Into the Core

In the eighth episode of Into the Core, we talk with Arne Ulfers, a researcher at the LIAG – Institute for Applied Geophysics in Germany. He is an expert in borehole logging, with experience in several projects of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP).In this episode, Arne explains how these techniques help us identify and characterize the sediments and rocks beneath a region, allowing scientists to better understand their properties and geometry for a wide range of applications.We also hear memorable field stories, from his arrival in Antarctica as part of the SWAIS2C project to the time he found himself caught in the middle of a storm on Lake Nam Co (Tibetan Plateau), more than 30 km from the shore and at over 4,700 meters above sea level.Curious to know how he made it through? Join us to find out.Host: Rodrigo Martínez-AbarcaGuest: Arne UlfersInto the Core is supported by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) and is an initiative of the Early Career Researchers Network. Original idea by Marta Marchegiano.Copyright-free background music, 2026.

We kick off the second half of the first season of Into the Core with this sixth episode, featuring Jonathan Obrist-Farner.In this conversation, our team explores Jonathan’s unique journey — from his early studies in psychology to his transition into geosciences, a path that has led him to propose his first ICDP project. The episode also includes a heartfelt tribute to Andy Cohen, whose legacy we honor and remember.But the journey hasn’t always been easy. Jonathan shares challenging field experiences, including the demanding work of walking more than 6 kilometers multiple times a day to help build a drilling platform in the lakes of Guatemala.Curious to hear more about this amazing story? Join us for this inspiring episode.Jonathan is an assistant professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T), originally from Guatemala. He is a geologist and geophysicist with a background in psychology, and the Principal Investigator of the recently approved ICDP project LIBRE (Lake Izabal Basin). His research focuses on sedimentology, stratigraphy, and paleoclimatology, with a particular interest in the evolution of sedimentary basins and the tectonic, climatic, and anthropogenic controls that shape them.Hosts: Rodrigo Martínez-Abarca and Romina AchagaGuest: Jonathan Obrist-FarnerInto the Core is supported by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) and is an initiative of the Early Career Researchers Network. Original idea by Marta Marchegiano.Copyright-free background music, 2026.

We continue recording from IPA-IAL 2025 in Aix-les-Bains for the fourth episode of Into the Core. This time, we are joined by Liseth Pérez Alvarado, a senior scientist originally from Guatemala and currently based in Kiel, Germany.Liseth investigates the clues that ostracods — small crustaceans living in the water column — leave behind in lacustrine and marine sediments. She has been involved in several ICDP projects, including MexiDrill Chalco in Mexico, Lake Petén Itzá in Guatemala, and the upcoming Lake Izabal drilling project.In this episode, we talk about her field experiences, her scientific journey, and some unforgettable stories from her student days — including the time she lost a boat engine during fieldwork.Host: Rodrigo Martínez-AbarcaEdition: Romina AchagaStarring: Liseth Pérez Alvarado"Into the Core" is supported by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) and an initiative of the Early Career Researchers Network. Original idea by Marta Marchegiano. Copyright-free background music, 2026.

In the second episode of Into the Core, we are joined by someone very special — the driving force behind this podcast and a scientist pushing the boundaries of proxy development in paleolimnology.Dr. Marta Marchegiano, researcher at the University of Granada, shares unforgettable moments from the field, including a "malediction" on a lake which produced an unexpected explosion during a campaign. Join us for a conversation full of science, stories, and inspiration.Hosts: Rodrigo Martinez-Abarca and Romina AchagaStarring: Marta Marchegiano "Into the Core" is supported by the International Continental Drilling Program (ICDP) and an initiative of the Early Career Researchers Network. Copyright-free background music, 2026.

Welcome to Into the Core, a podcast by the Early Career Researchers Network of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). Throughout its first season, we talk with ten extraordinary scientists involved in ICDP projects who share funny stories from the field, as well as the lessons and experiences that have shaped their scientific careers. Would you join us?