<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" > <channel> <title>GeoLog</title> <atom:link href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog</link> <description>The official blog of the European Geosciences Union</description> <lastBuildDate>Fri, 04 Apr 2025 10:46:59 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-GB</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2</generator> <item> <title>Making a plan: using your EGU25 personal programme</title> <link>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/04/04/making-a-plan-using-your-egu25-personal-programme/</link> <comments>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/04/04/making-a-plan-using-your-egu25-personal-programme/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Hazel Gibson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 04 Apr 2025 10:45:47 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Accessibility and inclusivity at EGU]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU GA 2025]]></category> <category><![CDATA[caring responsibilities]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU25]]></category> <category><![CDATA[how to]]></category> <category><![CDATA[parenting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[parenting at a virtual conference]]></category> <category><![CDATA[personal programme]]></category> <category><![CDATA[scheduling an online conference]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/?p=46815</guid> <description><![CDATA[The EGU25 Programme is online and hopefully by now you have found your abstract or session, so what do you do next?! This year’s scientific programme of the General Assemby includes Union-wide Sessions, such as the medal lectures, great debates, union symposia, short courses, education and outreach sessions, as well as townhall and splinter meetings, just to name a few. The Disciplinary Sessions and Inter- and Transdisciplinary Sessions (ITS) encompass the oral, poster and PICO sessions covering the full spectrum of the Earth, planetary and space sciences, all available this year in a hybrid format &#8211; both virtual and on-site. There are several ways to access the programme, so you can explore the sessions with ease: Browse by day &#38; time: view the oral, poster and PICO sessions by their time and location, each sorted chronologically by conference day, time block and programme group, select the day and time block you wish to view Browse by session: view the scientific sessions and their oral, poster and PICO sub-sessions by programme group Session schedules by Programme Group: online view of the oral, PICO, and poster sub-sessions of a selected programme group listed by day and time block (sessions with multiple time blocks are listed repeatedly). Personal programme: a great tool to generate your own personal programme, just select the specific presentations or sessions you’re interested in to create your own personal schedule Abstracts of special interest: a list of abstracts which are of particular interest for the public. This selection was compiled by the session conveners. So what else do you need to know about the #EGU25 programme! What does it mean for my abstract/session to be scheduled? The scheduled abstract time in your session is the time during which you will be required to give your live presentation. Don&#8217;t forget you need to upload your presentation file at least 24 hours before your session, to allow the conveners to have all the slides ready to go &#8211; regardless of what format you are presenting in (PICO, oral or poster; virtual or on-site). For oral presenters and PICO presenters your time represents the specific time in your session that you must present, for PICO presenters this is the 2 minute summary presentations you give before you head to the interactive screens for the longer in-depth discussion times. For poster presenters the time you are given is the period that you must stand by your poster (either virtually or on-site) to present it, which may also look like the whole session time. Any questions about your schedule, please contact your session convener as soon as possible, or email egu25@copernicus.org. Can I still create a personal programme? Absolutely! The personal programme option is a great way to organise all the sessions you are interested in. The personal programme allows you to add either entire sessions or individual abstracts to keep track of your most important topics. You can add an item to your personal programme by clicking the yellow star next to the abstract or session. One thing to bear in mind is that the personal programme will only be able to list times in CEST – but during the week of the General Assembly you will also be able to click an ics link that will import your session or abstract into your own calendar – which will automatically translate it into your time zone. What about the schedule time zone? As EGU25 will be taking place in central Europe the time zone for the conference is in CEST &#8211; Central European Summer Time. The conference schedule has been set into very specific time blocks to help you manage your discussions, whether they happen on-site or virtually. These regular time blocks will help you manage your time and move between the presentations, regardless of their format or location with ease. Will there be additional online materials again? Yes! Once again we are encouraging our authors to upload online materials to be shared virtually on your abstract page. In the past we have called these display materials, but from now on they will be called supplementary materials. Watch the following video which explains how these materials work! Display &#34;EGU General Assembly &#8211; supplementary materials!&#34; from YouTube Click here to display content from YouTube. Learn more in YouTube’s privacy policy. Always display content from YouTube Open &#34;EGU General Assembly &#8211; supplementary materials!&#34; directly One of the things our attendees really loved from the virtual formats we have run so far was the ability to comment on scientific content outside of the presentation time, so this is something we have kept . You can comment on supplementary materials any time from when they are uploaded through to the end of May 2025. I&#8217;m joining virtually and I’m worried about juggling my responsibilities during the week, including childcare and caring responsibilities. What do I do? Firstly, we acknowledge how difficult it is to attend a virtual conference, even when you are just worried about juggling your working responsibilities. We really hope that you will be able to be kind to yourself this week and, where possible, focus only on attending EGU25 – just as you would if you were attending in Vienna. And yes. that also includes taking some time out to explore and go for walks, talk with friends and colleagues and enjoy (hopefully) the late spring weather. In Vienna you are not constantly in the conference centre for the full week, and we hope you will be able to  also let yourself be not constantly working whilst attending EGU25 virtually as well. Other top tips for making an online conference easier: Take regular breaks! This can mean doing something that isn’t work related, or even stepping away from your computer altogether. Keep a pad and pen nearby to doodle on while you listen – let yourself fidget. Research suggests that letting yourself fidget whilst you listen can actually help you focus and remember more, so if you want to doodle whilst you listen – do it! Schedule varied events. Once you have added your key sessions and abstracts into your personal programme, why not consider adding some more varied events? During the week of EGU25 you will be able to add and attend pop-up networking events, from Division social events to short presentations by our Artists in Residence. As usual the Union Symposia and Great Debate sessions will be streamed live and you will also be able to participate in a number of short courses! Adding varied events to your schedule will give you a chance to focus your attention in different ways over the ten days of the meeting. Be ruthless to the schedule, but kind to yourself. We at EGU know how easy it is to get excited when the programme is released and there are so many exciting sessions you want to attend, but remember – these events are very tiring to attend and you have to take care of yourself – so be conservative with adding events to your calendar and ruthless if you need to cut some out. Similarly, to ease the burden, you should try not to attend more than one session simultaneously. You would not be able to do this in Vienna, don’t feel like you have to do it now. For people who have caring responsibilities, in 2021 we spoke with two of our Division Presidents, Ira Didenkulova and Dan Parsons, who have experienced attending an EGU General Assembly whilst caring for young children about what they suggest for balancing caring with attending a virtual conference, but we would also very much appreciate any tips or advice any of you have to share. My partner is also in research, so we plan our weeks in advance, so that one takes over the kids, while another needs to be at a conference/seminar. Obviously, it does not always work for both of us, but is more of a survival kit. Cleaning the house is also a challenge &#8211; we clean the house only every couple of weeks&#8230;! Toys are more often than not lying around. When my partner reaches his limit, he collects them into the box and hides them somewhere for a while. And&#8230; unless it is something special, when I should concentrate very much, I let the kids run around and get involved if they want to watch my zooms. Then either they become bored and soon leave, or they start to play in something of their own, so I can work nearby. In the worst case scenario, when both of us are busy and the kids ask for attention, we use cartoons! I am trying to keep it at the level of not more than once a week, so this is our emergency solution for critical days. I have my own selection of downloaded, approved cartoons and use a projector and a big screen. So, they have kind of a cinema! Another emergency solution is to re-discover the box of hidden toys after some weeks or even months. This gives an excitement for several hours, so practically saves a day! Ira Didenkulova, Natural Hazards Division President, 2021 (current Programme Committee co-chair) &#160; Managing the workload of attending a virtual conference with all the other pressures of life during a pandemic is not easy, particularly when you have a 4 year-old, a 10 and 12 year-old all at home – as was the case during EGU20! ….and I was really lucky to be heavily supported by my wife, Katie. I know that many would have had less support making it even harder to juggle things. It was difficult getting to see all the sessions as well as keeping the children home-schooled and entertained. My wife, who is in the middle of her PhD, and I did a tag-team around the most important sessions I wanted to see last year and around the important times and parts of being a Division President.  Overall, although I felt like I missed so much great science the fact that the resources were all available outside of the session times meant that I was able to catch up with things I would undoubtedly missed if I was in Vienna in a normal General Assembly. So &#8230; what have I learnt? First, have a listing of those sessions you want to see most – prioritise – gold, silver and bronze or similar. Second, try not to worry if you miss things – I miss things all the time in Vienna, and at [EGU23] you can find the content afterward and follow up with the authors in the networking space. And finally, you can go to a conference in your pyjamas….take advantage of that! Dan Parsons, Geomorphology Division President, 2021 &#160; We will continue to add more information about EGU25 over the next few weeks and are looking forward to having you join us either in Vienna or online, very soon!]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The EGU25 Programme is online and hopefully by now you have found your abstract or session, so what do you do next?! This year’s scientific programme of the General Assemby includes Union-wide Sessions, such as the <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/meetingprogramme/5775" target="_blank" rel="noopener">medal lectures</a>, <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/meetingprogramme/5506" target="_blank" rel="noopener">great debates</a>, <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/meetingprogramme/5505">union symposia</a>, <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/meetingprogramme/5507" target="_blank" rel="noopener">short courses</a>, <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/meetingprogramme/5508" target="_blank" rel="noopener">education and outreach sessions</a>, as well as <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/meetingprogramme/5790">townhall</a> and <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/meetingprogramme/5774">splinter meetings</a>, just to name a few.</p> <p>The Disciplinary Sessions and <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/meetingprogramme/5761">Inter- and Transdisciplinary Sessions (ITS)</a> encompass the oral, poster and PICO sessions covering the full spectrum of the Earth, planetary and space sciences, all available this year in a hybrid format &#8211; both virtual and on-site.</p> <p>There are several ways to access the programme, so you can explore the sessions with ease:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Browse by day &amp; time</strong>: view the oral, poster and PICO sessions by their time and location, each sorted chronologically by conference day, time block and programme group, select the day and time block you wish to view</li> <li><strong>Browse by session</strong>: view the scientific sessions and their oral, poster and PICO sub-sessions by programme group</li> <li><strong>Session schedules by <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessionprogramme/pg-selection">Programme Group</a></strong>: online view of the oral, PICO, and poster sub-sessions of a selected programme group listed by day and time block (sessions with multiple time blocks are listed repeatedly).</li> <li><strong>Personal programme</strong>: a great tool to generate your own personal programme, just select the specific presentations or sessions you’re interested in to create your own personal schedule</li> <li><a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/abstracts-of-special-interest"><strong>Abstracts of special interest</strong></a>: a list of abstracts which are of particular interest for the public. This selection was compiled by the session conveners.</li> </ul> <p>So what else do you need to know about the <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/egu25/sessionprogramme">#EGU25 programme</a>!</p> <p><strong>What does it mean for my abstract/session to be scheduled?</strong></p> <p>The scheduled abstract time in your session is the time during which you will be required to give your live presentation. Don&#8217;t forget you need to upload your presentation file at least 24 hours before your session, to allow the conveners to have all the slides ready to go &#8211; regardless of what format you are presenting in (PICO, oral or poster; virtual or on-site). For <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/guidelines/presenters/oral.html">oral presenters</a> and <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/guidelines/presenters/pico.html">PICO presenters</a> your time represents the specific time in your session that you must present, for PICO presenters this is the 2 minute summary presentations you give before you head to the interactive screens for the longer in-depth discussion times. For <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/guidelines/presenters/poster.html">poster presenters</a> the time you are given is the period that you must stand by your poster (either virtually or on-site) to present it, which may also look like the whole session time. Any questions about your schedule, please contact your session convener as soon as possible, or email <a href="mailto:egu25@copernicus.org">egu25@copernicus.org</a>.</p> <p><strong>Can I still create a personal programme?</strong></p> <p><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2021/03/18/how-to-vegu-the-schedule-and-your-personal-programme/screenshot-2021-03-18-at-11-50-03/" rel="attachment wp-att-28748"><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-28748 alignleft" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2021/03/Screenshot-2021-03-18-at-11.50.03-300x45.png" alt="" width="300" height="45" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2021/03/Screenshot-2021-03-18-at-11.50.03-300x45.png 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2021/03/Screenshot-2021-03-18-at-11.50.03-100x15.png 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2021/03/Screenshot-2021-03-18-at-11.50.03.png 456w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a>Absolutely! The <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/personal_programme">personal programme</a> option is a great way to organise all the sessions you are interested in. The personal programme allows you to add either entire sessions or individual abstracts to keep track of your most important topics. You can add an item to your personal programme by clicking the yellow star next to the abstract or session. One thing to bear in mind is that the personal programme will only be able to list times in CEST – but during the week of the General Assembly you will also be able to click an ics link that will import your session or abstract into your own calendar – which will automatically translate it into your time zone.</p> <p><strong>What about the schedule time zone?</strong></p> <p>As EGU25 will be taking place in central Europe the time zone for the conference is in CEST &#8211; Central European Summer Time. The conference schedule has been set into very <a href="https://egu25.eu/guidelines/presenters.html">specific time blocks</a> to help you manage your discussions, whether they happen on-site or virtually. These regular time blocks will help you manage your time and move between the presentations, regardless of their format or location with ease.</p> <p><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56.png"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-46817 alignnone" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56-300x215.png" alt="" width="300" height="215" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56-300x215.png 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56-768x550.png 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56-100x72.png 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56-559x400.png 559w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56.png 782w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></p> <p><strong>Will there be additional online materials again?</strong></p> <p>Yes! Once again we are encouraging our authors to upload online materials to be shared virtually on your abstract page. In the past we have called these display materials, but from now on they will be called <strong>supplementary materials</strong>. Watch the following video which explains how these materials work!</p> <div class="embed-privacy-container is-disabled embed-youtube" data-embed-id="oembed_4a8d759171a45d52c3f634cc975bb347" data-embed-provider="youtube" style="aspect-ratio: 500/281;"> <button class="embed-privacy-enable screen-reader-text">Display &quot;EGU General Assembly &#8211; supplementary materials!&quot; from YouTube</button> </p> <div class="embed-privacy-overlay"> <div class="embed-privacy-inner"> <div class="embed-privacy-logo" style="background-image: url(https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/wp-content/plugins/embed-privacy/assets/images/embed-youtube.png?ver=1.10.10);"></div> <p> Click here to display content from YouTube. <br /> Learn more in YouTube’s <a href="https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en" target="_blank">privacy policy</a>. </p> <p class="embed-privacy-input-wrapper"> <input id="embed-privacy-store-youtube-4a8d759171a45d52c3f634cc975bb347" type="checkbox" value="1" class="embed-privacy-input" data-embed-provider="youtube"> <label for="embed-privacy-store-youtube-4a8d759171a45d52c3f634cc975bb347" class="embed-privacy-label" data-embed-provider="youtube"> Always display content from YouTube </label> </p> </p></div> <div class="embed-privacy-footer"><span class="embed-privacy-url"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIy07yfp--Y">Open &quot;EGU General Assembly &#8211; supplementary materials!&quot; directly</a></span></div> </p></div> <div class="embed-privacy-content"> <script>var _oembed_4a8d759171a45d52c3f634cc975bb347 = '{\"embed\":\"&lt;div class=&quot;rve&quot; data-content-width=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;iframe title=&quot;EGU General Assembly - supplementary materials!&quot; width=&quot;500&quot; height=&quot;281&quot; src=&quot;https:\\/\\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\\/embed\\/fIy07yfp--Y?feature=oembed&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;\\/iframe&gt;&lt;\\/div&gt;&lt;!-- Responsive Video Embeds plugin by www.kevinleary.net --&gt;\"}';</script> </div> </p></div> <p>One of the things our attendees really loved from the virtual formats we have run so far was the ability to comment on scientific content outside of the presentation time, so this is something we have kept . You can comment on supplementary materials any time from when they are uploaded through to the end of May 2025.</p> <p><strong>I&#8217;m joining virtually and I’m worried about juggling my responsibilities during the week, including childcare and caring responsibilities. What do I do?</strong></p> <p>Firstly, we acknowledge how difficult it is to attend a virtual conference, even when you are just worried about juggling your working responsibilities. We really hope that you will be able to be kind to yourself this week and, where possible, focus only on attending EGU25 – just as you would if you were attending in Vienna. And yes. that also includes taking some time out to explore and go for walks, talk with friends and colleagues and enjoy (hopefully) the late spring weather. In Vienna you are not constantly in the conference centre for the full week, and we hope you will be able to  also let yourself be not constantly working whilst attending EGU25 virtually as well.</p> <p>Other top tips for making an online conference easier:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Take regular breaks!</strong> This can mean doing something that isn’t work related, or even stepping away from your computer altogether.</li> <li><strong>Keep a pad and pen nearby to doodle on while you listen – let yourself fidget.</strong> <a href="http://vitalitynw.com/mental-health/5-reasons-why-fidgeting-in-zoom-meetings-is-good-for-you/">Research suggests</a> that letting yourself fidget whilst you listen can actually help you focus and remember more, so if you want to doodle whilst you listen – do it!</li> <li><strong>Schedule varied events.</strong> Once you have added your key sessions and abstracts into your personal programme, why not consider adding some more varied events? During the week of EGU25 you will be able to add and attend pop-up networking events, from Division social events to short presentations by our <a href="https://www.egu.eu/news/1249/mixed-media-sculptor-and-illustrator-chosen-as-artists-in-residence-for-the-egu25-general-assembly/">Artists in Residence</a>. As usual the <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/personal_programme">Union Symposia and Great Debate</a> sessions will be streamed live and you will also be able to participate in a number of short courses! Adding varied events to your schedule will give you a chance to focus your attention in different ways over the ten days of the meeting.</li> <li><strong>Be ruthless to the schedule, but kind to yourself.</strong> We at EGU know how easy it is to get excited when the <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/meetingprogramme">programme</a> is released and there are so many exciting sessions you want to attend, but remember – these events are very tiring to attend and you have to take care of yourself – so be conservative with adding events to your calendar and ruthless if you need to cut some out. Similarly, to ease the burden, you should try not to attend more than one session simultaneously. You would not be able to do this in Vienna, don’t feel like you have to do it now.</li> </ul> <p>For people who have caring responsibilities, in 2021 we spoke with two of our Division Presidents, Ira Didenkulova and Dan Parsons, who have experienced attending an EGU General Assembly whilst caring for young children about what they suggest for balancing caring with attending a virtual conference, but we would also very much appreciate any tips or advice any of you have to share.</p> <blockquote><p>My partner is also in research, so we plan our weeks in advance, so that one takes over the kids, while another needs to be at a conference/seminar. Obviously, it does not always work for both of us, but is more of a survival kit. Cleaning the house is also a challenge &#8211; we clean the house only every couple of weeks&#8230;! Toys are more often than not lying around. When my partner reaches his limit, he collects them into the box and hides them somewhere for a while.</p> <p>And&#8230; unless it is something special, when I should concentrate very much, I let the kids run around and get involved if they want to watch my zooms. Then either they become bored and soon leave, or they start to play in something of their own, so I can work nearby.</p> <p>In the worst case scenario, when both of us are busy and the kids ask for attention, we use cartoons! I am trying to keep it at the level of not more than once a week, so this is our emergency solution for critical days. I have my own selection of downloaded, approved cartoons and use a projector and a big screen. So, they have kind of a cinema! Another emergency solution is to re-discover the box of hidden toys after some weeks or even months. This gives an excitement for several hours, so practically saves a day!