December 17, 2025 | BARAYAGWIZA Sylvain

Highlights from EAIFR Training on Subaqueous Volcanism and Gas Geochemistry

The East African Institute for Fundamental Research (EAIFR) successfully hosted a two-day training workshop on advanced techniques in volcanology and gas geochemistry, held on 15–16 December 2025 at EAIFR, Kigali, and online. The first day featured Dr. Ben Roche (Université Libre de Bruxelles), who introduced participants to modern techniques used to study subaqueous volcanic activity, with a strong focus on magmatic degassing and associated hazards. Sessions covered degassing dynamics in volcanic lakes, marine geophysical survey methods, and recent advances in passive hydroacoustic monitoring, including new findings from Lake Kivu relevant to limnic eruption risk assessment. On the second day, Professor Tobias Fischer (University of California, Santa Barbara) delivered comprehensive training on the theoretical and practical aspects of volcanic, hydrothermal, and tectonic gas geochemistry. Participants gained insights into the use of noble gases and stable isotopes to trace gas sources, interpret mantle versus crustal contributions, and assess volcanic activity through volatile emission rates. The trainings attracted researchers, students, and professionals from the region and beyond, fostering valuable scientific exchange and capacity building in geohazard research. EAIFR thanks the speakers, participants, and sponsors FEF-R KIGASA and IGCP 767 for their support. For more details watch the videos via: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmPgdepcAyE and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHWkcriEBbY