingly, through the NEMOH website www.nemoh-itn.eu which has received to-date nearly 36,000 visits and 120,000 page views from literally all over the world.