</p></blockquote> <p style="text-align: right;"><strong>Ira Didenkulova, Natural Hazards Division President, 2021 (current Programme Committee co-chair)</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <blockquote><p>Managing the workload of attending a virtual conference with all the other pressures of life during a pandemic is not easy, particularly when you have a 4 year-old, a 10 and 12 year-old all at home – as was the case during EGU20! ….and I was really lucky to be heavily supported by my wife, Katie. I know that many would have had less support making it even harder to juggle things. It was difficult getting to see all the sessions as well as keeping the children home-schooled and entertained. My wife, who is in the middle of her PhD, and I did a tag-team around the most important sessions I wanted to see last year and around the important times and parts of being a Division President.  Overall, although I felt like I missed so much great science the fact that the resources were all available outside of the session times meant that I was able to catch up with things I would undoubtedly missed if I was in Vienna in a normal General Assembly.</p> <p>So &#8230; what have I learnt? First, have a listing of those sessions you want to see most – prioritise – gold, silver and bronze or similar. Second, try not to worry if you miss things – I miss things all the time in Vienna, and at [EGU23] you can find the content afterward and follow up with the authors in the networking space. And finally, you can go to a conference in your pyjamas….take advantage of that!</p></blockquote> <p style="text-align: right;"><strong>Dan Parsons, Geomorphology Division President, 2021<br /> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>We will continue to add more information about EGU25 over the next few weeks and are looking forward to having you join us either in Vienna or online, very soon!</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/04/04/making-a-plan-using-your-egu25-personal-programme/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <media:content url="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/programme-photos-bunch-1024x536.png" medium="image" /> </item> <item> <title>How to make your EGU25 presentation accessible!</title> <link>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/04/02/how-to-make-your-egu25-presentation-accessible/</link> <comments>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/04/02/how-to-make-your-egu25-presentation-accessible/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Hazel Gibson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 02 Apr 2025 10:45:17 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Accessibility and inclusivity at EGU]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU GA 2025]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Science Communication]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sessions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Vienna]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Accessibility]]></category> <category><![CDATA[auto-captions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[colour vision deficiency]]></category> <category><![CDATA[digital conference]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU25]]></category> <category><![CDATA[European Geosciences Union General Assembly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[online conference]]></category> <category><![CDATA[online presenting tips]]></category> <category><![CDATA[rainbow scales]]></category> <category><![CDATA[visual accessibilty]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/?p=46805</guid> <description><![CDATA[Most people spend a lot of time and effort making their presentation engaging and impactful, but how much time do you spend making sure it is accessible!? An accessible presentation takes into account the diverse backgrounds and abilities of the audience, to support a better understanding of the message and information you are trying to share. This is particularly important for scientific research, where presenters need to be confident that their research is being communicated in a manner that is both scientifically sound and accessible; regardless of the barriers that will naturally exist, be they language, cultural or a disability.  Continuing our developments over the last few years, EGU&#8217;s upcoming General Assembly EGU25 will once again be a fully hybrid meeting, allowing you to make connections with other researchers both inside and outside your specific field, for on-site and virtual attendees alike. So how can you ensure that you&#8217;re making the most of this opportunity for everyone who accesses your research? Regardless of whether you are speaking to someone in the same room as you, or to someone joining virtually from thousands of kilometres away, here are some top tips to help you share your research with as wide an audience as possible. &#160; Make use of live captions, and don&#8217;t forget to practice! Whether the person attending your talk is Deaf or has a hearing disability, or perhaps English is not their first (or second, or third) language, good closed captions are essential to help that person understand your presentation. At EGU we are keen to support accessibility for our talks, so all EGU sessions this year will have closed-captioning available for virtual attendees (through the Zoom captioning option). We also strongly encourage presenters to do their own captioning for all videos uploaded in advance as part of the supplementary materials! As the acceptance of live captioning of scientific talks becomes more widespread, we have also seen examples of how it can go wrong, when the software mistakes a scientific word, or cannot master a strong accent. These are often called &#8216;craptions&#8216; and although it may be tempting to find them funny, publicly mocking incorrect captions and turning them into a joke is a form of ableism that negates the fact that many people rely on good captions to be able to participate in scientific events. EGU and our conference partner Copernicus have done research into the best AI live captioning systems available, but there are things that you as the presenter can do to help us avoid craptions as much as possible. So what can we do to make EGU25 live captions better? Well, to start with, we have three tips to help you improve your computer-generated live captions: Speak slowly and communicate clearly. This helps the automated transcription service to track your words and have a higher success rate. It also helps people to better understand your talk, and with pre-recording and uploading your full talk, you can have a few attempts until you get it just right. Practice with your live closed-captioner turned on. AI-based closed captioning services are smart &#8211; they learn from you and your speech patterns &#8211; so the more you practice speaking into your live closed caption service, the more accurate it becomes, even for fairly complex scientific words. Try Powerpoint, Otter.ai, Google slides or Rev for live captioning, and if you have worked with a captioner, and it knows you and your speech style well, let the organiser know, so they can preferentially use your software where possible. Use an external microphone. Your inbuilt microphone in your computer or laptop will not be able to capture your speaking voice clearly enough, so you need to have some kind of external microphone (even one on headphones or a headset will do) to really give the automated closed captioner the best chance at success. This is another good tip for online presenting in general; for an audience to hear you, you need an external microphone. Also if you are particularly worried about certain words, include technical language written simply on the slide. This is not an excuse to present a block of text, but if you need to present a word that you know live automatic captions struggle with, then include the word written clearly and plainly on your slide. You can also pre-caption your own recorded video uploads, so you know they are correct. For more great tips, read this Eos blog post on best practices for live captioning or read Stephanie Zihms&#8217; blog post about how to record accessible videos for teaching. &#160; Think about the language choices you make Beyond just how you present your work visually, aurally or physically are the choices of words you use when communicating about your work. Did you know that abbreviations are a barrier to understanding for everyone &#8211; even other scientists? Have you thought about how you use technical terms and who is in the audience? You have probably heard about using simple language to communicate your science, but beyond that how much thought do you put into the actual words you use and the range of meanings that may go with them? Often these language choices are about not unconsciously reinforcing outdated gender ideas, the use of uncrewed, instead of unmanned, for example is a more accurate choice as the gender of the &#8216;crew&#8217; is not being assumed. Some fields struggle with implicit use of language more than others. This can also include the use of &#8216;master&#8217; as a term, especially in computing, which has very obvious connections with slavery. When English is not your first language this can become especially challenging as the nuances of words won&#8217;t be as available to you. To help you with this EGU drafted an incomplete guide to inclusive language to get you started thinking about accessible language choices you can make. No one will get this right all the time, but stopping to think about the words you choose, and the way they may include or exclude other people from your presentation can make a big difference. &#160; Keep your pictures simple and clear Similar to live captioning, presenters are becoming more and more aware of how to create accessible images for their talk. Images can sometimes be difficult to understand for many reasons and yet, a well designed and carefully selected image can be key for many people to really connect with the researcher&#8217;s idea. Good images are obvious when you see them, but it is also still easy to make mistakes and create a confusing or even misleading image or graph, at any stage of your career. This is especially useful when uploading your supplementary materials &#8211; adding image descriptions to visualisations, graphics or photographs will allow people using a screen reader to understand what you are referring to in your slides or on your poster. This will in turn encourage more interaction with your  research, leading to better science! Try these three tips to help bring your EGU25 images to the front of the stage: 1. Rainbow scales are bad for presenting and interpreting data. Not only do colours in rainbow scales have emotional and perceptual meanings that cause people to incorrectly interpret them (yes, researchers too), they are very difficult for many people to even read in the first place. Just say no. 2. Contrast and clarity in your slides is key. When it comes to creating a presentation that is accessible, bear in mind that a reasonable proportion of your audience will have a colour-vision deficiency. High contrast between your text and the background of your slide helps and you can even test how well your images perform for people with different colour-vision deficiencies by using test websites like Coblis. Clarity and simplicity in your slides are key, to help everyone follow your talk. 3. Describe and explain your images. This may seem simple, but if there is an image on your slide and you don&#8217;t explain it, then you aren&#8217;t making it accessible or effective. Talk through the image piece by piece, and then explain its relevance. There is nothing as excluding as having someone say &#8216;as you can see here&#8217; and then moving on with a related point without describing or explaining what you can see. These images and diagrams may be familiar to you as the speaker, but there will certainly be someone in the audience who can&#8217;t see what you are referring to, whether because of a disability, or maybe because they are new to the field (or both!). Describing and explaining your images helps everyone. Remember, your presentation is more effective when it is easily understood by people of different backgrounds &#8211; and the choice of words and visuals may be more important than you think! EGU&#8217;s popular webinar by geophysicist and graphic designer Fabio Crameri will help you visualise results in a manner that is true to the data, and includes a helpful list of ways to emphasize the readability of your visuals. As Fabio says, it helps to “imagine your graphic on a highway billboard and the people driving by have around 10 seconds to get your main message.” The webinar also shows you how to avoid some of the common visualization mistakes that geoscientists tend to make, including but not limited to the use of non-uniform colour maps, faulty scales, inaccessible colour coding, unreadable annotations, inaccessible graphs, and missing acknowledgments. &#160; Don&#8217;t forget your presentation screen layout Thinking about how your presentation will show up in its final form might seem like an obvious point, especially if you are a poster presenter, but the placement of objects or text on your slides/page matters to everyone. If you are presenting an oral or PICO don&#8217;t forget that the zoom presenter&#8217;s window will cover the top right hand section of the screen. You also have to remember that the timer rectangle will be in the center top or top right of the screen too. For most rooms the very bottom of the slide will probably be partially obscured by the tops of people&#8217;s heads &#8211; so don&#8217;t put critical information, annotations or formulas along the bottom of your screen &#8211; keep the critical information in the center of each slide, so it will be easy to read no matter where the person is in the audience. For more advice on how to present in the various formats, check out our 1 study 4 presentations webinar. &#160; These points are only the very start of how we can all work to make presentations more accessible, and build on advice for visually accessible and audio accessible presenting that we have given previously, as well as using inclusive language in talks. For more resources check out the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Geosciences project resources page and feel free to share tips, ideas and other useful resources in the comments &#8211; we are all here to learn and share together, and make our research as accessible, for as many people as possible.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most people spend a lot of time and effort making their presentation engaging and impactful, but how much time do you spend making sure it is accessible!? An accessible presentation takes into account the diverse backgrounds and abilities of the audience, to support a better understanding of the message and information you are trying to share. This is particularly important for scientific research, where presenters need to be confident that<span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto"> their research is being communicated in a manner that is both scientifically sound and accessible; regardless of the barriers that will naturally exist, be they language, cultural or a disability. </span></p> <p>Continuing our developments over the last few years, EGU&#8217;s upcoming General Assembly <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/">EGU25</a> will once again be a fully hybrid meeting, allowing you to make connections with other researchers both inside and outside your specific field, for on-site and virtual attendees alike. So how can you ensure that you&#8217;re making the most of this opportunity for everyone who accesses your research?</p> <p>Regardless of whether you are speaking to someone in the same room as you, or to someone joining virtually from thousands of kilometres away, here are some top tips to help you share your research with as wide an audience as possible.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Make use of live captions, and don&#8217;t forget to practice!<br /> </strong></p> <div id="attachment_28913" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2021/03/23/accessibility-at-vegu21-creating-an-accessible-and-effective-presentation/1200px-closed_captioning_symbol-svg/" rel="attachment wp-att-28913"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28913" class="wp-image-28913 size-full" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2021/03/1200px-Closed_captioning_symbol.svg_-e1616454649938.png" alt="" width="150" height="113" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-28913" class="wp-caption-text">The closed caption symbol &#8216;cc&#8217; lets users know when a transcription of the dialogue is available. (Image credit: Wikimedia)</p></div> <p>Whether the person attending your talk is Deaf or has a hearing disability, or perhaps English is not their first (or second, or third) language, good closed captions are essential to help that person understand your presentation. At EGU we are keen to support accessibility for our talks, so all EGU sessions this year will have closed-captioning available for virtual attendees (through the Zoom captioning option). We also strongly encourage presenters to do their own captioning for all videos uploaded in advance as part of the supplementary materials!</p> <p>As the acceptance of live captioning of scientific talks becomes more widespread, we have also seen examples of how it can go wrong, when the software mistakes a scientific word, or cannot master a strong accent. These are often called &#8216;<a href="https://themindhears.org/2019/05/01/captions-and-craptions-for-academics/">craptions</a>&#8216; and although it may be tempting to find them funny, publicly mocking incorrect captions and turning them into a joke is a form of <a href="https://www.uclpress.co.uk/products/123203">ableism</a> that negates the fact that many people rely on good captions to be able to participate in scientific events. EGU and our conference partner Copernicus have done research into the best AI live captioning systems available, but there are things that you as the presenter can do to help us avoid craptions as much as possible. So what can we do to make EGU25 live captions better?</p> <p>Well, to start with, we have three tips to help you improve your computer-generated live captions:</p> <ol> <li><strong>Speak slowly and communicate clearly.</strong> This helps the automated transcription service to track your words and have a higher success rate. It also helps people to better understand your talk, and with pre-recording and uploading your full talk, you can have a few attempts until you get it just right.</li> <li><strong>Practice with your live closed-captioner turned on.</strong> AI-based closed captioning services are smart &#8211; they learn from you and your speech patterns &#8211; so the more you practice speaking into your live closed caption service, the more accurate it becomes, even for fairly complex scientific words. Try <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/present-with-real-time-automatic-captions-or-subtitles-in-powerpoint-68d20e49-aec3-456a-939d-34a79e8ddd5f">Powerpoint</a>, <a href="https://otter.ai/">Otter.ai</a>, <a href="https://support.google.com/docs/answer/9109474?hl=en">Google slides</a> or <a href="https://www.rev.com/">Rev</a> for live captioning, and if you have worked with a captioner, and it knows you and your speech style well, let the organiser know, so they can preferentially use your software where possible.</li> <li><strong>Use an external microphone</strong>. Your inbuilt microphone in your computer or laptop will not be able to capture your speaking voice clearly enough, so you need to have some kind of external microphone (even one on headphones or a headset will do) to really give the automated closed captioner the best chance at success. This is another good tip for online presenting in general; for an audience to hear you, you need an external microphone.</li> </ol> <p>Also if you are particularly worried about certain words, include technical language written simply on the slide. This is not an excuse to present a block of text, but if you need to present a word that you know live automatic captions struggle with, then include the word written clearly and plainly on your slide. You can also pre-caption your own recorded video uploads, so you know they are correct.</p> <p>For more great tips, read this <a href="https://eos.org/opinions/caption-this-best-practices-for-live-captioning-presentations">Eos blog post on best practices for live captioning</a> or read Stephanie Zihms&#8217; blog post about <a href="https://stephaniezihms.wordpress.com/2020/09/22/how-i-recording-accessible-videos-for-teaching/">how to record accessible videos for teaching</a>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Think about the language choices you make</strong></p> <p>Beyond just how you present your work visually, aurally or physically are the choices of words you use when communicating about your work. Did you know that <a href="https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/alienating-the-audience-how-abbreviations-hamper-scientific-communication">abbreviations are a barrier to understanding for everyone</a> &#8211; even other scientists? Have you thought about how you use technical terms and who is in the audience? You have probably heard about using simple language to communicate your science, but beyond that how much thought do you put into the actual words you use and the range of meanings that may go with them? Often these language choices are about not unconsciously reinforcing outdated gender ideas, <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2021/01/13/accessibility-at-egu-promoting-inclusive-language-an-incomplete-guide-2/">the use of uncrewed, instead of unmanned</a>, for example is a more accurate choice as the gender of the &#8216;crew&#8217; is not being assumed. Some fields struggle with implicit use of language more than others. This can also include the use of &#8216;master&#8217; as a term, especially in computing, which has very obvious connections with slavery. When English is not your first language this can become especially challenging as the nuances of words won&#8217;t be as available to you. To help you with this EGU drafted an<a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2021/01/13/accessibility-at-egu-promoting-inclusive-language-an-incomplete-guide-2/"> incomplete guide to inclusive language</a> to get you started thinking about accessible language choices you can make. No one will get this right all the time, but stopping to think about the words you choose, and the way they may include or exclude other people from your presentation can make a big difference.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Keep your pictures simple and clear<br /> </strong></p> <p>Similar to live captioning, presenters are becoming more and more aware of how to create accessible images for their talk. Images can sometimes be difficult to understand for many reasons and yet, a well designed and carefully selected image can be key for many people to really connect with the researcher&#8217;s idea. Good images are obvious when you see them, but it is also still easy to make mistakes and create a confusing or even misleading image or graph, at any stage of your career.</p> <p>This is especially useful when uploading your supplementary materials &#8211; adding image descriptions to visualisations, graphics or photographs will allow people using a screen reader to understand what you are referring to in your slides or on your poster. This will in turn encourage more interaction with your  research, leading to better science!</p> <p>Try these three tips to help bring your EGU25 images to the front of the stage:</p> <div id="attachment_28919" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2021/03/23/accessibility-at-vegu21-creating-an-accessible-and-effective-presentation/cwheel-polar-500x297/" rel="attachment wp-att-28919"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-28919" class="size-medium wp-image-28919" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2021/03/cwheel-polar-500x297-1-300x178.png" alt="" width="300" height="178" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2021/03/cwheel-polar-500x297-1-300x178.png 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2021/03/cwheel-polar-500x297-1-200x120.png 200w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2021/03/cwheel-polar-500x297-1-100x59.png 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2021/03/cwheel-polar-500x297-1.png 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-28919" class="wp-caption-text">This image highlights the de-saturation of certain colours that colour vision deficiency (in this case deuteranopia) can have on a standard colour wheel, demonstrating just one of the reasons why a rainbow scale is not a good choice for graphics. (Image credit: <a href="http://www.climate-lab-book.ac.uk/2015/reinventing-colour-wheel/">Ed Hawkins</a>)</p></div> <p><strong>1. Rainbow scales are bad for presenting and interpreting data.</strong> Not only do colours in rainbow scales have <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/end-of-the-rainbow-new-map-scale-is-more-readable-by-people-who-are-color-blind/">emotional and perceptual meanings</a> that cause people to incorrectly interpret them (yes, researchers too), they are very difficult for many people to even read in the first place. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/519291d">Just say no.</a></p> <p><strong>2. Contrast and clarity in your slides is key.