February 16-20, 2026
This five-day short course will provide an introduction to state-of-the-art experimental methods in mineralogy, geochemistry and geophysics as applied to understanding the composition, structure and dynamics of the Earth’s interior. Topics to be covered include high-pressure/hightemperature experimental methods, spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction at high-pressure, transmission electron microscopy, thermodynamics and phase equilibria, high-pressure crystal chemistry, equations of state, transformation kinetics, diffusion and deformation. The course will be held in the laboratories of Bayerisches Geoinstitut.
Requirements: The course is aimed primarily at advanced-level undergraduate and graduate students but is also open to postdoctoral researchers. Participants should have completed at least 7 semesters of Earth Sciences and should have a basic background in mineralogy, crystallography, petrology and/or geophysics. The number of participants is limited to 30. The official course language is English.
ECTS (European Credit Transfer System): Participants may obtain 2 ECTS credit points after completion of the course and after passing a written examination. For students who do not wish to obtain an ECTS certificate, the examination is not required.
Costs: There is no fee for the course. Teaching materials and refreshments during the course are sponsored by BGI. The Short Course dinner on Tuesday night is at own expense. We will help find reasonably priced accommodation. The course receives financial support by German Mineralogical Society (Deutsche Mineralogische Gesellschaft - DMG). Non-Bayreuth student members of DMG are eligible for travel support to the amount of Euro 100,-.
Information: Further information can be obtained from www.bgi.uni-bayreuth.de/ShortCourse2026 or www.dmg-home.org/aktuelles/doktorandenkurse or Dr. Florian Heidelbach, email: florian.heidelbach@uni-bayreuth.de Tel.: +49-(0)921-553700, Fax: +49-(0)921-553769.
Applications should be sent to the following address before January 7, 2026:
"2026 High-Pressure Short Course"
Bayerisches Geoinstitut
Universität Bayreuth
95440 Bayreuth Germany
(email appreciated)
