Hello Readers,
I am Sunil Kumar Ramatheerthan, a final-year PhD student at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University, both located in Prague, Czech Republic. In this blog, I would like to share my experience attending my first summer school, the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) and International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Interior (IASPEI) school, held from 24 to 30 August 2025 at the Lisbon School of Engineering (ISEL) in Lisbon, Portugal.
The IAGA-IASPEI school was an excellent opportunity to learn, connect, and engage with researchers and students from around the world in the fields of geomagnetism and aeronomy. I arrived in Lisbon from Prague, where I am currently pursuing my PhD. The school began with an informal gathering on 24 August, where I had the pleasure of meeting participants from diverse scientific backgrounds.
The school lectures began the next morning with an excellent talk by Dr. Julie Carlut on the Earth's magnetic field and paleomagnetism, followed by Dr. Anna Morozova’s engaging lecture on ionospheric space weather, which was especially relevant to my research. Her talk provided insights into solar activity, the ionosphere, and the economic impacts of space weather.
The following day featured two enriching lectures and practical sessions, Dr. Ondřej Santolík’s session on plasma waves and Dr. Ivana Klomšková’s on lightning discharges, both of which were technically and theoretically stimulating.
On Wednesday, a joint session with IASPEI participants, led by Dr. Ciaran Beggan, focused on digitizing archive data, where we gained hands-on experience using specialized software tools and working in teams. In the afternoon, we visited the Quake Museum in Lisbon, which offered a fascinating overview of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, the experiences of earthquakes, as well as other major seismic events and advances in seismological science. Sharing this experience with both IAGA and IASPEI participants made it even more enjoyable and memorable.
On Thursday, Dr. Chris Finlay discussed magnetic field modeling using data from ground observatories and satellites, followed by a hands-on session with Swarm satellite data using the VirES platform.
On Friday, Dr. Alexander Grayver introduced electromagnetic induction methods in geophysics, providing valuable insights into subsurface exploration. The school concluded with our final practical sessions, the certificate ceremony, and a treat kindly arranged by Dr. Barbara Leichter and Dr. Ashley Smith.
The week ended on a lovely note with a relaxed Tagus riverside dinner, a perfect way to celebrate the learning, teamwork, and new friendships built throughout the program.
Attending the IAGA-IASPEI School 2025 was a truly rewarding experience. I learned a great deal about geomagnetism and space physics, but more importantly, I had the opportunity to meet inspiring researchers and share ideas with people who share my curiosity and passion for the field. It’s an experience I will definitely carry with me as I continue my research journey.
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