</strong> When it comes to creating a presentation that is accessible, bear in mind that a reasonable proportion of your audience will have a colour-vision deficiency. High contrast between your text and the background of your slide helps and you can even test how well your images perform for people with different colour-vision deficiencies by using test websites like <a href="https://www.color-blindness.com/coblis-color-blindness-simulator/">Coblis</a>. Clarity and simplicity in your slides are key, to help everyone follow your talk.</p> <p><strong>3. Describe and explain your images.</strong> This may seem simple, but if there is an image on your slide and you don&#8217;t explain it, then you aren&#8217;t making it accessible <em>or</em> effective. Talk through the image piece by piece, and then explain its relevance. There is nothing as excluding as having someone say &#8216;as you can see here&#8217; and then moving on with a related point without describing or explaining what you can see. These images and diagrams may be familiar to you as the speaker, but there will certainly be someone in the audience who can&#8217;t see what you are referring to, whether because of a disability, or maybe because they are new to the field (or both!). Describing and explaining your images helps <em>everyone</em>.</p> <p><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Remember, your presentation is more effective when it is easily understood by people of different backgrounds &#8211; and the choice of words and visuals may be more important than you think! EGU&#8217;s popular webinar by geophysicist and graphic designer <a href="https://twitter.com/fcrameri?lang=en">Fabio Crameri</a> will help you <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukldJAo6MKU">visualise results in a manner that is true to the data</a>, and includes a helpful list of ways to emphasize the readability of your visuals. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukldJAo6MKU">As Fabio says</a>, it helps to “imagine your graphic on a highway billboard and the people driving by have around 10 seconds to get your main message.” The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukldJAo6MKU">webinar</a> also shows you </span><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">how to avoid some of the common visualization mistakes that geoscientists tend to make, including but not limited to the use of non-uniform colour maps, faulty scales, inaccessible colour coding, unreadable annotations, inaccessible graphs, and missing acknowledgments.<br /> </span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Don&#8217;t forget your presentation screen layout</strong></p> <p>Thinking about how your presentation will show up in its final form might seem like an obvious point, especially if you are a poster presenter, but the placement of objects or text on your slides/page matters to everyone. If you are presenting an oral or PICO don&#8217;t forget that the zoom presenter&#8217;s window will cover the top right hand section of the screen. You also have to remember that the timer rectangle will be in the center top or top right of the screen too. For most rooms the very bottom of the slide will probably be partially obscured by the tops of people&#8217;s heads &#8211; so don&#8217;t put critical information, annotations or formulas along the bottom of your screen &#8211; keep the critical information in the center of each slide, so it will be easy to read no matter where the person is in the audience. For more advice on how to present in the various formats, check out our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KemZK1na_Oo">1 study 4 presentations</a> webinar.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>These points are only the very start of how we can all work to make presentations more accessible, and build on advice for <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2020/03/04/accessibility-at-egu-top-10-tips-for-visually-accessible-presenting-the-sequel/">visually accessible</a> and <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2020/02/05/accessibility-at-egu-top-10-tips-for-accessible-presenting/">audio accessible presenting</a> that we have given previously, as well as <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2021/01/13/accessibility-at-egu-promoting-inclusive-language-an-incomplete-guide-2/">using inclusive language in talks</a>. For more resources check out the <a href="https://www.icrag-centre.org/edig/resources/">Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Geosciences project resources page</a> and feel free to share tips, ideas and other useful resources in the comments &#8211; we are all here to learn and share together, and make our research as accessible, for as many people as possible.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/04/02/how-to-make-your-egu25-presentation-accessible/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <media:content url="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Brain-in-a-jar-presentation-EGU23-1024x768.jpg" medium="image" /> </item> <item> <title>Questions about accessibility at EGU25? Your guide to attending with children, special access resources and overcoming conference barriers.</title> <link>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/31/questions-about-accessibility-at-egu25-your-guide-to-attending-with-children-special-access-resources-and-overcoming-conference-barriers/</link> <comments>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/31/questions-about-accessibility-at-egu25-your-guide-to-attending-with-children-special-access-resources-and-overcoming-conference-barriers/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Hazel Gibson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:45:02 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Accessibility and inclusivity at EGU]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU GA 2025]]></category> <category><![CDATA[General Assembly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Vienna]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Accessibility]]></category> <category><![CDATA[childcare]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU code of conduct]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU25]]></category> <category><![CDATA[harrassment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Inclusivity]]></category> <category><![CDATA[mental health]]></category> <category><![CDATA[scientific conference]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/?p=46652</guid> <description><![CDATA[The annual EGU General Assembly is a wonderful chance to gather together with friends and colleagues to discuss recent scientific work, plan new projects and develop your career, but a scientific meeting, especially one the size and length of time of the General Assembly is not an equally accessible experience for everyone. With this in mind over the years EGU have developed a range of resources aimed at increasing the accessibility of the meeting to a more diverse group of people, but if you are unsure what those resources are, we have gathered many of them in this blog to help you find them, whether you are a person attending with children, with a disability, with specific religious requirements, travel challenges or any other reason, to help you have the best meeting possible! There is a lot to get through, so let&#8217;s jump right in! Attending EGU25 with children If you are one of the many people who attends the General Assembly with children, balancing time for science with childcare can be a real challenge. To help you as much as possible with this EGU have several resources on offer whether your child is a newborn or a teenager. Firstly for anyone attending on-site who is presenting don&#8217;t miss out on booking a free childcare slot with our professional on-site childcare service. This is a very popular service, available for children aged 1-12 years old covering Monday to Friday, 08:30–12:30 and 14:00–18:00, and to make a booking you must have a paid registration. Check out the EGU25 childcare page for more information. In addition to this service if you are travelling with a child under 3 years old you can request a waiver for an additional parent or support carer who is not participating in the meeting to assist you with childcare responsibilities. In the conference center itself, in addition to the staffed childcare facilities we also have two family rooms  on the purple level (-2) with comfortable chairs and tables, books, toys and a microwave for preparing food, as well as private breastfeeding spaces if you prefer to use those. We also provide free colouring books on-site (with a geoscience theme of course!) but if you want to print off your own colouring pages you can access the pdfs for free here. Public transport in Vienna is fairly straightforward and for all registered attendees you can use your travel pass included with your EGU25 registration to use all city public transport for free, from Monday to Friday. Children under 6 years old travel for free on public transport, and for all other children a weekly pass is easy to book in advance. Child-friendly activities in Vienna are easy to find, in good weather the nearby Donaupark offers playgrounds and a quiet place to relax with the children whilst they run off some steam. The Vienna city tourist board all offers a range of guidance for people travelling with children. If you need to change your plans at the last minute to care for a sick child, whether to stay in your hotel room, or even to cancel your travel altogether, your on-site registration covers both on-site AND virtual access for the whole week of the meeting, so you can still connect, listen in to presentations and ask questions of the presenters wherever you are. If something arises and you can no longer make in on-site to present your abstract, you can email egu25@copernicus.org to enquire about switching to virtual participation (last minute changes are more easily accommodated for some presentation formats than others) or assign a colleague who will be on-site as the abstract&#8217;s presenting author. Attending the meeting online when you are also responsible for childcare presents it&#8217;s own set of challenges, and this year was the first year a fund was made available for people who needed financial support to help arrange childcare wherever you are. If you missed that opportunity, the only thing we can offer is the knowledge that on several occasions in the past few years people have presented their work with their children on screen too (whether they were supposed to be there or not!) and our meeting attendees were always encouraging and accommodating of the challenges of parenting whilst also being a scientist! If you are looking for extra help and guidance from other people who have had their children with them during the General Assembly, check out the EGUblogs for more info here, here and here. Attending EGU25 with a disability Anyone who has a disability of any kind knows that large conferences present a whole host of barriers to participation. The meeting is loud, busy, often crowded and especially overwhelming if you are balancing your own health and wellbeing with the traditional ways that these meetings are run. In order to attempt to mitigate these challenges both EGU and the conference center, the Austria Center Vienna, are making changes every year to reduce barriers to participation, and make the meeting space more flexible. These measures currently include: The entire conference center has step-free access options available, in cases where this is reliant on accessibility lifts, staff are on hand throughout the meeting to provide instant access to these &#8211; whether to get participants into a meeting room or onto stage to present. For additional support, contact the EGU info desk on the Yellow Level, call +49 176 21444874, or you can email egu25@copernicus.org in advance to facilitate any accessibility arrangements you may require. Hand-held and hands-free microphones are available to speakers in PICO and oral presentations, and to all audiences. Flexible height and angle presentation screens and lecterns, and seating options are available to presenters of all formats (including posters and PICO presentations). Conference assistants are available to help with putting up and taking down posters in all poster halls. Closed captions are provided for all Union-wide events and short courses. We also encourage people to use captioning in their own presentations and to think about accessible language. The route to the conference center from the nearest public transport is step free, and made of asphalt and concrete. There is wheelchair accessible parking at the Austria Center Vienna that has a single continuous ramp to the venue. We are a facemask friendly meeting, and no-one is required to remove a facemask in order to present, network, receive awards or medals, or participate in any other EGU activity. For full details of the building&#8217;s accessibility features, you can read this document provided by the Austria Center Vienna. If you are attending the meeting with a support person or carer, then these people are entitled to a registration fee waiver. Their registration can only be acquired by email. To secure the waiver, send the full name and email address of the support person together with the invoice number of the registered attendee to egu25@copernicus.org. A special registration link will then be sent to the support person allowing them to register for free. To make interaction easier EGU are offering a range of alternative lanyards that you can choose to use if you prefer, that indicate your need to be offered a seat, a need for people to talk more slowly with you, or indicating that you have a hidden disability. No disclosure is required for you to have one of these lanyards, you just have to go to the EGU booth in the Exhibition Hall (purple level) and exchange your regular EGU lanyard for the lanyard of your choice All new EGU lanyards (including the new designs) will also be adjustable, so you can set them to a comfortable length for you to wear and for others to read. For when you are participating in the meeting on-site there are dedicated quiet rooms on the purple level (-2) where you can take a moment of calm away from the busyness of the meeting. There are also outdoors spaces which can be valuable for getting quiet time away from the crowds, the terraces on the purple level (-2) and the blue level (3). The schedule of the meeting is set up in such a way that activities are set in specific times, and although we know you are likely to be busy you should be able to plan your day without feeling too overwhelmed. The personal programme and the EGU25 app help you to organise this (both will be available soon). Also each presentation format is organised into 10 minute blocks, so you should be able to accurately time the presentations you need/want to attend without sitting in the whole session if you are not able to, but we don&#8217;t recommend trying to attend too many different sessions in one time block as that can be a very stressful experience and the conference center is very large.  Every floor of the meeting is accessible by elevators and there is an on-site doctor on the yellow level in room 0.41 (beside the entrance to the Panoramic Walk, the Union wide session room E1 and the Exhibition), available for free to help anyone who needs assistance or support. Beyond the physical constraints of attending the meeting are the mental, emotional and sensory impacts. EGU&#8217;s Early Career Scientists are very focused on helping all EGU participants to prioritise their own wellness, and started a series of blog posts called &#8216;Mind your head&#8216; with advice on everything from impostor syndrome to healthy advisor-advisee relationships that are an excellent resource. In this instance the nearby Donaupark is very valuable again, providing you with a green outdoor space for decompression and to allow you to recenter yourself. If you are joining online, why not take advantage of our digital EGU25 Quiet Room playlist, and follow our advice on taking breaks whilst attending a virtual meeting. Another way to manage your capacity can be choosing when to attend a session on-site, or virtually. All on-site registration covers both on-site AND virtual access for the whole week of the meeting, so you can still connect, listen in to presentations and ask questions of the presenters wherever you are. If something arises and you can no longer make in on-site to present your abstract, you can email egu25@copernicus.org to enquire about switching to virtual participation (last minute changes are more easily accommodated for some presentation formats than others) or assign a colleague who will be on-site as the abstract&#8217;s presenting author. For some other first hand descriptions of attending the General Assembly with a disability, read the following blog posts here and here. Food and drink at the EGU General Assembly There are a range of food and drink options at the General Assembly, both inside and nearby the meeting, but given that we expect around 19,000 people to be attending the meeting onsite expect these provisions to be busy. There is food provided at outlets by the Austria Center Vienna&#8217;s caterer Motto on the purple (-2), yellow (0) and red (2) levels (look for the cutlery symbol on the floor plans). This food is freshly prepared on-site with full information about allergens or additional information available upon request. Motto also have a number of additional coffee outlets that provide a more limited menu of snacks and cakes. Outside the main venue there is a &#8216;Beergarten&#8217; area with a number of food trucks providing a range of food options, with outdoor seating. Starting this year the vendors will be able to take pre-bookings for food requests, reducing the amount of time required for queuing during peak times. Keep an eye on the EGU25 website for updates on how to book and reserve your food. About a 5-10 minute walk from the entrance to the conference center are some grocery stores where you can also purchase foodstuffs or drinks. The three closest are the bakery Ströck, which is open from 06:30-18:00, the supermarket Billa, open 07:30-19:45 and the supermarket Höfer (on the lower level of the concourse around the ACV), open 07:30-19:30. Bear in mind that as the Thursday (1 May) is a public holiday all shops are likely to be closed this day. Within the conference center there are many free water stations, so don&#8217;t forget to bring your reusuable water bottle, and each day free tea and coffee is provided during the morning and afternoon breaks, but the queue for these can be fairly long (pro-tip, head to the coffee points in the Exhibition and poster halls, they can often have shorter queues)! On the floor plans, the water stations are marked by rain drops, and the coffee stations by coffee cups. Other resources for meeting attendees Free online participation for people from certain geographical locations, and those who are undergraduate or masters level students! Guide to inclusive language &#8211; it can be easy to slip into using gendered language, especially when English is not your native language, but this guide should help you catch some of the more frequently used words. Avoid using rainbow scales! They are actually very hard to read for a lot of people and create more of a barrier to understanding. If you are someone who doesn&#8217;t have English as your native language and are worried about discussing your work in a busy and loud environment, pick up one of our new &#8216;Please speak slowly&#8217; lanyards, to help people adjust to a more easily understood speaking speed. Emergency menstrual products are available for free at the Information Desk, Press Center and at the Facility Desk of each poster hall (Hall X1, Hall X2, Hall X3, Hall X4, Hall X5, and Hall A). Half our bathrooms are &#8216;All Gender&#8217; bathrooms, although some of those do still have urinals in them (due to the building&#8217;s construction). All Gender bathrooms are available on each floor. Multi-faith prayer rooms are available on the purple level (-2) for use at any time during the conference opening hours. Please be respectful of other users of these spaces. Discrimination of any other person on the basis of dress/appearance, religion, perceived or stated gender identity, career stage, age, marital status, sexual orientation, racialised identity, disability or any other marginalised identity is strictly prohibited and against EGU&#8217;s Code of Conduct, which all attendees agreed to upon registration. If you experience or observe a violation of this Code of Conduct, and you feel able to, you can report this to EGU&#8217;s Persons of Trust for appropriate action to be taken. Pronouns can be added to your name badge at your discretion &#8211; if a mistake has been made you can also get your name badge corrected and reprinted via the EGU information desk on-site. Pronouns can be added entirely at your own discretion, however the pronouns of others must be respected, and intentional misgendering of another person is a violation of the EGU Code of Conduct. Pride and progress pride stickers and a lanyard are now available via the EGU Booth in the Exhibition Hall, to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ members of our community. If you want more advice on how to be an active ally during the meeting, in previous years one of the current EGU Persons of Trust, Andrea Popp, wrote a very comprehensive guide to combating discimination or unethical behaviour at a scientific meeting, and is well worth a read. One of the key sections is on how to be an active bystander, something the EGU EDI Committee provide extra training on throughout the year. Andrea said: What can you do if you experience unethical behaviour during the EGU General Assembly? (inspired by the toolkit of the New York University, Academic Bystander Working Group) Stay calm and assess the situation (Is the question/behaviour appropriate? How does it make you feel?). Look for allies and active bystanders! If you feel unsafe intervening yourself, there may be others that can provide support. For instance, try making eye contact with friendly colleagues or the session convener. Remember: if you are presenting your work, you as a speaker are in control! Know that you are not obliged to engage with insulting or condescending questions/comments. If you feel safe and comfortable enough, set your own boundaries. You can react to an inappropriate question/comment with the following counter-questions/comments:  “Do I understand correctly that you think …”,  “Why do you think that this is relevant to my study?”  “I do not see your point / do not understand your question. Can you please explain your main point and why this is pertinent to this discussion?” You can also diffuse the situation: You may reply that you will get back to them later (e.g., as answering their question would go into too much detail at the moment and that you want to give others the chance to ask questions too.) You can also disrupt such situations by reinforcing the main focus of your research, thereby dismissing the question. We strongly recommend writing down what happened in as much detail as possible: What happened and when did it happen? Who was present and witnessed the situation? How did you react and how did the situation make you feel? This can be difficult to do alone, so you might sit down with a trusted person (friend, family, a trusted colleague, etc.). Such a document will help you think about ways to handle such situations in the future and clarify for yourself whether you wish to report the incident to the EGU (see Box 3). More examples by the Academic Bystander Working Group @NYU, including regarding sexual harassment, can be found here. How can you be an ally and active bystander? Stay calm and assess the situation. Be respectful and constructive. Be aware of your own biases and counter them. Make space for others if you feel they are not being heard. Follow one or more of the 5 Ds of Bystander Intervention (adopted from ADVANCEGeo Partnership, 2018 link; Figure 3) Although EGU has tried to provide a lot of resources to help overcome many of the traditional barriers to attending conferences, we are very aware that this is only the beginning of the process. If you have other tips or advice for your fellow participants please don&#8217;t hesitate to share them in the comments, or let us know what more we could be doing to help improve access to the EGU General Assembly!]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The annual EGU General Assembly is a wonderful chance to gather together with friends and colleagues to discuss recent scientific work, plan new projects and develop your career, but a scientific meeting, especially one the size and length of time of the General Assembly is not an equally accessible experience for everyone. With this in mind over the years EGU have developed a range of resources aimed at increasing the accessibility of the meeting to a more diverse group of people, but if you are unsure what those resources are, we have gathered many of them in this blog to help you find them, whether you are a person attending with children, with a disability, with specific religious requirements, travel challenges or any other reason, to help you have the best meeting possible!</p> <p>There is a lot to get through, so let&#8217;s jump right in!</p> <h3>Attending EGU25 with children</h3> <p>If you are one of the many people who attends the General Assembly with children, balancing time for science with childcare can be a real challenge. To help you as much as possible with this EGU have several resources on offer whether your child is a newborn or a teenager. Firstly for anyone attending on-site who is presenting don&#8217;t miss out on booking a <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/childcare.html">free childcare</a> slot with our professional on-site childcare service. This is a very popular service, available for <strong>children aged 1-12</strong> years old covering Monday to Friday, 08:30–12:30 and 14:00–18:00, and to <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/childcare.html">make a booking</a> you must have a paid registration. Check out the <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/childcare.html">EGU25 childcare page</a> for more information. In addition to this service if you are travelling with a <strong>child under 3 years old</strong> you can <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/childcare.html">request a waiver for an additional parent or support carer</a> who is not participating in the meeting to assist you with childcare responsibilities.