European Research Award for Volcanism Research

Dr. Danilo Di Genova at BGI Foto: UBT / Chr. Wißler - Dr. Danilo Di Genova from the Bavarian Research Institute of Experimental Geochemistry & Geophysics (BGI) at the University of Bayreuth has been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant by the European Research Coun­cil. His NANOVOLC project will receive funding of around two million euros over the next five years. It investigates magma viscosity, which is of great relevance for assessing hazards that may emerge from active volcanoes around the world. The research focuses on nano-crystals called "nanolites" in molten magma. They can have a strong influence on the explosiveness of volcanoes' eruption and thus on the production of volcanic ash. This has in turn a strong impact both on the habitability of the areas surrounding volcanoes and away from them through the ash transport in the atmosphere.