North to the Geothermal Future: From Binary to Superhot in Alaska and Beyond 

Anchorage, Alaska, USA
3–5 May 2027

Alaska sits atop extraordinary geothermal wealth, yet that wealth remains largely untapped. Its geothermal activity, associated with subduction-zone volcanism and back-arc faulting, differs fundamentally from the broad crustal extension of the Basin and Range Province and local extension of strike-slip offset systems of California in contiguous USA. Yet, Alaska’s subduction setting is the circum-Pacific norm, not the exception.

This workshop will use geothermal development associated with subduction worldwide, drawing on experience from around the Pacific Rim and southern Europe as a lens through which to understand possibilities in Alaska. Contrasts and similarities with magma-hydrothermal systems in the magma-genic rifts of Iceland and East Africa and extension-related, developed systems in western contiguous United States should be instructive as well. Geothermal energy has been neglected in Alaska because of relative remoteness, but advances in submarine DC transmission and use of energy proxies such as data from AI centers and transport of energy-intensive products have reduced or eliminated the distance barrier.

Together, we will explore the full geothermal temperature spectrum:

• ~100°C: hot spring power technology for remote, Indigenous communities
• 150–300°C: Conventional hydrothermal and EGS development
• >400°C: Superhot, near-magma systems as an active engineering and scientific frontier.

Contributions are welcome in geology, geophysics, drilling and reservoir engineering, and lessons learned from any region. Field trips to Alaska’s Geological Materials Center, where we can examine core from Alaska’s volcanoes, and an over flight of Augustine Volcano are also planned.

Convened jointly by SEG and AGU, this meeting unites geoscientists and engineers around a shared goal: harnessing Earth’s heat from hot springs to the magmatic hearth.

Organizing Committee

• Co-Chair: John Eichelberger, Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys

• Lianjie Huang, Los Alamos National Lab
• Noriyoshi Tsuchiya, Tohoku University
• Daisuke Oka, Hokkaido Research Organization
• Jeff Tester, Cornell University
• Paul Craig, GeoAlaska
• Phil Cochran, Indiana University
• Paul Choate, Choate Technology Services
• Amanda Kolker, National Laboratory of the Rockies
• Gwen Holdmann, University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Marwan Wartes, Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys
• Steve Hickman, USGS
• Alain Bonneville, Mazama Energy
• Amanda Toerdal, KAWERAK Inc.
• Kelsey Galleher, KAWERAK Inc.
• Shuvajit Bhattacharya, University of Texas at Austin
• Will Pettitt, Baker Hughes

Location

The Hotel Captain Cook
939 West 5^th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501

For more information, please email Mallory Trumbore, SEG Meeting Planner, [email protected].

Workshop Location

North to the Geothermal Future: From Binary to Superhot in Alaska and Beyond will be held at:

The Hotel Captain Cook
939 West 5^th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501

Located in the heart of downtown Anchorage, Alaska’s Hotel Captain Cook is a perfect basecamp for adventure, offering the best cultural, retail and natural highlights just steps from your door. The Hotel Captain Cook is Alaska’s only member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, an organization of 620 of the finest independently owned and managed luxury hotels and resorts across the world. Each property within the organization is required to maintain criteria to qualify for membership and excels at providing distinctive experiences that are far beyond the ordinary.

The Hotel Captain Cook was recently inducted into Historic Hotels of America, the official travel organization of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The National Trust founded Historic Hotels with 35 charter members in 1989 for Historic Preservation. Since that time, only 315 hotels and resorts across America have been awarded this prestigious honor for preserving and maintaining their historic integrity, architecture and ambiance.

Lodging

The Hotel Captain Cook is the official hotel for this workshop.  

A block of Deluxe Single King rooms is reserved for workshop attendees at the discounted rate of US$220 per room per night, plus 12% taxes/fees. Online reservations can be made at www.captaincook.com (password to access discount rate will be supplied April 2026). Reservations can also be made by calling the hotel directly at (907) 276-6000 or toll-free at 1-800-843-1950. Reservations cut-off date: 04 April 2027

The Hotel Captain Cook extended these room rates for 3 days before and 2 days after the Geothermal workshop, subject to availability.

Transportation

• Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, ANC (~4 miles from venue)
• Kenai Airport, ENA (~64 miles from venue)

Visas/Letters of Invitation

The United States requires citizens of many foreign countries to obtain visas to enter the U.S. If you are not a U.S. citizen and are intending to attend the North to the Geothermal Future: From Binary to Superhot in Alaska and Beyond Workshop, please ensure you obtain the correct visa to enter the country. The process of obtaining a visa may take several months. Detailed information on the U.S. Visa Policy can be found online at the U.S. Department of State website.

It is your responsibility to apply for a passport, visa, or any other required documents and to demonstrate to consular officials that you are properly classifiable as a visitor under the U.S. law.

You may print your own workshop visa invitation letter here. SEG supplies this letter for visa purposes only. If your visa application is denied and SEG receives a copy of the denial by email before 21 April 2027, your registration fee will be refunded in full. After 21 April, your registration fee will be refunded less a US$50 processing fee.

Please note this letter does not guarantee that you will be granted a visa, nor does it commit SEG to assist you in obtaining a visa.

The call for abstracts will open on 19 October 2026. Abstract guidelines and online submission link will be available soon. Abstracts should be submitted under the following themes and subthemes:

• Hot Spring Systems
  • Characterization
  • Power Generation
  • Space Heating
  • Direct Use
  • Design and Implementation
• Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)
  • Exploration Phases
  • Stress, Strain, and Triggered Earthquakes
  • Desirable Characteristics for Reservoir Creation
  • Reservoir Engineering
• Subduction Zone Volcanoes (including conventional hydrothermal and superhot)
  • Magma-Hydrothermal Systems
  • Internal Structures and Geothermal Zones
  • Volcano Hazards
  • Drilling and Materials
  • Transmission and Energy-Intensive Manufacturing
  • Direct Application of Heat
• Global Picture
  • National Strategies
  • Frontiers
  • Testbeds
  • Resource Evaluation
  • Public Policy
  • Economics

You are invited to offer your support of the North to the Geothermal Future: From Binary to Superhot in Alaska and Beyond Workshop by purchasing a sponsorship from the following list of opportunities:

• Platinum — US$10,000
  with optional US$1,000 social media add-on
• Gold — US$5,000
• Silver — US$2,000
• Reception — US$3,000
• Lunch – US$3,000
• Student Support — US$3,000
• Attendee Gift – US$1,000

To review sponsorship opportunities in detail and to sign up as a workshop sponsor, please download the Sponsorship Form and submit it to [email protected].