</p> <p><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h26m_DSC05197_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-46735 size-medium" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h26m_DSC05197_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h26m_DSC05197_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h26m_DSC05197_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h26m_DSC05197_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h26m_DSC05197_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h26m_DSC05197_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-100x67.jpg 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h26m_DSC05197_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-600x400.jpg 600w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h26m_DSC05197_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a>In the conference center itself, in addition to the staffed childcare facilities we also have <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/egu25-floor-plans.pdf">two family rooms</a>  on the purple level (-2) with comfortable chairs and tables, books, toys and a microwave for preparing food, as well as <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/egu25-floor-plans.pdf">private breastfeeding spaces</a> if you prefer to use those. We also provide <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2024/04/12/the-new-egu-colouring-books/">free colouring books</a> on-site (with a geoscience theme of course!) but if you want to print off your own colouring pages you can <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2024/04/12/the-new-egu-colouring-books/">access the pdfs for free here</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.wien.info/en/travel-info/transport">Public transport in Vienna</a> is fairly straightforward and for all registered attendees you can use your <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/register.html#generalinformation">travel pass included with your EGU25 registration</a> to use all city public transport for free, from Monday to Friday. <a href="https://www.wien.info/en/see-do/families/infos-348998">Children under 6 years old travel for free</a> on public transport, and for all other children <a href="https://www.wien.info/en/travel-info/transport">a weekly pass</a> is easy to book in advance.</p> <p><a href="https://www.wien.info/en/see-do/families/infos-348998">Child-friendly activities in Vienna</a> are easy to find, in good weather the nearby <a href="https://www.wien.gv.at/english/environment/parks/donaupark.html">Donaupark</a> offers playgrounds and a quiet place to relax with the children whilst they run off some steam. The <a href="https://www.wien.info/en/see-do/families/infos-348998">Vienna city tourist board</a> all offers a range of guidance for people travelling with children.</p> <p>If you need to change your plans at the last minute to care for a sick child, whether to stay in your hotel room, or even to cancel your travel altogether, your on-site registration covers both on-site AND virtual access for the whole week of the meeting, so you can still connect, listen in to presentations and ask questions of the presenters wherever you are. If something arises and you can no longer make in on-site to present your abstract, you can email <a href="mailto:egu25@copernicus.org">egu25@copernicus.org</a> to enquire about switching to virtual participation (last minute changes are more easily accommodated for some presentation formats than others) or assign a colleague who will be on-site as the abstract&#8217;s presenting author.</p> <p><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h38m_DSC05266_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-46736 size-medium" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h38m_DSC05266_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h38m_DSC05266_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h38m_DSC05266_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h38m_DSC05266_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h38m_DSC05266_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h38m_DSC05266_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-100x67.jpg 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h38m_DSC05266_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418-600x400.jpg 600w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/18_11h38m_DSC05266_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a>Attending the meeting online when you are also responsible for childcare presents it&#8217;s own set of challenges, and this year was the first year a <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/guidelines/supports_and_waivers.html#edi-support">fund was made available for people who needed financial support to help arrange childcare</a> wherever you are. If you missed that opportunity, the only thing we can offer is the knowledge that on several occasions in the past few years people have presented their work with their children on screen too (whether they were supposed to be there or not!) and our meeting attendees were always encouraging and accommodating of the challenges of parenting whilst also being a scientist!</p> <p>If you are looking for extra help and guidance from other people who have had their children with them during the General Assembly, check out the EGUblogs for more info <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2020/02/19/accessibility-at-egu-parenting-at-the-general-assembly-yes-to-the-creche/">here</a>, <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/divisions/cl/2022/01/14/parenting-in-academia-challenges-and-perspectives/">here</a> and <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2022/05/06/how-to-egu22-tips-for-attending-the-conference-with-kids/">here</a>.</p> <h3>Attending EGU25 with a disability</h3> <p>Anyone who has a disability of any kind knows that large conferences present a whole host of barriers to participation. The meeting is loud, busy, often crowded and especially overwhelming if you are balancing your own health and wellbeing with the traditional ways that these meetings are run. In order to attempt to mitigate these challenges both EGU and the conference center, the Austria Center Vienna, are making changes every year to reduce barriers to participation, and make the meeting space more flexible. These measures currently include:</p> <ul> <li>The entire conference center has <a href="https://cms-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Accessibilty-visitors_2024_EN_bf.pdf">step-free access options available</a>, in cases where this is reliant on accessibility lifts, staff are on hand throughout the meeting to provide instant access to these &#8211; whether to get participants into a meeting room or onto stage to present. For additional support, contact the EGU info desk on the Yellow Level, call +49 176 21444874, or you can email <a class="theme" href="mailto:egu25@copernicus.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">egu25@copernicus.org</a> in advance to facilitate any accessibility arrangements you may require.</li> <li>Hand-held and hands-free microphones are available to speakers in PICO and oral presentations, and to all audiences.</li> <li>Flexible height and angle presentation screens and lecterns, and seating options are available to presenters of all formats (including posters and PICO presentations).</li> <li>Conference assistants are available to help with putting up and taking down posters in all poster halls.</li> <li>Closed captions are provided for all Union-wide events and short courses. We also encourage people to use captioning in their own presentations and to think about accessible language.</li> <li>The route to the conference center from the nearest public transport is step free, and made of asphalt and concrete. There is <a href="https://cms-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Accessibilty-visitors_2024_EN_bf.pdf">wheelchair accessible parking</a> at the Austria Center Vienna that has a single continuous ramp to the venue.</li> <li>We are a <strong>facemask friendly meeting</strong>, and no-one is required to remove a facemask in order to present, network, receive awards or medals, or participate in any other EGU activity.</li> </ul> <p>For full details of the building&#8217;s accessibility features, you can read <a href="https://cms-api.acv.at/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Accessibilty-visitors_2024_EN_bf.pdf">this document</a> provided by the Austria Center Vienna.</p> <p>If you are attending the meeting with a <strong>support person or carer,</strong> then these people are entitled to a registration fee waiver. Their registration can only be acquired by <a href="mailto:egu25@copernicus.org">email</a>. To secure the waiver, send the full name and email address of the support person together with the invoice number of the registered attendee to egu25@copernicus.org. A special registration link will then be sent to the support person allowing them to register for free.</p> <p>To make interaction easier EGU are offering a range of alternative lanyards that you can choose to use if you prefer, that indicate your need to be offered a seat, a need for people to talk more slowly with you, or indicating that you have a hidden disability. No disclosure is required for you to have one of these lanyards, you just have to go to the EGU booth in the Exhibition Hall (purple level) and exchange your regular EGU lanyard for the lanyard of your choice All new EGU lanyards (including the new designs) will also be adjustable, so you can set them to a comfortable length for you to wear and for others to read.<br /> <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/accessibility-lanyards.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-46738 alignnone" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/accessibility-lanyards-1024x421.png" alt="" width="1024" height="421" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/accessibility-lanyards-1024x421.png 1024w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/accessibility-lanyards-300x123.png 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/accessibility-lanyards-768x316.png 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/accessibility-lanyards-1536x632.png 1536w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/accessibility-lanyards-2048x843.png 2048w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/accessibility-lanyards-100x41.png 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/accessibility-lanyards-972x400.png 972w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></p> <p>For when you are participating in the meeting on-site there are dedicated quiet rooms on the purple level (-2) where you can take a moment of calm away from the busyness of the meeting. There are also outdoors spaces which can be valuable for getting quiet time away from the crowds, <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/egu25-floor-plans.pdf">the terraces</a> on the purple level (-2) and the blue level (3). The <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/about/meeting_format.html">schedule of the meeting</a> is set up in such a way that activities are set in specific times, and although we know you are likely to be busy you should be able to plan your day without feeling too overwhelmed. The personal programme and the EGU25 app help you to organise this (both will be available soon). Also each presentation format is organised into 10 minute blocks, so you should be able to accurately time the presentations you need/want to attend without sitting in the whole session if you are not able to, but we don&#8217;t recommend trying to attend too many different sessions in one time block as that can be a very stressful experience and the conference center is very large.</p> <p><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-46817" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56-300x215.png" alt="" width="300" height="215" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56-300x215.png 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56-768x550.png 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56-100x72.png 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56-559x400.png 559w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-01-at-15.51.56.png 782w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a> Every floor of the meeting is accessible by elevators and there is an on-site doctor on the yellow level in room 0.41 (beside the entrance to the Panoramic Walk, the Union wide session room E1 and the Exhibition), available for free to help anyone who needs assistance or support.</p> <p>Beyond the physical constraints of attending the meeting are the mental, emotional and sensory impacts. EGU&#8217;s Early Career Scientists are very focused on helping all EGU participants to prioritise their own wellness, and started a series of blog posts called &#8216;<a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/divisions/ts/category/mind-your-head/">Mind your head</a>&#8216; with advice on everything from impostor syndrome to healthy advisor-advisee relationships that are an excellent resource. In this instance the nearby <a href="https://www.wien.gv.at/english/environment/parks/donaupark.html">Donaupark</a> is very valuable again, providing you with a green outdoor space for decompression and to allow you to recenter yourself. If you are joining online, why not take advantage of our digital<a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Sxk7qfMybqBwZLE3soocc?si=NIL4AEdKRsqV5OsJOmiarQ" target="blank"> EGU25 Quiet Room</a> playlist, and follow our <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/about/accessibility_and_inclusiveness.html">advice on taking breaks</a> whilst attending a virtual meeting.</p> <p>Another way to manage your capacity can be choosing when to attend a session on-site, or virtually. All on-site registration covers both on-site AND virtual access for the whole week of the meeting, so you can still connect, listen in to presentations and ask questions of the presenters wherever you are. If something arises and you can no longer make in on-site to present your abstract, you can email <a href="mailto:egu25@copernicus.org">egu25@copernicus.org</a> to enquire about switching to virtual participation (last minute changes are more easily accommodated for some presentation formats than others) or assign a colleague who will be on-site as the abstract&#8217;s presenting author.</p> <p>For some other first hand descriptions of attending the General Assembly with a disability, read the following blog posts <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2023/07/07/my-unbiased-critique-of-egus-evolving-general-assembly/">here</a> and <a href="https://blog.rtwilson.com/attending-egu-in-a-wheelchair/">here</a>.</p> <h3>Food and drink at the EGU General Assembly</h3> <p>There are a range of food and drink options at the General Assembly, both inside and nearby the meeting, but given that we expect around 19,000 people to be attending the meeting onsite expect these provisions to be busy. There is food provided at outlets by the Austria Center Vienna&#8217;s caterer <a href="https://www.motto-catering.at/motto-catering/gallery.php?id=360">Motto</a> on the <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/egu25-floor-plans.pdf">purple (-2), yellow (0) and red (2) levels</a> (look for the cutlery symbol on the floor plans). This food is freshly prepared on-site with full information about allergens or additional information available upon request. Motto also have a number of additional coffee outlets that provide a more limited menu of snacks and cakes.</p> <p>Outside the main venue there is a &#8216;Beergarten&#8217; area with a number of food trucks providing a range of food options, with outdoor seating. Starting this year the vendors will be able to take pre-bookings for food requests, reducing the amount of time required for queuing during peak times. Keep an eye on the <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/">EGU25 website for updates</a> on how to book and reserve your food.</p> <p><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/DSC00901_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240415.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-46748 alignnone" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/DSC00901_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240415-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/DSC00901_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240415-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/DSC00901_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240415-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/DSC00901_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240415-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/DSC00901_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240415-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/DSC00901_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240415-100x67.jpg 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/DSC00901_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240415-600x400.jpg 600w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/DSC00901_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240415.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></p> <p>About a 5-10 minute walk from the entrance to the conference center are some grocery stores where you can also purchase foodstuffs or drinks. The three closest are the bakery <a href="https://stroeck.at/filialfinder/?store_code=3064">Ströck</a>, which is open from 06:30-18:00, the supermarket <a href="https://www.billa.at/">Billa</a>, open 07:30-19:45 and the supermarket <a href="https://www.hofer.at/?utm_campaign=5fd8b6c00034cc4a890223a417eb812f&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=local&amp;utm_content=filiale_A0844">Höfer</a> (on the lower level of the concourse around the ACV), open 07:30-19:30. Bear in mind that as the Thursday (1 May) is a public holiday all shops are likely to be closed this day.</p> <p>Within the conference center there are many free water stations, so don&#8217;t forget to bring your reusuable water bottle, and each day free tea and coffee is provided during the morning and afternoon breaks, but the queue for these can be fairly long (pro-tip, head to the coffee points in the Exhibition and poster halls, they can often have shorter queues)! On the<a href="https://www.egu25.eu/egu25-floor-plans.pdf"> floor plans</a>, the water stations are marked by rain drops, and the coffee stations by coffee cups.</p> <h3>Other resources for meeting attendees</h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/register.html#virtualfees">Free online participation</a> for people from certain geographical locations, and those who are <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/register.html#virtualfees">undergraduate or masters</a> level students!</li> <li>Guide to inclusive language &#8211; it can be easy to slip into using gendered language, especially when English is not your native language, but <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2021/01/13/accessibility-at-egu-promoting-inclusive-language-an-incomplete-guide-2/">this guide</a> should help you catch some of the more frequently used words.</li> <li><a href="https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/25/4549/2021/hess-25-4549-2021.html" target="blank">Avoid using rainbow scales</a>! They are actually very hard to read for a lot of people and create more of a barrier to understanding.</li> <li>If you are someone who doesn&#8217;t have English as your native language and are worried about discussing your work in a busy and loud environment, pick up one of our new &#8216;Please speak slowly&#8217; lanyards, to help people adjust to a more easily understood speaking speed.</li> </ul> <p><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/please-speak-slowly-cropped.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-46753 alignnone" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/please-speak-slowly-cropped-1024x103.png" alt="" width="1024" height="103" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/please-speak-slowly-cropped-1024x103.png 1024w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/please-speak-slowly-cropped-300x30.png 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/please-speak-slowly-cropped-768x77.png 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/please-speak-slowly-cropped-1536x155.png 1536w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/please-speak-slowly-cropped-2048x207.png 2048w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/please-speak-slowly-cropped-100x10.png 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/please-speak-slowly-cropped-1600x161.png 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></p> <ul> <li>Emergency menstrual products are available for <span style="text-decoration: underline;">free</span> at the Information Desk, Press Center and at the Facility Desk of each poster hall (Hall X1, Hall X2, Hall X3, Hall X4, Hall X5, and Hall A).</li> <li>Half our bathrooms are &#8216;All Gender&#8217; bathrooms, although some of those do still have urinals in them (due to the building&#8217;s construction). All Gender bathrooms are available on each floor.</li> <li>Multi-faith prayer rooms are available on the purple level (-2) for use at any time during the conference opening hours. Please be respectful of other users of these spaces.</li> <li>Discrimination of any other person on the basis of dress/appearance, religion, perceived or stated gender identity, career stage, age, marital status, sexual orientation, racialised identity, disability or any other marginalised identity is strictly prohibited and against <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/27/egu25s-code-of-conduct-standards-of-behaviour-for-all-our-participants/">EGU&#8217;s Code of Conduct</a>, which all attendees agreed to upon registration. If you <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/27/egu25s-code-of-conduct-standards-of-behaviour-for-all-our-participants/">experience or observe a violation of this Code of Conduct</a>, and you feel able to, you can <a href="https://www.egu.eu/about/code-of-conduct/">report this to EGU&#8217;s Persons of Trust</a> for appropriate action to be taken.</li> <li><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/05/EGU-Pride.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-42937 size-medium alignright" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/05/EGU-Pride-300x181.png" alt="" width="300" height="181" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/05/EGU-Pride-300x181.png 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/05/EGU-Pride-1024x616.png 1024w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/05/EGU-Pride-768x462.png 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/05/EGU-Pride-1536x924.png 1536w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/05/EGU-Pride-100x60.png 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/05/EGU-Pride-665x400.png 665w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/05/EGU-Pride.png 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a>Pronouns can be added to your name badge at your discretion &#8211; if a mistake has been made you can also get your name badge corrected and reprinted via the EGU information desk on-site. Pronouns can be added entirely at your own discretion, however the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTkx0QVPD2w">pronouns of others must be respected</a>, and intentional misgendering of another person is a violation of the EGU Code of Conduct.</li> <li>Pride and progress pride stickers and a lanyard are now available via the EGU Booth in the Exhibition Hall, to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ members of our community.</li> </ul> <p>If you want more advice on how to be an active ally during the meeting, in previous years one of the current EGU Persons of Trust, Andrea Popp, wrote a very comprehensive <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2023/03/23/how-to-egu23-help-us-ensure-a-safe-and-inclusive-egu23/">guide to combating discimination or unethical behaviour at a scientific meeting</a>, and is well worth a <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2023/03/23/how-to-egu23-help-us-ensure-a-safe-and-inclusive-egu23/">read</a>. One of the key sections is on how to be an active bystander, something the <a href="https://www.egu.eu/structure/committees-and-working-groups/edi/">EGU EDI Committee</a> provide extra training on throughout the year. Andrea said:</p> <p><strong>What can you do if you experience unethical behaviour during the EGU General Assembly? </strong>(inspired by the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1wxWYNL5kY7WNSARffqassrpqZbV5JXwhXGXHfkyw1VE/mobilebasic">toolkit</a> of the New York University, Academic Bystander Working Group)</p> <ul> <li>Stay calm and assess the situation (Is the question/behaviour appropriate? How does it make you feel?).</li> <li>Look for allies and active bystanders! If you feel unsafe intervening yourself, there may be others that can provide support. For instance, try making eye contact with friendly colleagues or the session convener.</li> <li>Remember: if you are presenting your work, you as a speaker are in control! Know that you are not obliged to engage with insulting or condescending questions/comments.