Workshop consists of five days of lectures and hands-on laboratory training on: 

  • Clay minerals’ structure and their interaction with cations and water
  • X-ray diffractometry of clay materials including bulk rock mineral quantification (Profex/BGMN and Q-Min)
  • Clay minerals structure simulation (Sybilla)
  • Infrared spectroscopy
  • Cation exchange capacity determination 
  • Smectite’s layer charge determination 
  • Thermal reactions and thermal analysis of clay-bearing materials
  • Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in clay minerals
  • Electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and electron chemical microanalysis
  • Clay minerals separation and puritication procedures
  • Clays in energy industry and geotechnics, including nuclear waste repositories

Lecturers and laboratory instructors: Georgios D. Chryssikos (National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece), Katja Emmerich (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany), Albert H. Gilg (Technische Universität München, Germany), Georg Grathoff, Laurence Warr (University of Greifswald, Germany), Stephan Kaufhold (BGR, Hannover, Germany), Reinhard Kleeberg (TU Bergakademie, Freiberg, Germany), Michael Plőtze (ETH Zürich, Switzerland), Zuzanna Ciesielska, Arkadiusz Derkowski, Mariola Kowalik-Hyla, Artur Kuligiewicz, Karolina Rybka, Marek Szczerba, Adam Zięba, (Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland)

Who should apply: students and professionals working with clay materials, clay-bearing rocks, and on clay-related topics. Background knowledge on clay mineralogy and analytical methods will be helpful.

How to apply: submit a CV or resume and a short description of clay-related topic(s) you work on to workshop@ingpan.krakow.pl (subject: Clay workshop). For students: please also submit a short description of your thesis and contact information to your supervisor

Application deadline: October 31st, 2026. Acceptance decision will be sent by November 15th, 2026 

Venue location: IGSPAS Research Centre in Krakow, Senacka 1, 31-002 Krakow, Poland
in the very heart of the Old Town, between the Market Square and the Wawel Royal Castle, with dozens of hotels, aparthotels, museums, restaurants and bars within 10 min walking distance.  

Fee: students (500 EUR), academic professionals (800 EUR) and industry professionals (1400 EUR)
Fee includes: participation in lectures and laboratory training, workshop materials and software, lunches, drinks and snacks, social dinner, all-week travel pass for city transportation

Transportation: 

  • By air: flight to Balice (John Paul II) Airport in Krakow, then local train to Krakow Main Station near the old town (20 min walk to the venue location) or 20-30 min taxi or Uber from the airport to the Old Town
  • By train: train to Krakow Main Station near the old town (20 min walk or 5 min taxi to the venue location)
  • By car: Krakow Old Town is a no-traffic zone, with numerous (albeit expensive) parking spots around the Old Town. The city center is a busy place with heavy traffic; frequent driving not advised.