The GAMM Juniors Annual Fall Meeting 2026 took place from October 5 to 7 at TU Bergakademie Freiberg. This year’s meeting was organized by M. Sc. Siddhi Avinash Patil. She brought together the GAMM Juniors for three days of scientific exchange, organizational discussions, and community building. As a thoughtful personal initiative, she also arranged personalized mugs for all Juniors as a small token of appreciation and a reminder of the Fall Meeting 2026.
As the tradition goes, the Fall Meeting provided an opportunity for the GAMM Juniors to reflect on ongoing initiatives, discuss upcoming activities, and exchange ideas for future projects and collaborations. The meeting featured discussions on the progress of various GAMM Juniors projects, providing a platform for members to share updates, coordinate responsibilities, and develop plans for the coming year. Plans for the coming year included activities at GAMM 2027 and SAMM 2027, along with the launch of the new GAMM Juniors webinar series.
An important part of the program was dedicated to the scientific exchange between the Juniors. Dr. Emil Løvbak and Dr. Kai Partmann gave scientific presentations, offering insights into their respective research topics and stimulating discussions among the Juniors.
Another highlight was a talk by Prof. Bjoern Kiefer, who shared his academic journey and provided valuable insights into the path toward becoming a professor. His experiences and perspectives offered Juniors an opportunity to learn more about academic career development, the responsibilities of a professorship, and the challenges and opportunities associated with pursuing a career in academia.
Beyond the scientific and organizational sessions, Juniors had the opportunity to explore the university and the cultural heritage of Freiberg. A particular highlight was a guided tour led by Prof. Bjoern Kiefer, during which the group visited ZeHS, the new University Library, and the Julius-Weisbach-Bau, including the fascinating Weisbach-Sammlung, which offered insights into the university’s scientific and engineering heritage.
The program also included a visit to Terra Mineralia, where Juniors enjoyed the guided tour “Around the World in 90 Minutes”, exploring the fascinating world of minerals and gaining insights into the diversity of mineral specimens from across the globe.
The meeting also provided opportunities for informal exchange, allowing Juniors to strengthen existing connections and engage in discussions beyond the formal program.
The GAMM Juniors would like to express their sincere gratitude to Prof. Bjoern Kiefer for his valuable support in organizing the meeting, for sharing his academic experiences, and for guiding Juniors through the university facilities. Special thanks also go to Prof. Carmen Graßle for taking the time to engage with the GAMM Juniors.
Finally, we would like to thank all Juniors and speakers for their active involvement, valuable contributions, and engaging discussions, and especially Siddhi Avinash Patil for organizing and hosting this year’s Fall Meeting in Freiberg.
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen collaboration within the GAMM Juniors community and laid the groundwork for continued scientific exchange and joint activities in the coming year.
Siddhi Avinash Patil