</li> <li>If you feel safe and comfortable enough, set your own boundaries. You can react to an inappropriate question/comment with the following counter-questions/comments: <ul> <li> “Do I understand correctly that you think …”,</li> <li> “Why do you think that this is relevant to my study?”</li> <li> “I do not see your point / do not understand your question. Can you please explain your main point and why this is pertinent to this discussion?”</li> </ul> </li> <li>You can also diffuse the situation: <ul> <li>You may reply that you will get back to them later (e.g., as answering their question would go into too much detail at the moment and that you want to give others the chance to ask questions too.)</li> <li>You can also disrupt such situations by reinforcing the main focus of your research, thereby dismissing the question.</li> </ul> </li> <li>We strongly recommend writing down what happened in as much detail as possible: What happened and when did it happen? Who was present and witnessed the situation? How did you react and how did the situation make you feel? This can be difficult to do alone, so you might sit down with a trusted person (friend, family, a trusted colleague, etc.). Such a document will help you think about ways to handle such situations in the future and clarify for yourself whether you wish to report the incident to the EGU (see Box 3).</li> <li>More examples by the Academic Bystander Working Group @NYU, including regarding sexual harassment, can be found <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1wxWYNL5kY7WNSARffqassrpqZbV5JXwhXGXHfkyw1VE/mobilebasic">here</a>.</li> </ul> <p><strong>How can you be an ally and active bystander?</strong></p> <ul> <li>Stay calm and assess the situation.</li> <li>Be respectful and constructive.</li> <li>Be aware of your own biases and counter them.</li> <li>Make space for others if you feel they are not being heard.</li> <li>Follow one or more of the 5 Ds of Bystander Intervention (adopted from ADVANCEGeo Partnership, 2018 <a href="https://serc.carleton.edu/advancegeo/resources/responding.html">link</a>; Figure 3)</li> </ul> <p>Although EGU has tried to provide a lot of resources to help overcome many of the traditional barriers to attending conferences, we are very aware that this is only the beginning of the process. If you have other tips or advice for your fellow participants please don&#8217;t hesitate to share them in the comments, or let us know what more we could be doing to help improve access to the EGU General Assembly!</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/31/questions-about-accessibility-at-egu25-your-guide-to-attending-with-children-special-access-resources-and-overcoming-conference-barriers/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <media:content url="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/all-gender-bathrooms-1024x669.jpg" medium="image" /> </item> <item> <title>GeoRoundup: the highlights of EGU Journals published during March!</title> <link>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/31/georoundup-the-highlights-of-egu-journals-published-during-march-2025/</link> <comments>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/31/georoundup-the-highlights-of-egu-journals-published-during-march-2025/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Asmae Ourkiya]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:00:18 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[GeoRoundup]]></category> <category><![CDATA[News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Publications]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU news]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU publications]]></category> <category><![CDATA[GeoRoundUp]]></category> <category><![CDATA[media]]></category> <category><![CDATA[open access]]></category> <category><![CDATA[publication highlights]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/?p=46710</guid> <description><![CDATA[Each month we feature specific Divisions of EGU and during the monthly GeoRoundup we put the journals that publish science from those Divisions at the top of the Highlights section. This month, we are not featuring any particular divisions, but an ensemble of all the highlights of this month instead. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Modelled surface climate response to effusive Icelandic volcanic eruptions: sensitivity to season and size &#8211; 12 March 2025 Modulation of the northern polar vortex by the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha&#8217;apai eruption and the associated surface response &#8211; 27 March 2025 Biogeosciences Composite model-based estimate of the ocean carbon sink from 1959 to 2022 &#8211; 28 March 2025 Climate of the Past Reconstruction of Holocene and Last Interglacial vegetation dynamics and wildfire activity in southern Siberia &#8211; 20 March 2025 Earth System Dynamics Potential for equation discovery with AI in the climate sciences &#8211; 28 March 2025 Geoscience Communication Climate denial and the classroom: a review &#8211; 31 March 2025 Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Meteorological ingredients of heavy precipitation and subsequent lake-filling episodes in the northwestern Sahara &#8211; 17 March 2025 Ocean Science Decadal changes in phytoplankton functional composition in the Eastern English Channel: possible upcoming major effects of climate change &#8211; 20 March 2025 The Cryosphere The glaciers of the Dolomites: the last 40 years of melting &#8211; 24 March 2025 EGU in the news &#8211; March Recent paper published in our journal The Cryosphere supports study on Vanderford glacier’s sensitivity to basal melt and calving Austria’s Glacier Protection Year: EGU General Assembly among other events featuring urgent need for glacier preservation IIASA researchers propel climate change and resilience insights at EGU25]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Each month we feature specific Divisions of EGU and during the monthly GeoRoundup we put the journals that publish science from those Divisions at the top of the <a href="https://www.egu.eu/publications/highlight-articles/">Highlights</a> section. This month, we are not featuring any particular divisions, but an ensemble of all the highlights of this month instead.</em></p> <hr /> <p><strong><a class="moodboard-title-link" href="https://www.atmospheric-chemistry-and-physics.net/">Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics</a></strong></p> <p><a href="https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/2989/2025/acp-25-2989-2025.html">Modelled surface climate response to effusive Icelandic volcanic eruptions: sensitivity to season and size</a> &#8211; 12 March 2025</p> <p><a href="https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/3623/2025/acp-25-3623-2025.html"> Modulation of the northern polar vortex by the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha&#8217;apai eruption and the associated surface response</a> &#8211; 27 March 2025</p> <p><strong><a class="moodboard-title-link" href="https://www.biogeosciences.net/">Biogeosciences</a></strong></p> <p><a href="https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/22/1631/2025/bg-22-1631-2025.html">Composite model-based estimate of the ocean carbon sink from 1959 to 2022</a> &#8211; 28 March 2025</p> <p><strong><a class="moodboard-title-link" href="https://www.climate-of-the-past.net/">Climate of the Past</a></strong></p> <p><a href="https://cp.copernicus.org/articles/21/661/2025/cp-21-661-2025.html">Reconstruction of Holocene and Last Interglacial vegetation dynamics and wildfire activity in southern Siberia</a> &#8211; 20 March 2025</p> <p><strong><a class="moodboard-title-link" href="https://www.earth-system-dynamics.net/">Earth System Dynamics</a></strong></p> <p><a href="https://esd.copernicus.org/articles/16/475/2025/esd-16-475-2025.html">Potential for equation discovery with AI in the climate sciences</a> &#8211; 28 March 2025</p> <p><strong><a class="moodboard-title-link" href="https://www.geoscience-communication.net/">Geoscience Communication</a></strong></p> <p><a href="https://gc.copernicus.org/articles/8/81/2025/">Climate denial and the classroom: a review</a> &#8211; 31 March 2025</p> <p><strong><a class="moodboard-title-link" href="https://www.hydrology-and-earth-system-sciences.net/">Hydrology and Earth System Sciences</a></strong></p> <p><a href="https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/29/1395/2025/hess-29-1395-2025.html">Meteorological ingredients of heavy precipitation and subsequent lake-filling episodes in the northwestern Sahara</a> &#8211; 17 March 2025</p> <p><strong><a class="moodboard-title-link" href="https://www.ocean-science.net/">Ocean Science</a></strong></p> <p><a href="https://os.copernicus.org/articles/21/679/2025/os-21-679-2025.html">Decadal changes in phytoplankton functional composition in the Eastern English Channel: possible upcoming major effects of climate change</a> &#8211; 20 March 2025</p> <p><strong><a class="moodboard-title-link" href="https://www.the-cryosphere.net/">The Cryosphere</a></strong></p> <p><a href="https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/1335/2025/tc-19-1335-2025.html">The glaciers of the Dolomites: the last 40 years of melting</a> &#8211; 24 March 2025</p> <p><strong>EGU in the news &#8211; March</strong></p> <ul> <li> <p data-start="0" data-end="76"><a href="https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/955/2025/">Recent paper</a> published in our journal <a href="https://www.the-cryosphere.net/">The Cryosphere</a> supports <a href="https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/03/nasas-icesat-2-fires-2-trillion-laser-pulses-to-track-earths-changing-ice/">study on Vanderford glacier’s sensitivity to basal melt and calving</a></p> </li> <li><a href="https://www.vol.at/numerous-events-for-the-glacier-protection-year-in-austria/9260099#:~:text=The%20United%20Nations%20has%20declared,first%20time%20on%20March%2021.&amp;text=At%20various%20locations%20in%20Austria,longer%20be%20recognizable%20as%20such.">Austria’s Glacier Protection Yea</a>r: EGU General Assembly among other events <a href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/EGU25-6561.html">featuring</a> urgent need for glacier preservation</li> <li><a href="https://iiasa.ac.at/events/apr-2025/iiasa-at-egu-general-assembly-2025">IIASA researchers</a> propel climate change and resilience insights at <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/">EGU25</a></li> </ul> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/31/georoundup-the-highlights-of-egu-journals-published-during-march-2025/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <media:content url="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2020/07/EGUjournals-2020-700x400-2-1024x839.png" medium="image" /> </item> <item> <title>GeoPolicy: A Week Inside the European Parliament &#8211; Science, Policy, and the Role of Experts</title> <link>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/28/geopolicy-a-week-inside-the-european-parliament-science-policy-and-the-role-of-experts/</link> <comments>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/28/geopolicy-a-week-inside-the-european-parliament-science-policy-and-the-role-of-experts/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chloe Hill]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 28 Mar 2025 11:00:43 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[GeoPolicy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jobs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Outreach]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Policy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Regular Features]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU Pairing Scheme]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EU Parliament]]></category> <category><![CDATA[european parliament]]></category> <category><![CDATA[evidence-informed policymaking]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Pairing Scheme]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Parliament]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sci4Pol]]></category> <category><![CDATA[science-policy pairing scheme]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Science4Policy]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/?p=46550</guid> <description><![CDATA[As the selected scientist in the EGU’s 2024 Science-Policy Pairing Scheme, I had the opportunity to experience life inside the European Parliament for a week with the support of Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Jutta Paulus and her team, who are part of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance. A week is short, but in these few days, I gained deeper insights into the inner workings of the European Parliament than I had in over a decade of living near the EU institutions. My journey in Brussels began in 2011 when I moved there to follow my heart and study Geography. Then I continued doing research on climate change impacts on Belgian orchards and worked for a regional agricultural ministry. Still, I was never close to the so-called ‘EU Bubble’: the ‘expats’ working for or around European Institutions. Therefore, my understanding of European policymaking remained rather limited. For us as scientists, as well as citizens, the European Parliament is the most accessible of the EU institutions, with much of its work conducted in the public eye. Throughout this week, I repeatedly witnessed how the public interest in a topic and how it lends itself well for a social media campaign plays a role for topic choices and reporting prioritisation. The parliament also is the only institution with elected members, so watching its debates is witnessing &#8216;democracy in action&#8217;—a phrase prominently displayed on the Parliament’s main building. The current political landscape, marked by a strong presence of conservative and right-wing parties compared with the Parliament’s 2019-2024 configuration, casts a challenging outlook on environmental policies, including nature conservation, forest monitoring, and climate change mitigation. From the perspective of the Green Party, the focus is now on safeguarding past achievements! One of the most obvious takeaways from my time with Jutta and her team was the relentless pace in which everything seemed to happen —meetings flow into one another, alternating between internal consultations, stakeholder engagements, technical discussions on legislative amendments, hearings, and public workshops. Amidst this, staff navigated a constant stream of emails, administrative tasks, and procedural adjustments, all while integrating new colleagues and rules at the start of the legislative term. Even finding time for a meal break turned out to be a logistical challenge! For a newcomer, the physical layout of the Parliament added to the complexity. Meetings were spread across different buildings, making transitions between sessions more time-consuming than expected. Furthermore, Brussels&#8217; unpredictable rain and uneven pedestrian pathways turn them into an obstacle course of puddles and traffic! As a result, many staff members shield their business attire beneath neon raincoats, equipped with waterproof bike bags and helmets. Initially, I was intrigued by the Parliament’s dress code—its mix of formal wear and subtle political statements. Over time, I started identifying party affiliations through clothing choices, though not always with certainty. However, I am here not as an observer of fashion, but as a scientist, which brings me to two key questions: What role does science play in the daily workings of the European Parliament? And how can scientists effectively bring their expertise to the desks of Members of the European Parliament? Science &#38; Policy in the European Parliament: Bridging the Gap Throughout this week, the words science, evidence, study, monitoring, and reports were echoed frequently in parliamentary discussions. However, are policy decisions truly based on facts, or do they hinge on the ability to argue convincingly—whether by representing a larger political fraction, having closer ties to the rapporteur, or simply possessing greater experience in the legislative process? The reality of democracy in action often involves compromises, some of which may appear arbitrary—such as defining the threshold for what qualifies as ‘small production’ or determining reasonable time intervals between regulatory controls. On the other hand, significant efforts and resources are invested in bringing scientific insights to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). By the main café, where the staff holds countless ‘coffee meetings’, there are big shelves with scientific studies, conducted by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) that provides comprehensive research and analytical support to the MEPs. There are also many hearings that bring in external expertise and knowledge for high level discussions. Public hearings with scientists are a vital part of Committee Meetings During my week in the Parliament, I had the opportunity to attend an ENVI (Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety) Committee meeting that also included a hearing. These hearings are public and livestreamed, and my first recommendation is to follow one online to gain an understanding of how topics are debated and addressed. The session I attended was focused on the development of a comprehensive Water Resilience Strategy. It included inputs from scientists and representatives from the European Environmental Agency, NGOs, and regional governments.The speakers were invited to present by the legislation’s rapporteur, the selected MEP who is responsible for drafting a report that is then used by the Committee during the legislative process. Rapporteurs are therefore not neutral but from one of the political groups and can set the direction of the inputs. The session itself reminded me of a scientific conference. The speakers present their points with the help of PowerPoint slides, and at the end, questions/statements from the audience are collected. One striking observation was that, even from the front rows where MEPs sit, most presentation slides were barely visible and mostly overloaded with information. Capturing the attention of policymakers is even more challenging than engaging an audience of fellow scientists, making it essential for presentations to be concise, impactful, and memorable! Two interventions from the hearing stood out to me. The first was from an NGO, which effectively set the scene by asking the audience to imagine themselves in a specific scenario. It was delivered in a clear voice, with structured arguments and uncluttered slides, ensuring the message was well received. Another, seemingly effective tactic was used during an intervention on dams. The speaker was assertive and rather repetitive, which risked being boring, however the key facts resonated and stuck with me after the hearing concluded. Stakeholders and MEPs get together in thematic workshops as preparation for trilogue negotiations Another interesting session was a lunchtime workshop on microplastic spills in coastal waters. The workshop aimed to ‘bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, NGOs, and experts’. Mayors of affected towns were invited along with other stakeholders and MEP’s to share their perspectives, suggested solutions and positions. While a lot of time and resources are invested in making these meetings happen, I was told that the impact of these sessions is relatively limited. Despite this, I was happy to hear some arguments from these discussions made there in a technical discussion later on. Ultimately, researchers need to remember that MEPs receive a lot of input every day and our outreach activities may just be a drop in the ocean of inputs that stream into the inboxes of MEPs every day. If we scientists want to inform the policymakers about recent studies, we are competing with that stream. While much of the information that we provide won’t make it into the legislative discussion, some well-communicated aspects occasionally do and it is still worth trying! So don’t be afraid to reach out and start engaging! Communicating Science to Policymakers: Timing and Strategy Matter Now, imagine yourself as an MEP. Over the course of the year, you will engage with dozens of topics—some within your area of expertise, others far beyond your comfort zone. This week alone, you are expected to attend events covering four distinct policy issues. When and how would you prefer to receive information to prepare for these discussions? Tips for Getting Your Research Noticed in the Policy Process If you want your research to inform policymaking, consider the following steps: Timing matters. Ideally, policymakers need to receive relevant information just a bit ahead of time, allowing them to contextualise what they will hear and contribute meaningfully. Therefore, it is good practice to monitor the agendas of committees relevant to your topic, likely ENVI. Target the right MEPs: Identify those with relevant expertise, committee roles, and a demonstrated openness to scientific input. You can find members of the committees online. Engage their assistants: Find the MEP’s assistants on their official webpage and reach out to them directly at firstname.lastname@europarl.europa.eu. During my time in the Parliament, they were heavily loaded with tasks but also very committed to their role and grateful for useful input! Structure your communication effectively: Clearly state your key message in the body of the email, with clear policy recommendations (what should be done?), attach more detailed documentation, and—if applicable—include the original study. Follow up: Don’t hesitate to call the assistants and confirm that your email was received. In conclusion, I would say that the European Parliament is a great place to start learning about and interacting with policymaking. The pairing scheme was very valuable for me and a great initiative by the EGU. I am also very grateful to Jutta and Léonie for showing me around and introducing me to the Parliament’s work. From the perspective of a scientist with a relatively narrow scope of expertise, it was really impressive to see the variety of topics they work on, but also the constant flood of information they are exposed to. Bringing scientific insights into policymaking therefore requires persistence and strategic communication. By understanding how decisions are made and tailoring your approach accordingly, you can increase the chances that your research will be considered in shaping European policies.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As the selected scientist in the <a href="https://www.egu.eu/policy/pairing-schemes/5/the-egu-2024-science-policy-pairing-scheme-with-mep-jutta-paulus/">EGU’s 2024 Science-Policy Pairing Scheme</a>, I had the opportunity to experience life inside the European Parliament for a week with the support of Member of the European Parliament (MEP) <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197466/JUTTA_PAULUS/home">Jutta Paulus</a> and her team, who are part of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance. A week is short, but in these few days, I gained deeper insights into the inner workings of the European Parliament than I had in over a decade of living near the EU institutions.</p> <div id="attachment_46566" style="width: 188px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Bianca.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46566" class=" wp-image-46566" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Bianca-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="178" height="237" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Bianca-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Bianca-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Bianca-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Bianca-75x100.jpg 75w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Bianca-300x400.jpg 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Bianca.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 178px) 100vw, 178px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-46566" class="wp-caption-text">Bianca Drepper outside the European Parliament</p></div> <p>My journey in Brussels began in 2011 when I moved there to follow my heart and study Geography. Then I continued doing research on climate change impacts on Belgian orchards and worked for a regional agricultural ministry. Still, I was never close to the so-called ‘EU Bubble’: the ‘expats’ working for or around European Institutions. Therefore, my understanding of European policymaking remained rather limited.</p> <p>For us as scientists, as well as citizens, the European Parliament is the most accessible of the EU institutions, with much of its work conducted in the public eye. Throughout this week, I repeatedly witnessed how the public interest in a topic and how it lends itself well for a social media campaign plays a role for topic choices and reporting prioritisation. The parliament also is the only institution with elected members, so watching its debates is witnessing &#8216;democracy in action&#8217;—a phrase prominently displayed on the Parliament’s main building.</p> <p>The current political landscape, marked by a strong presence of conservative and right-wing parties compared with the Parliament’s 2019-2024 configuration, casts a challenging outlook on environmental policies, including nature conservation, forest monitoring, and climate change mitigation. From the perspective of the Green Party, the focus is now on safeguarding past achievements!</p> <div id="attachment_46568" style="width: 301px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7941.