Donja Budicina, 12-18 October 2026
Day 1 – October 12
Today, the 40 workshop participants gathered at the Petrinja Ecological Centre to begin their practical training in the identification and characterization of active faults.
The participants come from nine CEI countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia and Ukraine. We are delighted to welcome such a diverse international group and look forward to learning and working together!
The first day was dedicated to welcoming the participants, organizing the logistics for the days ahead and carrying out some preliminary field checks. Through a series of short presentations, the IDASH staff introduced the workshop programme and provided the participants with the background information and practical tools they will need for the upcoming field activities.
Day 2 – October 13
Today, we jumped straight into the hands-on sessions of the workshop, focusing on the morphotectonic survey of the fault in the Donja Budičina area. Divided into three groups—Andesite, Basalt, and Carbonate—the students were guided by the IDASH staff to uncover the secrets of morphotectonics and master the measurement tools used to characterize key geomorphic features. Meanwhile, excavation began on a paleoseismological trench across the fault. We are all incredibly excited about our shared progress, the great synergy within the team, and the new friendships blossoming along the way.
Day 3 – October 14
Today, three distinct activities on the field began: photogrammetric surveys, trenching, and geophysical investigations. The three groups -Andesite, Basalt, and Carbonate - each participated in one of these activities. One group investigated the subsurface structure using electrical resistivity profiles and ground-penetrating radar; another flew a drone over areas around the fault showing evidence of displacement; and the third began cleaning the trench walls and laying out the grid. The students interacted with the group leaders and IDASH staff, all excited to get into action.
Day 4 – October 15
Today, the three groups rotated through the activities. Highlights include two promising new ERT profiles that will help identifying another possible fault trace, and ongoing drone flights to capture a DTM of an offset valley crossed by the 2020 surface ruptures and document the trench. Cleaning, gridding, and flagging of the trench walls are nearly complete, and students are gaining hands-on experience logging on graph paper.
Everyone is doing an incredible job! Beyond the fieldwork, the evening atmosphere truly reflects a cohesive team, with strong interactions and growing friendships.
Day 5 - October 16
Today, the three groups kept rotating through the field activities. New ERT profiles were done, photos of the trench were acquired to prepare orthophotos of the walls, logging of the trench and sampling for radiocarbon dating were started.
With today’s activities, all the students have experienced the main steps to complete the study of an active fault.
We are a little tired from the long days in the field but all happy.
Pictures of the day
Day 6 - October 17
Today marked the final day of the workshop, dedicated to the closing briefing, lively discussions in front of the trench walls, and hands-on fault-mapping exercises.
Working independently, the three groups were challenged to produce geomorphological maps of the training area. Each group then presented its results, opening the floor to constructive discussions and the exchange of different interpretations.
The workshop officially concluded with a certificate ceremony held in a public space in Petrinja.
It was also a valuable moment of reflection: an opportunity for the trainers to assess the learning outcomes, receive feedback from the participants, and offer suggestions to support their future professional and scientific development.
It was wonderful to see everyone so satisfied with the experience, even if there was a touch of sadness among the students as the workshop came to an end.
A rewarding conclusion to an intense week of learning, fieldwork, collaboration, and shared experiences!
Day 7 - October 18
A day of departures, farewells, exchanging contacts, and saying “see you again” - who knows when and where the next opportunity for international cooperation and European cohesion will bring us together?
One thing is certain: we have once again confirmed that faults know no borders. On the contrary, they bring them down, building bridges between people, countries, and scientific communities.
Petrinja says goodbye with its beautiful autumn colours!