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46568" class=" wp-image-46568" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7941-261x300.jpg" alt="" width="291" height="334" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7941-261x300.jpg 261w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7941-891x1024.jpg 891w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7941-768x883.jpg 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7941-1336x1536.jpg 1336w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7941-87x100.jpg 87w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7941-348x400.jpg 348w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7941.jpg 1392w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 291px) 100vw, 291px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-46568" class="wp-caption-text">Bianca Drepper and Jutta Paulus</p></div> <p>One of the most obvious takeaways from my time with Jutta and her team was the relentless pace in which everything seemed to happen —meetings flow into one another, alternating between internal consultations, stakeholder engagements, technical discussions on legislative amendments, hearings, and public workshops. Amidst this, staff navigated a constant stream of emails, administrative tasks, and procedural adjustments, all while integrating new colleagues and rules at the start of the legislative term. Even finding time for a meal break turned out to be a logistical challenge!</p> <p>For a newcomer, the physical layout of the Parliament added to the complexity. Meetings were spread across different buildings, making transitions between sessions more time-consuming than expected. Furthermore, Brussels&#8217; unpredictable rain and uneven pedestrian pathways turn them into an obstacle course of puddles and traffic! As a result, many staff members shield their business attire beneath neon raincoats, equipped with waterproof bike bags and helmets.</p> <p>Initially, I was intrigued by the Parliament’s dress code—its mix of formal wear and subtle political statements. Over time, I started identifying party affiliations through clothing choices, though not always with certainty. However, I am here not as an observer of fashion, but as a scientist, which brings me to two key questions: What role does science play in the daily workings of the European Parliament? And how can scientists effectively bring their expertise to the desks of Members of the European Parliament?</p> <h2><strong>Science &amp; Policy in the European Parliament: Bridging the Gap</strong></h2> <p>Throughout this week, the words <i>science</i>, <i>evidence</i>, <i>study</i>, <i>monitoring</i>, and <i>reports</i> were echoed frequently in parliamentary discussions. However, are policy decisions truly based on facts, or do they hinge on the ability to argue convincingly—whether by representing a larger political fraction, having closer ties to the rapporteur, or simply possessing greater experience in the legislative process? The reality of democracy in action often involves compromises, some of which may appear arbitrary—such as defining the threshold for what qualifies as ‘small production’ or determining reasonable time intervals between regulatory controls.</p> <div id="attachment_46660" style="width: 230px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7948.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46660" class=" wp-image-46660" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7948-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="220" height="165" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7948-300x225.jpg 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7948-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7948-768x576.jpg 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7948-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7948-100x75.jpg 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7948-533x400.jpg 533w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7948.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-46660" class="wp-caption-text">European Parliamentary Research Service publications.</p></div> <p>On the other hand, significant efforts and resources are invested in bringing scientific insights to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). By the main café, where the staff holds countless ‘coffee meetings’, there are big shelves with scientific studies, conducted by the <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/home">European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS)</a> that provides comprehensive research and analytical support to the MEPs. There are also many hearings that bring in external expertise and knowledge for high level discussions.</p> <h4></h4> <h4><b>Public hearings with scientists are a vital part of Committee Meetings</b></h4> <p>During my week in the Parliament, I had the opportunity to attend an <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/envi/home/highlights">ENVI (Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety) Committee</a> meeting that also included a hearing. These hearings are public and <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/envi-committee-meetings/product-details/20200226CAL09791">livestreamed</a>, and my first recommendation is to follow one online to gain an understanding of how topics are debated and addressed.</p> <p>The session I attended was focused on the development of a comprehensive Water Resilience Strategy. It included inputs from scientists and representatives from the European Environmental Agency, NGOs, and regional governments.The speakers were invited to present by the legislation’s rapporteur, the selected MEP who is responsible for drafting a report that is then used by the Committee during the legislative process. Rapporteurs are therefore not neutral but from one of the political groups and can set the direction of the inputs. The session itself reminded me of a scientific conference. The speakers present their points with the help of PowerPoint slides, and at the end, questions/statements from the audience are collected. One striking observation was that, even from the front rows where MEPs sit, most presentation slides were barely visible and mostly overloaded with information. Capturing the attention of policymakers is even more challenging than engaging an audience of fellow scientists, making it essential for presentations to be concise, impactful, and memorable!</p> <div id="attachment_46655" style="width: 1610px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7921.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46655" class="wp-image-46655 size-full" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7921.jpg" alt="" width="1600" height="1200" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7921.jpg 1600w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7921-300x225.jpg 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7921-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7921-768x576.jpg 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7921-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7921-100x75.jpg 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7921-533x400.jpg 533w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-46655" class="wp-caption-text">Inside the European Parliament. Photo Credit: Bianca Drepper</p></div> <p>Two interventions from the hearing stood out to me. The first was from an NGO, which effectively set the scene by asking the audience to imagine themselves in a specific scenario. It was delivered in a clear voice, with structured arguments and uncluttered slides, ensuring the message was well received. Another, seemingly effective tactic was used during an intervention on dams. The speaker was assertive and rather repetitive, which risked being boring, however the key facts resonated and stuck with me after the hearing concluded.</p> <h4><b>Stakeholders and MEPs get together in thematic workshops as preparation for trilogue negotiations</b></h4> <p>Another interesting session was a lunchtime workshop on microplastic spills in coastal waters. The workshop aimed to ‘bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, NGOs, and experts’. Mayors of affected towns were invited along with other stakeholders and MEP’s to share their perspectives, suggested solutions and positions. While a lot of time and resources are invested in making these meetings happen, I was told that the impact of these sessions is relatively limited. Despite this, I was happy to hear some arguments from these discussions made there in a technical discussion later on. Ultimately, researchers need to remember that MEPs receive a lot of input every day and our outreach activities may just be a drop in the ocean of inputs that stream into the inboxes of MEPs every day. If we scientists want to inform the policymakers about recent studies, we are competing with that stream. While much of the information that we provide won’t make it into the legislative discussion, some well-communicated aspects occasionally do and it is still worth trying! So don’t be afraid to reach out and start engaging!</p> <p><b>Communicating Science to Policymakers: Timing and Strategy Matter</b></p> <p>Now, imagine yourself as an MEP. Over the course of the year, you will engage with dozens of topics—some within your area of expertise, others far beyond your comfort zone. This week alone, you are expected to attend events covering four distinct policy issues. When and how would you prefer to receive information to prepare for these discussions?</p> <h2><strong>Tips for Getting Your Research Noticed in the Policy Process</strong></h2> <p>If you want your research to inform policymaking, consider the following steps:</p> <ul> <li><b>Timing matters. </b>Ideally, policymakers need to receive relevant information just a bit ahead of time, allowing them to contextualise what they will hear and contribute meaningfully. Therefore, it is good practice to monitor the agendas of committees relevant to your topic, likely <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/envi/home/highlights">ENVI</a>.</li> <li><b>Target the right MEPs</b>: Identify those with relevant expertise, committee roles, and a demonstrated openness to scientific input. You can find members of the committees <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/envi/home/members">online</a>.</li> <li><b>Engage their assistants</b>: Find the MEP’s assistants on their official webpage and reach out to them directly at <a href="mailto:firstname.lastname@europarl.europa.eu"><i>firstname.lastname@europarl.europa.eu</i></a>. During my time in the Parliament, they were heavily loaded with tasks but also very committed to their role and grateful for useful input!</li> <li><b>Structure your communication effectively</b>: Clearly state your key message in the body of the email, with clear policy recommendations (<i>what should be done?</i>), attach more detailed documentation, and—if applicable—include the original study.</li> <li><b>Follow up</b>: Don’t hesitate to call the assistants and confirm that your email was received.</li> </ul> <p>In conclusion, I would say that the European Parliament is a great place to start learning about and interacting with policymaking. The pairing scheme was very valuable for me and a great initiative by the EGU. I am also very grateful to Jutta and Léonie for showing me around and introducing me to the Parliament’s work.</p> <p>From the perspective of a scientist with a relatively narrow scope of expertise, it was really impressive to see the variety of topics they work on, but also the constant flood of information they are exposed to. Bringing scientific insights into policymaking therefore requires persistence and strategic communication. By understanding how decisions are made and tailoring your approach accordingly, you can increase the chances that your research will be considered in shaping European policies.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/28/geopolicy-a-week-inside-the-european-parliament-science-policy-and-the-role-of-experts/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <media:content url="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/IMG_7955-768x1024.jpg" medium="image" /> </item> <item> <title>EGU25&#8217;s Code of Conduct: standards of behaviour for all our participants</title> <link>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/27/egu25s-code-of-conduct-standards-of-behaviour-for-all-our-participants/</link> <comments>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/27/egu25s-code-of-conduct-standards-of-behaviour-for-all-our-participants/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Hazel Gibson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 27 Mar 2025 11:45:13 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Accessibility and inclusivity at EGU]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU GA 2025]]></category> <category><![CDATA[General Assembly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sessions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Code of Conduct]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU General Assembly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU24]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ethical behaviour]]></category> <category><![CDATA[how to]]></category> <category><![CDATA[hybrid conference]]></category> <category><![CDATA[respectful behaviour]]></category> <category><![CDATA[virtual conference]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/?p=46643</guid> <description><![CDATA[Are you ready?! EGU25, Europe&#8217;s biggest meeting for Earth, planetary and space science research, is now just under a month away! But even sooner than that you only have a few days left to grab your Early Bird rates for registration. If you have already booked your registration you will probably have noticed that by purchasing your registration to participate in EGU25 you will also have agreed to abide by EGU&#8217;s Code of Conduct, but what does that mean? &#160; EGU is strongly committed to the principles of inclusivity and diversity in all our events, but especially at the General Assembly we firmly require our members and attendees to treat each other with basic courtesy and respect. This is why you may notice on all our guidelines we state that anyone who participates in EGU25 must behave according to the EGU Code of Conduct. You can read the full code of conduct here: EGU_Code_of_Conduct.pdf &#160; Since this year&#8217;s General Assembly is a hybrid one, i.e. taking place on-site and virtually, we selected a few key points to emphasise in this blog. &#160; Most importantly, open and respectful conduct, based on basic politeness, is expected of all EGU25 participants. The EGU also expects all members and attendees to pursue integrity, honesty, respect, courtesy, responsibility, rigour, and equity in their professional activities. &#160; Respectful behaviour We expect our EGU members and EGU25 participants to behave respectfully. This behaviour encompasses many facets, including: The EGU values diversity and equality as essential values. As such, scientific discrimination, harassment, bullying, coercion, intimidation, censorship and plagiarism are considered unethical behaviours. The EGU requires that its members carry out research and draw their conclusions based on critical analysis of the evidence. Findings and interpretations are expected to be reported fully, accurately and objectively, along with the related uncertainties. The EGU encourages the use of reporting methods that ensure verification and reproducibility by others. Making data findable, openly accessible and interoperable, and allowing data exchange and re-use between researchers, are encouraged, as are making software and codes freely accessible. The EGU emphasises that author credit should only be given to those who have meaningfully contributed to the research. The names and roles of all people who made significant contributions should be properly acknowledged. The EGU encourages officers, members and people taking part in EGU activities to clearly distinguish professional, scientific-based comments from their personal opinions when publicly presenting their work and/or engaging in public discussions related to EGU activities. The EGU encourages members to take responsibility to act or intercede, where possible, to prevent misconduct. It also recommends that any case of misconduct be promptly reported. The EGU encourages open discussion on social media and blogging platforms during EGU25. However, you should never post or share any images or video online without the authors’ explicit permission. Please respect any request from an author not to disseminate the contents of their presentation or display. If you aren&#8217;t sure, look for the labels either indicating encouragement to share content, or a request not to. &#160; Reporting violations All participants of EGU25 are expected to follow EGU’s Code of Conduct. Should you observe or experience violations against these rules, please contact the General Assembly programme committee co-chairs at programme.committee@egu.eu and/or send an email to conduct@egu.eu. Messages to this latter address are treated confidentially and are only read by EGU’s persons of trust. You can also contact a person of trust onsite at the information desk in the entrance hall. Violations to the rules of conduct, or misconduct, will be taken seriously and appropriate actions will be taken where necessary. &#160; Misconduct is defined as a violation—proven by evidence—of the standard codes of scholarly conduct and ethical behaviour in scientific research. Misconduct includes the unethical and/or biased treatment of people in a professional setting and while participating in scientific activities. It also encompasses actions such as discrimination, harassment, bullying, coercion, intimidation, censorship and plagiarism. &#160; Misconduct does not include errors of judgment; honest errors in the recording, selection, or analysis of data; or differences in opinions involving the interpretation of data and results. The EGU may undertake an investigation and decide to take action when misconduct is reported by any person and is directly connected to an EGU activity. EGU may also investigate cases that may have an impact on the reputation or integrity of the Union. &#160; Sanctions imposed by EGU for misconduct may include, but are not limited to, the following: Written advice or admonition; Removal from an official EGU position; Withdrawal/retraction of presentations and published material; Suspension from delivering presentations at—and convening—EGU meetings either temporarily or permanently; Denial or revocation of honours and awards; Notifying the home institution of the person responsible of misconduct; Issuing a public statement regarding the scientific misconduct. &#160; It is necessary for us to make the EGU Code of Conduct a clear and central part of EGU24, but we have confidence in our community’s ability to be respectful, inclusive and professional, especially during these times of new conference formats. Please be empathetic in your interactions with other people, and we know that we will be able to have a really great meeting! &#160; Contact email address to report violations of the EGU code of conduct: conduct@egu.eu You can also contact the General Assembly programme committee co-chairs at programme.committee@egu.eu &#160;]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Are you ready?! <a href="http://www.egu25.eu">EGU25</a>, Europe&#8217;s biggest meeting for Earth, planetary and space science research, is now just under a month away! But even sooner than that you only have a few days left to grab your <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/register.html">Early Bird rates for registration</a>. If you have already booked your registration you will probably have noticed that by purchasing your registration to participate in EGU25 you will also have agreed to abide by EGU&#8217;s Code of Conduct, but what does that mean?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>EGU is strongly committed to the principles of inclusivity and diversity in all our events, but especially at the General Assembly we firmly require our members and attendees to treat each other with basic courtesy and respect. This is why you may notice on <a href="https://egu23.eu/about/egu_general_assembly_rules_of_conduct.html">all our guidelines</a> we state that anyone who participates in EGU25 must behave according to the <a href="https://www.egu.eu/about/code-of-conduct/">EGU Code of Conduct</a>.</p> <p>You can read the full code of conduct here: <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2020/04/15/shareegu20-the-egu-code-of-conduct/code_of_conduct/">EGU_Code_of_Conduct.pdf</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Since this year&#8217;s General Assembly is a hybrid one, i.e. taking place on-site and virtually, we selected a few key points to emphasise in this blog.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Most importantly, open and respectful conduct, based on basic politeness, is expected of all EGU25 participants. The EGU also expects all members and attendees to pursue integrity, honesty, respect, courtesy, responsibility, rigour, and equity in their professional activities.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Respectful behaviour</strong></p> <p>We expect our EGU members and EGU25 participants to behave respectfully. This behaviour encompasses many facets, including:</p> <ul> <li>The EGU values diversity and equality as essential values. As such, scientific discrimination, harassment, bullying, coercion, intimidation, censorship and plagiarism are considered unethical behaviours.</li> <li>The EGU requires that its members carry out research and draw their conclusions based on critical analysis of the evidence. Findings and interpretations are expected to be reported fully, accurately and objectively, along with the related uncertainties.</li> <li>The EGU encourages the use of reporting methods that ensure verification and reproducibility by others. Making data findable, openly accessible and interoperable, and allowing data exchange and re-use between researchers, are encouraged, as are making software and codes freely accessible.</li> <li>The EGU emphasises that author credit should only be given to those who have meaningfully contributed to the research. The names and roles of all people who made significant contributions should be properly acknowledged.</li> <li>The EGU encourages officers, members and people taking part in EGU activities to clearly distinguish professional, scientific-based comments from their personal opinions when publicly presenting their work and/or engaging in public discussions related to EGU activities.</li> <li>The EGU encourages members to take responsibility to act or intercede, where possible, to prevent misconduct. It also recommends that any case of misconduct be promptly reported.</li> </ul> <p>The EGU encourages open discussion on social media and blogging platforms during EGU25. However, you should never post or share any images or video online without the authors’ explicit permission. Please respect any request from an author not to disseminate the contents of their presentation or display. If you aren&#8217;t sure, look for the labels either indicating encouragement to share content, or a request not to.</p> <div id="attachment_46646" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/sharing-encouraged-not-permitted-images.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46646" class="size-large wp-image-46646" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/sharing-encouraged-not-permitted-images-1024x718.png" alt="" width="1024" height="718" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/sharing-encouraged-not-permitted-images-1024x718.png 1024w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/sharing-encouraged-not-permitted-images-300x210.png 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/sharing-encouraged-not-permitted-images-768x539.png 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/sharing-encouraged-not-permitted-images-1536x1077.png 1536w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/sharing-encouraged-not-permitted-images-100x70.png 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/sharing-encouraged-not-permitted-images-570x400.png 570w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/sharing-encouraged-not-permitted-images.png 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-46646" class="wp-caption-text">These images can be downloaded to add to slides or posters to indicate if you encourage sharing or not. Sharing is encouraged <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/EGU22-sharing-is-encouraged.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and sharing not permitted <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/EGU22-sharing-is-not-permitted.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p></div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Reporting violations</strong></p> <p>All participants of EGU25 are expected to follow EGU’s Code of Conduct. Should you observe or experience violations against these rules, please contact the General Assembly programme committee co-chairs at <a href="mailto:programme-committee@egu.eu">programme.committee@egu.eu</a> and/or send an email to <a href="mailto:conduct@egu.eu">conduct@egu.eu</a>. Messages to this latter address are treated confidentially and are only read by <a href="https://www.egu.eu/about/code-of-conduct/">EGU’s persons of trust</a>. You can also contact a person of trust onsite at the information desk in the entrance hall. Violations to the rules of conduct, or misconduct, will be taken seriously and appropriate actions will be taken where necessary.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Misconduct is defined as a violation—proven by evidence—of the standard codes of scholarly conduct and ethical behaviour in scientific research. Misconduct includes the unethical and/or biased treatment of people in a professional setting and while participating in scientific activities. It also encompasses actions such as discrimination, harassment, bullying, coercion, intimidation, censorship and plagiarism.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Misconduct does not include errors of judgment; honest errors in the recording, selection, or analysis of data; or differences in opinions involving the interpretation of data and results. The EGU may undertake an investigation and decide to take action when misconduct is reported by any person and is directly connected to an EGU activity. EGU may also investigate cases that may have an impact on the reputation or integrity of the Union.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Sanctions imposed by EGU for misconduct may include, but are not limited to, the following:</p> <ul> <li>Written advice or admonition;</li> <li>Removal from an official EGU position;</li> <li>Withdrawal/retraction of presentations and published material;</li> <li>Suspension from delivering presentations at—and convening—EGU meetings either temporarily or permanently;</li> <li>Denial or revocation of honours and awards;</li> <li>Notifying the home institution of the person responsible of misconduct;</li> <li>Issuing a public statement regarding the scientific misconduct.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It is necessary for us to make the EGU Code of Conduct a clear and central part of EGU24, but we have confidence in our community’s ability to be respectful, inclusive and professional, especially during these times of new conference formats. Please be empathetic in your interactions with other people, and we know that we will be able to have a really great meeting!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Contact email address to report violations of the EGU code of conduct: <a href="mailto:conduct@egu.eu">conduct@egu.eu</a></p> <p>You can also contact the General Assembly programme committee co-chairs at <a href="mailto:programme-committee@egu.eu">programme.committee@egu.eu</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/27/egu25s-code-of-conduct-standards-of-behaviour-for-all-our-participants/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <media:content url="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/PICO-spot-headscarf-diverse-inclusion-golden-EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240418.jpg-1024x682.jpeg" medium="image" /> </item> <item> <title>Calling all photographers! Enter your fieldwork or labwork photo and win free registration to EGU26!</title> <link>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/24/calling-all-photographers-enter-your-fieldwork-or-labwork-photo-and-win-free-registration-to-egu26/</link> <comments>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/24/calling-all-photographers-enter-your-fieldwork-or-labwork-photo-and-win-free-registration-to-egu26/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Hazel Gibson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 24 Mar 2025 11:45:40 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU GA 2025]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Photo Competition]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU25]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Imaggeo]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Landscapes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[moving images]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photo]]></category> <category><![CDATA[photo competition]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/?p=46627</guid> <description><![CDATA[Whether you work in the lab, the field, onboard an ocean vessel or using data from instruments hundreds of kilometers away, you probably know that feeling of taking a truly great photo of your experience as a researcher. If this is you then you are in luck as you have ONE WEEK LEFT to submit your photo to the EGU photo competition, and possibly win free registration to next years General Assembly! So which will you choose? Perhaps it&#8217;s a photo you snapped of an intriguing or beautiful landscape, like EGU20 photo competition winner, Julia Miloczki, shown in the heading photo of this post. Sometimes this is a photo of your colleagues in action, like Ole Zeising entered to the photo competition in 2023. It could be a photo of a stunning thin section or other microscopic image, like Bernardo Cesare submitted to last year&#8217;s competition. Whichever it is, you only have one week left to enter! Until 31 March, every participant registered for the General Assembly can submit up to three original photos and one moving image on any broad theme related to the Earth, planetary, and space sciences. Photos submitted can be recent or from previous years so if there&#8217;s a beautiful photo that you&#8217;ve been holding onto, this could be your year to enter it! A panel of judges will shortlist the best 10 photos and one moving image to be exhibited in an online gallery during the conference. General Assembly participants will then vote for their favourite photos and the three winning images will be announced online on the last day of the meeting. Winners will receive a free registration to EGU&#8217;s General Assembly in 2026! If you submit your images to the photo competition, they will also be included in the EGU’s open access photo and video database, Imaggeo. You retain full rights of use for any photos or videos submitted to the database as they are licensed and distributed by EGU under a Creative Commons license.You will need to register on Imaggeo so that the organisers can appropriately process your photos. For more information, please check the EGU Photo Competition page on Imaggeo. If you&#8217;d like to get some inspiration and see some beautiful photographs right now, you can check out all of the 2010 to 2024 winners here! EGU25 will take place from 27 April &#8211; 2 May 2025. For more information on the General Assembly, visit the EGU25 website.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Whether you work in the lab, the field, onboard an ocean vessel or using data from instruments hundreds of kilometers away, you probably know that feeling of taking a truly great photo of your experience as a researcher. If this is you then you are in luck as you have <strong>ONE WEEK LEFT</strong> to submit your photo to the EGU photo competition, and possibly win free registration to next years General Assembly! So which will you choose? Perhaps it&#8217;s a photo you snapped of an intriguing or beautiful landscape, like <a href="https://imaggeo.egu.eu/photo-competition/2020/">EGU20 photo competition winner, Julia Miloczki,</a> shown in the heading photo of this post.</p> <p>Sometimes this is a photo of your colleagues in action, like <a href="https://imaggeo.egu.eu/photo-competition/2023/">Ole Zeising entered to the photo competition in 2023</a>.</p> <div id="attachment_41305" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://imaggeo.egu.eu/view/17147/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-41305" class="wp-image-41305 size-large" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2023/12/Peer-Review-Training-blog-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2023/12/Peer-Review-Training-blog-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2023/12/Peer-Review-Training-blog-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2023/12/Peer-Review-Training-blog-768x511.jpg 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2023/12/Peer-Review-Training-blog-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2023/12/Peer-Review-Training-blog-100x67.jpg 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2023/12/Peer-Review-Training-blog-601x400.jpg 601w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2023/12/Peer-Review-Training-blog.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-41305" class="wp-caption-text"><a href="https://imaggeo.egu.eu/view/17147/">Field-Shakedown at McMurdo Ice Shelf</a>. Credit: Ole Zeising (distributed via i<a href="https://imaggeo.egu.eu/">maggeo.egu.eu</a>)</p></div> <p>It could be a photo of a stunning thin section or other microscopic image, like <a href="https://imaggeo.egu.eu/photo-competition/2024/">Bernardo Cesare submitted to last year&#8217;s competition</a>.</p> <div id="attachment_42197" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/04/Polarized-light-photomicrograph-of-a-thin-section-of-Brazilian-agate.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-42197" class="wp-image-42197 size-large" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/04/Polarized-light-photomicrograph-of-a-thin-section-of-Brazilian-agate-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/04/Polarized-light-photomicrograph-of-a-thin-section-of-Brazilian-agate-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/04/Polarized-light-photomicrograph-of-a-thin-section-of-Brazilian-agate-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/04/Polarized-light-photomicrograph-of-a-thin-section-of-Brazilian-agate-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/04/Polarized-light-photomicrograph-of-a-thin-section-of-Brazilian-agate-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/04/Polarized-light-photomicrograph-of-a-thin-section-of-Brazilian-agate-100x67.jpeg 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/04/Polarized-light-photomicrograph-of-a-thin-section-of-Brazilian-agate-600x400.jpeg 600w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/04/Polarized-light-photomicrograph-of-a-thin-section-of-Brazilian-agate.jpeg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-42197" class="wp-caption-text"><a href="https://imaggeo.egu.eu/view/18158/">Polarized light photomicrograph of a thin section of brazilian agate</a>. Credit: Bernardo Cesare (distributed via <a href="https://imaggeo.egu.eu/">imaggeo.egu.eu</a>)</p></div> <p>Whichever it is, you only have one week left to enter! Until<strong> 31 March</strong>, every participant <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/register.html">registered</a> for the General Assembly can submit up to three original photos and one moving image on any broad theme related to the Earth, planetary, and space sciences. Photos submitted can be recent or from previous years so if there&#8217;s a beautiful photo that you&#8217;ve been holding onto, this could be your year to enter it! A panel of judges will shortlist the best 10 photos and one moving image to be exhibited in an online gallery during the conference. General Assembly participants will then vote for their favourite photos and the three winning images will be announced online on the last day of the meeting.</p> <p>Winners will receive a<strong> free registration to EGU&#8217;s General Assembly in 2026</strong>!</p> <p>If you submit your images to the photo competition, they will also be included in the EGU’s open access photo and video database, <a href="http://imaggeo.egu.eu/">Imaggeo</a>. You retain full rights of use for any photos or videos submitted to the database as they are licensed and distributed by EGU under a <a href="http://imaggeo.egu.eu/copyright/">Creative Commons license</a>.You will need to <a href="http://imaggeo.egu.eu/signup/">register on Imaggeo</a> so that the organisers can appropriately process your photos.</p> <p>For more information, please check the <a href="http://imaggeo.egu.eu/photo-contest/information/">EGU Photo Competition page</a> on Imaggeo. If you&#8217;d like to get some inspiration and see some beautiful photographs right now, you can check out all of the <a href="https://imaggeo.egu.eu/photo-competition/2010/">2010</a> to <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2024/04/19/announcing-the-winners-of-the-egu24-photo-competition/">2024</a> winners <a href="https://imaggeo.egu.eu/photo-competition/">here</a>!</p> <p><em>EGU25 </em><em>will take place from </em><em>27 </em><em>April &#8211; 2 May</em><em> 202</em><em>5</em><em>. For more information on the General Assembly, visit the </em><a href="https://www.egu25.eu/"><em>EGU25 website</em></a><em>.</em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/24/calling-all-photographers-enter-your-fieldwork-or-labwork-photo-and-win-free-registration-to-egu26/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <media:content url="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2020/04/Glimpse-of-a-foreign-planet-1024x768.png" medium="image" /> </item> <item> <title>Sarakiniko: A unique geoheritage site under threat</title> <link>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/21/sarakiniko-a-unique-geoheritage-site-under-threat/</link> <comments>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/21/sarakiniko-a-unique-geoheritage-site-under-threat/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Asmae Ourkiya]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 21 Mar 2025 11:00:07 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology]]></category> <category><![CDATA[geology]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sarakiniko]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Volcanic education]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Volcanic tuff]]></category> <category><![CDATA[volcano]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/?p=46386</guid> <description><![CDATA[Sarakiniko, a stunning geological landmark on the aegean island of Milos, Greece, is under imminent threat. Known for its breath-taking white tuff formations built by the deposition of submarine volcanic eruptions and sculpted by wind and water over millions of years, this site serves as both a natural laboratory for geoscience and planetary research and a worldwide significant geoheritage site. However, recent construction of a large-scale hotel and plans for expansion to multiple constructions in the near future within Sarakiniko is causing irreversible damage, jeopardizing not only its aesthetic and cultural value but also its scientific importance. To me, spending time in Sarakiniko was natural and familiar as a kid who spent every Easter and summer holiday on the island—Milos, my mom’s birthplace. I would swim and snorkel in the beautiful canal with my cousins, run across the white tuffs, and scout for fossils embedded in the sediment—always careful not to disturb them. It wasn’t until I was around ten that I started realizing what a unique place this is for our entire planet. I began noticing tourists marveling at Sarakiniko, calling it the ‘Moon on Earth’ and capturing it from every angle. I’ll never forget seeing a woman reading in the middle of the night, relying on nothing but the moonlight and its stunning reflection on the white tuffs. This site, along with other phenomenal volcanic landscapes—Fyriplaka, Kleftiko, and Glaronisia—shaped my desire to understand my homeland better and deeper—how else but by studying geology? And I can’t deny that it was this extraterrestrial look of Sarakiniko that made me want to study unearthly places in our solar system and become a planetary geologist. But now, that same place that inspired so many people and linked our terrestrial existence with space is marred by excavators tearing into million-year-old geological layers—treating them as nothing more than raw material for yet another luxury hotel. The geological and scientific value of Sarakiniko Sarakiniko is part of the Southern Aegean Volcanic Arc (SAVA), formed by the subduction of the African Plate beneath the Aegean Sea plate, where its northern margin is a divergent boundary with the Eurasian Plate. Milos is renowned for its diverse volcanic formations, including ignimbrites, pumice deposits, rhyolites, and hydrothermal minerals. Sarakiniko, in particular, showcases the interaction of aeolian and fluvial erosion and volcanic activity, creating an extraterrestrial landscape that closely resembles planetary surfaces such as those found on the Moon, Mars, and Saturn’s moon Titan. Earth and Planetary scientists have long utilized Sarakiniko, as a terrestrial analogue for planetary exploration, studying its exogenic processes, sedimentary deposits, and tuff formations to better understand exotic environments. In 2024, the ‘Terrestrial Analogues for Solar System studies’ Workshop sponsored by EGU as part of the Angioletta Coradini series, brought together international experts who reaffirmed the site’s critical role in planetary science. The white volcanic tuff of Sarakiniko provides a natural testbed for remote sensing techniques, robotic exploration strategies, and geological interpretations relevant to future space missions. Moreover, fossils are embedded throughout the volcanic rock, offering crucial insights into the paleo-geographic evolution of the region. These fossils serve as markers for reconstructing past marine environments and climate conditions, making Sarakiniko a valuable site for understanding the interplay between volcanic and marine processes over geological timescales. A catastrophic assault on geoheritage Despite its scientific and cultural significance, Sarakiniko is facing an existential threat. The construction of a luxury hotel and plans for the construction of several more within the geological formations has led to the destruction of irreplaceable volcanic layers, erosion of fossil deposits, and environmental degradation. Heavy machinery has already removed sections of the delicate rock formations, while construction foundations threaten to alter the natural landscape permanently. The locals are clear ‘If we lose Sarakiniko, we lose our identity’. The damage extends beyond geology: the hotel development risks increasing sediment runoff into the marine environment, polluting the surrounding ecosystem, and disrupting a fragile coastal habitat. The unchecked nature of this construction, occurring in the absence of sufficient legal protection for Sarakiniko, highlights the urgent need for stronger geoheritage conservation policies in Greece. &#160; Melians live in and outside of Milos, along with nature lovers from around the world, have publicly expressed their frustration to which the Ministry of Environment and Energy replied by ordering the suspension of construction work until the legality of the building permit could be verified. Even though construction has been halted for now, the future of this project, as well as other planned developments, remains uncertain. The same concerns apply to other unique geological and ecological sites around Milos, such as Cape Vani, Achivadolimni, Kastanas, Kleftiko, Sykia, and more, raising broader questions about the island’s environmental protection and sustainable development. Call to action: Protecting Sarakiniko for future generations The destruction of Sarakiniko is not just a local issue—it is a global crisis in the preservation of geoheritage. This case underscores the need for immediate intervention to halt ongoing construction and implement long-term conservation strategies. And it’s not a secret the entire group of the Cyclades islands is in danger from the unlimited construction zones and the destruction of the natural world. Beyond the key actions that must be taken by the government to prevent further destruction of correct the damage already done, we- the citizens of this planet- must take action. Please share this information with your peers and friends. Raise awareness in your communities. Please sign the petition to stop the destruction and safeguard Sarakiniko and other precious sites on Milos! Every signature counts in the fight to preserve the island’s unparalleled natural beauty. Conclusion Sarakiniko is a rare and invaluable window into Earth&#8217;s geological past, a scientific asset for planetary research, and an irreplaceable natural wonder. If we do not act now, the loss of this site will be irreversible, depriving future generations of its scientific and cultural legacy. Protecting Sarakiniko is not just an environmental obligation—it is a commitment to preserving our planet’s geological heritage. So more kids can be inspired, more eyes can admire it, and deeper connections can be forged with the natural world. The time to act is now.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://geologyscience.com/gallery/geological-wonders/sarakiniko-beach-milos-greece/">Sarakiniko</a>, a stunning geological landmark on the <a href="https://www.worldatlas.com/seas/aegean-sea.html">aegean</a> island of Milos, Greece, is under imminent threat. Known for its <a href="https://odysseusacruises.com/sarakiniko-milos-beach/">breath-taking white tuff</a> formations built by the deposition of submarine volcanic eruptions and sculpted by wind and water over millions of years, this site serves as both a natural laboratory for geoscience and planetary research and a worldwide significant geoheritage site. However, recent construction of <a href="https://greekreporter.com/2025/02/04/greece-halts-construction-hotel-milos-beach/">a large-scale hotel and plans for expansion to multiple constructions</a> in the near future within Sarakiniko is causing irreversible damage, jeopardizing not only its aesthetic and cultural value but also its scientific importance.</p> <div id="attachment_46554" style="width: 612px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46554" class="wp-image-46554 size-full" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture1.png" alt="" width="602" height="401" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture1.png 602w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture1-300x200.png 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture1-100x67.png 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture1-600x400.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-46554" class="wp-caption-text">Figure 1. The Lunar-like landscape of Sarakiniko. The contrast between the bright rocks and the turquoise waters exemplifies the site&#8217;s aesthetic and geological significance, making it a natural wonder and an important terrestrial analogue for planetary studies (Photo credit: Alexandros Maragos).</p></div> <p data-start="61" data-end="393">To me, spending time in Sarakiniko was natural and familiar as a kid who spent every Easter and summer holiday on the island—Milos, my mom’s birthplace. I would swim and snorkel in the beautiful canal with my cousins, run across the white tuffs, and scout for fossils embedded in the sediment—always careful not to disturb them.</p> <p data-start="395" data-end="776">It wasn’t until I was around ten that I started realizing what a unique place this is for our entire planet. I began noticing tourists marveling at Sarakiniko, calling it the ‘Moon on Earth’ and capturing it from every angle. I’ll never forget seeing a woman reading in the middle of the night, relying on nothing but the moonlight and its stunning reflection on the white tuffs. This site, along with other phenomenal volcanic landscapes—<a href="https://odysseusacruises.com/firiplaka-beach-milos/">Fyriplaka</a>, <a href="https://apassionandapassport.com/kleftiko-beach-milos-greece/">Kleftiko</a>, and<a href="https://www.greeka.com/cyclades/milos/beaches/glaronisia/"> Glaronisia</a>—shaped my desire to understand my homeland better and deeper—how else but by studying geology?</p> <p>And I can’t deny that it was this extraterrestrial look of Sarakiniko that made me want to study unearthly places in our solar system and become a planetary geologist.</p> <p>But now, that same place that inspired so many people and linked our terrestrial existence with space is marred by excavators tearing into million-year-old geological layers—treating them as nothing more than raw material for yet another luxury hotel.</p> <p><strong>The geological and scientific value of Sarakiniko</strong></p> <p>Sarakiniko is part of the <a href="https://users.isc.tuc.gr/~gchristidis/SAVVA/homepage.htm">Southern Aegean Volcanic Arc (SAVA)</a>, formed by the subduction of the African Plate beneath the Aegean Sea plate, where its northern margin is a divergent boundary with the Eurasian Plate. Milos is renowned for its diverse volcanic formations, including<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248256957_Water-settling_and_resedimentation_of_submarine_rhyolitic_pumice_at_Yali_eastern_Aegean_Greece"> ignimbrites, pumice deposits, rhyolites, and hydrothermal minerals</a>. Sarakiniko, in particular, showcases the interaction of aeolian and fluvial erosion and volcanic activity, creating an extraterrestrial landscape that closely resembles planetary surfaces such as those found on the Moon, Mars, and Saturn’s moon Titan.</p> <p>Earth and Planetary scientists have long utilized Sarakiniko, as a terrestrial analogue for planetary exploration, studying its <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/0-387-29293-4_14">exogenic processes</a>, sedimentary deposits, and tuff formations to better understand exotic environments. In 2024, the ‘<a href="https://hsc.gov.gr/en/workshop-milos-2024/">Terrestrial Analogues for Solar System studies’ Workshop sponsored by EGU</a> as part of the Angioletta Coradini series, brought together international experts who reaffirmed the site’s critical role in planetary science. The white volcanic tuff of Sarakiniko provides a natural testbed for remote sensing techniques, robotic exploration strategies, and geological interpretations relevant to future space missions.</p> <div id="attachment_46557" style="width: 609px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture2.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46557" class="size-full wp-image-46557" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture2.png" alt="" width="599" height="284" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture2.png 599w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture2-300x142.png 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture2-100x47.png 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-46557" class="wp-caption-text">Figure.2 In 2024, an EGU-sponsored workshop on Milos confirmed Sarakiniko as a key planetary analogue for the Moon, Mars, and icy bodies. Scientists analyzed its geology, emphasizing its value for testing robotic tools, remote sensing, and space exploration. The workshop called for its preservation due to its scientific significance.</p></div> <p>Moreover, fossils are embedded throughout the volcanic rock, offering crucial insights into the paleo-geographic evolution of the region. These fossils serve as markers for reconstructing past marine environments and climate conditions, making Sarakiniko a valuable site for understanding the interplay between volcanic and marine processes over geological timescales.</p> <p><strong>A catastrophic assault on geoheritage</strong></p> <p>Despite its scientific and cultural significance, Sarakiniko is facing an existential threat. The construction of a luxury hotel and plans for the construction of several more within the geological formations has led to the destruction of irreplaceable volcanic layers, erosion of fossil deposits, and environmental degradation. Heavy machinery has already removed sections of the delicate rock formations, while construction foundations threaten to alter the natural landscape permanently.</p> <p>The locals are clear ‘If we lose Sarakiniko, we lose our identity’.</p> <p>The damage extends beyond geology: the hotel development risks increasing sediment runoff into the marine environment, polluting the surrounding ecosystem, and disrupting a fragile coastal habitat. The unchecked nature of this construction, occurring in the absence of sufficient legal protection for Sarakiniko, highlights the urgent need for stronger geoheritage conservation policies in Greece.</p> <div id="attachment_46572" style="width: 612px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture3.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46572" class="size-full wp-image-46572" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture3.png" alt="" width="602" height="338" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture3.png 602w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture3-300x168.png 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture3-100x56.png 100w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-46572" class="wp-caption-text">Figure 3. Wide-scale excavation has stripped large sections of the white rock, treating fossils of millions of years as trash, and leaving behind scars on the landscape.</p></div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div id="attachment_46577" style="width: 298px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture4.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46577" class="size-full wp-image-46577" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture4.png" alt="" width="288" height="384" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture4.png 288w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture4-225x300.png 225w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Picture4-75x100.png 75w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-46577" class="wp-caption-text">Figure 4. Destruction of million-year-old geological layers to build yet another luxury hotel with rooms featuring private pools.</p></div> <p>Melians live in and outside of Milos, along with nature lovers from around the world, have publicly expressed their frustration to which the Ministry of Environment and Energy replied by ordering the suspension of construction work until the legality of the building permit could be verified.</p> <p>Even though construction has been halted for now, the future of this project, as well as other planned developments, remains uncertain. The same concerns apply to other unique geological and ecological sites around Milos, such as Cape Vani, Achivadolimni, Kastanas, Kleftiko, Sykia, and more, raising broader questions about the island’s environmental protection and sustainable development.</p> <p><strong>Call to action: Protecting Sarakiniko for future generations</strong></p> <p>The destruction of Sarakiniko is not just a local issue—it is a global crisis in the preservation of geoheritage. This case underscores the need for immediate intervention to halt ongoing construction and implement long-term conservation strategies. And it’s not a secret the entire group of the Cyclades islands is in danger from the unlimited construction zones and the destruction of the natural world.</p> <p>Beyond the key actions that must be taken by the government to prevent further destruction of correct the damage already done, we- the citizens of this planet- must take action.</p> <p>Please share this information with your peers and friends. Raise awareness in your communities.</p> <p>Please <a href="https://www.change.org/p/save-sarakiniko-protect-milos-island?recruiter=299664349&amp;recruited_by_id=0e3b4340-fce6-11e4-8daf-b913a6afcef6&amp;utm_source=share_petition&amp;utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&amp;utm_term=share_petition&amp;utm_medium=copylink&amp;utm_content=cl_sharecopy_490408595_en-US%3A4">sign the petition</a> to stop the destruction and safeguard Sarakiniko and other precious sites on Milos! Every signature counts in the fight to preserve the island’s unparalleled natural beauty.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p> <p>Sarakiniko is a rare and invaluable window into Earth&#8217;s geological past, a scientific asset for planetary research, and an irreplaceable natural wonder. If we do not act now, the loss of this site will be irreversible, depriving future generations of its scientific and cultural legacy.</p> <p data-start="59" data-end="192">Protecting Sarakiniko is not just an environmental obligation—it is a commitment to preserving our planet’s geological heritage. So more kids can be inspired, more eyes can admire it, and deeper connections can be forged with the natural world.</p> <p data-start="315" data-end="341">The time to act is now.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/21/sarakiniko-a-unique-geoheritage-site-under-threat/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> <media:content url="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/2-1024x524.png" medium="image" /> </item> <item> <title>First time at an EGU General Assembly? We&#8217;ve got you covered!</title> <link>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/14/first-time-at-an-egu-general-assembly-we-got-you-covered-egu25/</link> <comments>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/14/first-time-at-an-egu-general-assembly-we-got-you-covered-egu25/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Hazel Gibson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 14 Mar 2025 11:45:37 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Conferences]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Early Career Scientists]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU GA 2025]]></category> <category><![CDATA[General Assembly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Science Communication]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Vienna]]></category> <category><![CDATA[conference networking]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Conference tips]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EGU25]]></category> <category><![CDATA[European Geosciences Union General Assembly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[First-timer's guide]]></category> <category><![CDATA[geoscience conference]]></category> <category><![CDATA[geoscience networking]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/?p=46519</guid> <description><![CDATA[Europe’s biggest geoscience conference, EGU25, is just over one month away! Each year, the EGU General Assembly brings together over 19,000 researchers, scientists, academics and journalists to discuss and share the latest developments in planetary exploration, Earth observation, polar science, climate change, natural hazards, and much more. And it is held at the Austria Centre Vienna (ACV) which is big enough to confuse even the most directionally gifted of us! If this is your first time attending the EGU General Assembly, we would like to make your experience less overwhelming and more fulfilling, so you can make the most of our exciting science. So read on for a quick first timers guide on how to plan for your conference week. &#160; Choose the best registration for you. There are many kinds of registration you can pick &#8211; including virtual and on-site options. The full list is available here on the EGU25 website. If you are attending on-site and you book your registration before the close of the Early Bird cut-off at 13:00 CET 31 March, your name badge will also be mailed out to you ahead of the meeting &#8211; saving you time (and queues) when you arrive! When you register is also the place that you can choose your stickers that will be displayed on your name badge (remember to check this before 31 March if you want your name badge mailed out to you). &#160; Set up your profile to help you make connections at the meeting Your personal profile on the EGU25 website is like your digital business card at the meeting. It makes it easier for people to connect with you before, during and after the General Assembly! You add stickers to your profile too; highlight that you are a first time attendee, or if you are looking for work, as well as your Division and EGU journal affiliations! You can also add your pronouns to your profile, especially if you don&#8217;t have a photo attached. &#160; Book your travel and stay NOW Vienna is a hub for conferences and tourism alike, and EGU25 alone is expected to bring in up to 18,000 participants to the city! This means fierce competition for accommodation and travel, so we recommend booking right away if you haven’t already done so. If you are able to, EGU always recommends travelling by train to the conference. The international rail network across Europe is fast and regular, and a beautiful journey, especially the closer you get to Vienna. Check the ÖBB website for information (or use third party websites like trainline.eu to discover information about connecting travel across countries). Our favourite way to travel is to use the NightJet lines and the EuroNight lines, which are a series of sleeper trains that allow you to travel overnight. The network is constantly expanding, but places book up fast, so check now to see if there is still any availability on your route. For those travelling by plane to the conference, a top tip is to look for flights to Bratislava. The Slovakian capital is only 80 km away from Vienna and well connected via bus, train and even boat! Bratislava airport is served by a good selection of low-cost airlines and it’s often cheaper to fly there than directly to Vienna. A bus ticket between the two cities can cost as little as five euro (if booked well in advance) with the average for a return train trip being around 14 euro. If that’s not enough to persuade you, it’s worth factoring in a little time to discover the city. It’s a warren of quaint little streets, an imposing castle and good, affordable beer and food. &#160; Last chance to sign up to EGU&#8217;s mentoring programme! Don’t just limit your conference experience to attending presentations and mingling within your own circle. EGU25 offers the perfect opportunity to broaden your professional network – whether on-site or virtually. If social media is your thing, the #EGU25 conference hashtag is a great way to stay current with the meeting as well as connect with others to find out about their work. We also strongly recommend signing up to be a mentee with EGU’s Mentoring Program. This unique program supports first-time conference attendees (mentees) by pairing them with experienced mentors. Register here before 17 March. &#160; Download the EGU25 app The EGU25 General Assembly mobile app will be available two weeks prior to the General Assembly. Check the EGU25 website for release information. For first time attendees, the app can be a great pocket guide to browse and search the meeting programme, select presentations to add to your own personal programme and keep up with important events. Another good source of information at the General Assembly is the daily digital newsletter EGU Today, which highlights sessions and events at the meeting each day of the week. Issues are available online on the General Assembly website and through the conference app during the meeting, so keep an eye out and subscribe now to not miss a thing! &#160; Check the schedule, but don&#8217;t overload yourself Each day of the EGU General Assembly begins at 08:30 and ends at 20:00 and is organised in time blocks (TBs) with a number of breaks. Here’s an overview of what each day will look like: Time block (TB) Time (CEST) TB1 08:30–10:15 AM Coffee break 10:15–10:45 TB2 10:45–12:30 Lunch 12:30–14:00 TB3 14:00–15:45 PM Coffee break 15:45–16:15 TB4 16:15–18:00 Networking 18:00–19:00 Medal &#38; Award lectures, evening events 19:00 &#38; onward &#160; Each time block further comprises a number of presentations, which – needless to say – can be quite tiring to sit through an entire day. It would be wise to shortlist sessions of your interest and plan to attend them accordingly through the week. More information about the meeting format is available here.Don’t forget to take regular breaks to keep stress levels at bay &#8211; whether attending on-site or virtually. Try a 5 minute coffee meditation or 5 min yoga stretch at your desk, and feel free to recommend to a friend! &#160; Explore beautiful Vienna The city’s public transport is exceptionally well planned and connected, so do your best to explore some of Vienna during the conference week. Staying along the U1 underground (U-bahn) line ensures quick and easy access to all the main tourist spots and the conference centre, but don’t fret if your accommodation is already booked elsewhere – you’ll be able to get around the city fairly easily either way. Vienna has plenty to offer, from picturesque parks and gardens, through to impressive architecture and a plethora of museums. A good starting point is Wien Info where you’ll find tips on how to enjoy the city to the full, without breaking the bank. The site has information about arts and culture events, free wifi spots, the best places to go for a bite to eat or a drink, as well as a selection of affordable sport options too. And here you’ll find information on the Vienna City Card to get around during the week. &#160; So there you have it! A beginners guide to help you make the most of your first General Assembly experience. Stay tuned for further conference updates which will be shared regularly via the EGU blog and on social media.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Europe’s biggest geoscience conference, EGU25, is just over one month away! Each year, the <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/">EGU General Assembly</a> brings together over 19,000 researchers, scientists, academics and journalists to discuss and share the latest developments in planetary exploration, Earth observation, polar science, climate change, natural hazards, and much more. And it is held at the <a href="https://www.acv.at/en/">Austria Centre Vienna (ACV)</a> which is big enough to confuse even the most directionally gifted of us!</p> <p>If this is your first time attending the EGU General Assembly, we would like to make your experience less overwhelming and more fulfilling, so you can make the most of our exciting science. So read on for a quick first timers guide on how to plan for your conference week.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Choose the best registration for you.</strong></p> <p>There are <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/register.html">many kinds of registration</a> you can pick &#8211; including <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/register.html#virtualfees">virtual</a> and <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/register.html#onsitefees">on-site</a> options. The full list is available <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/register.html">here</a> on the <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/">EGU25 website</a>. If you are attending on-site and you book your registration before the close of the <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/attend/register.html">Early Bird cut-off at 13:00 CET 31 March</a>, your name badge will also be mailed out to you ahead of the meeting &#8211; saving you time (and queues) when you arrive! When you register is also the place that you can choose your stickers that will be displayed on your name badge (remember to check this before 31 March if you want your name badge mailed out to you).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Set up your profile to help you make connections at the meeting</strong></p> <p>Your personal <a href="https://networker.copernicus.org/my-profile/egu25#">profile</a> on the <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/">EGU25 website</a> is like your digital business card at the meeting. It makes it easier for people to connect with you before, during and after the General Assembly! You add stickers to your profile too; highlight that you are a first time attendee, or if you are looking for work, as well as your Division and EGU journal affiliations! You can also add your pronouns to your profile, especially if you don&#8217;t have a photo attached.</p> <p><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/profile-sticker.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-41938 size-full" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/profile-sticker-e1710505316590.png" alt="" width="1573" height="986" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/profile-sticker-e1710505316590.png 1573w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/profile-sticker-e1710505316590-300x188.png 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/profile-sticker-e1710505316590-1024x642.png 1024w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/profile-sticker-e1710505316590-768x481.png 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/profile-sticker-e1710505316590-1536x963.png 1536w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/profile-sticker-e1710505316590-100x63.png 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/profile-sticker-e1710505316590-638x400.png 638w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1573px) 100vw, 1573px" /></a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Book your travel and stay NOW</strong></p> <p>Vienna is a hub for conferences and tourism alike, and EGU25 alone is expected to bring in up to 18,000 participants to the city! This means fierce competition for accommodation and travel, so we recommend booking right away if you haven’t already done so.</p> <p>If you are able to, EGU always recommends travelling by train to the conference. The international rail network across Europe is fast and regular, and a beautiful journey, especially the closer you get to Vienna. Check the <a href="https://www.oebb.at/">ÖBB</a> website for information (or use third party websites like trainline.eu to discover information about connecting travel across countries). Our favourite way to travel is to use the <a href="https://www.nightjet.com/en/buchung/faq/buchung-im-nightjet">NightJet lines</a> and the <a href="https://www.nightjet.com/en/komfortkategorien/euronight">EuroNight lines</a>, which are a series of sleeper trains that allow you to travel overnight. The network is constantly expanding, but places book up fast, so <a href="https://www.nightjet.com/en/buchung/faq/buchung-im-nightjet">check now</a> to see if there is still any availability on your route.</p> <p><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-15-at-12-51-11-europakarte-nightjet-reiseziele.pdf.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-41927 alignnone" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-15-at-12-51-11-europakarte-nightjet-reiseziele.pdf.png" alt="" width="1600" height="1108" srcset="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-15-at-12-51-11-europakarte-nightjet-reiseziele.pdf.png 1600w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-15-at-12-51-11-europakarte-nightjet-reiseziele.pdf-300x208.png 300w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-15-at-12-51-11-europakarte-nightjet-reiseziele.pdf-1024x709.png 1024w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-15-at-12-51-11-europakarte-nightjet-reiseziele.pdf-768x532.png 768w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-15-at-12-51-11-europakarte-nightjet-reiseziele.pdf-1536x1064.png 1536w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-15-at-12-51-11-europakarte-nightjet-reiseziele.pdf-100x69.png 100w, https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-15-at-12-51-11-europakarte-nightjet-reiseziele.pdf-578x400.png 578w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /></a></p> <p>For those travelling by plane to the conference, a top tip is to look for flights to Bratislava. The Slovakian capital is only 80 km away from Vienna and well connected via bus, train and even <a href="https://twincityliner.com/en">boa</a>t! Bratislava airport is served by a good selection of low-cost airlines and it’s often cheaper to fly there than directly to Vienna. A <a href="https://www.flixbus.com/bus-routes/bus-vienna-bratislava?departureCity=1394&amp;arrivalCity=1745&amp;wt_mc=paid.com.FlixBus.sea.google.1183843875.383148169_20725319569.ad&amp;wt_cc1=non-branded&amp;wt_cc5=%2Bbus%20%2Bvienna%20%2Bbratislava&amp;gclid=Cj0KEQjwhpnGBRDKpY-My9rdutABEiQAWNcslHUcoQZGiPNxp7h0yIAuxu4m71sbVRDtyn5Q63QLACoaAvPl8P8HAQ">bus ticket</a> between the two cities can cost as little as <a href="http://www.goeuro.com/buses_from_bratislava_to_vienna">five euro</a> (if booked well in advance) with the average for a <a href="https://bratislava-slovakia.eu/travel/vienna-bratislava/vienna-train?utm_expid=55252579-7.zFxOmtvwSsatYHaT2x03uA.0&amp;utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.de%2F">return train</a> trip being around 14 euro. If that’s not enough to persuade you, it’s worth factoring in a little time to discover the city. It’s a warren of quaint little streets, an imposing castle and good, affordable beer and food.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Last chance to sign up to EGU&#8217;s mentoring programme!<br /> </strong></p> <p>Don’t just limit your conference experience to attending presentations and mingling within your own circle. EGU25 offers the perfect opportunity to broaden your professional network – whether on-site or virtually. If social media is your thing, the #EGU25 conference hashtag is a great way to stay current with the meeting as well as connect with others to find out about their work.</p> <p>We also strongly recommend signing up to be a mentee with EGU’s <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2023/03/03/sign-up-for-egus-mentoring-program-heres-why/">Mentoring Program</a>. This unique program supports first-time conference attendees (mentees) by pairing them with experienced mentors. <a href="https://www.egu.eu/outreach/mentoring/registration/">Register here</a> before 17 March.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Download the EGU25 app </strong></p> <p>The EGU25 General Assembly mobile app will be available two weeks prior to the General Assembly. Check the <a href="https://www.egu25.eu/">EGU25 website</a> for release information. For first time attendees, the app can be a great pocket guide to browse and search the meeting programme, select presentations to add to your own personal programme and keep up with important events.</p> <p>Another good source of information at the General Assembly is the daily digital newsletter <a href="https://www.egu.eu/egutoday/">EGU Today</a>, which highlights sessions and events at the meeting each day of the week. Issues are available online on the General Assembly website and through the conference app during the meeting, so keep an eye out and <a href="https://www.egu.eu/egutoday/">subscribe now</a> to not miss a thing!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Check the schedule, but don&#8217;t overload yourself<br /> </strong></p> <p>Each day of the EGU General Assembly begins at 08:30 and ends at 20:00 and is organised in time blocks (TBs) with a number of breaks. Here’s an overview of what each day will look like:</p> <table width="367"> <thead> <tr> <td> <table class="table--default" style="height: 319px;" width="458"> <thead> <tr> <th>Time block (TB)</th> <th>Time (CEST)</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>TB1</td> <td>08:30–10:15</td> </tr> <tr> <td>AM Coffee break</td> <td>10:15–10:45</td> </tr> <tr> <td>TB2</td> <td>10:45–12:30</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lunch</td> <td>12:30–14:00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>TB3</td> <td>14:00–15:45</td> </tr> <tr> <td>PM Coffee break</td> <td>15:45–16:15</td> </tr> <tr> <td>TB4</td> <td>16:15–18:00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Networking</td> <td>18:00–19:00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Medal &amp; Award lectures, evening events</td> <td>19:00 &amp; onward</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </thead> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Each time block further comprises a number of presentations, which – needless to say – can be quite tiring to sit through an entire day. It would be wise to shortlist sessions of your interest and plan to attend them accordingly through the week. More information about the meeting format is available <a href="https://egu23.eu/about/meeting_format.html">here</a>.Don’t forget to take regular breaks to keep stress levels at bay &#8211; whether attending on-site or virtually. Try a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPL64sUvUAc&amp;t=1s">5 minute coffee meditation</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOY30-u2Eas&amp;t=2s">5 min yoga stretch at your desk</a>, and feel free to recommend to a friend!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Explore beautiful Vienna </strong></p> <p>The city’s public transport is exceptionally well planned and connected, so do your best to explore some of Vienna during the conference week. Staying along the U1 underground (U-bahn) line ensures quick and easy access to all the main tourist spots and the conference centre, but don’t fret if your accommodation is already booked elsewhere – you’ll be able to get around the city fairly easily either way. Vienna has plenty to offer, from picturesque parks and gardens, through to impressive architecture and a plethora of museums. A good starting point is <a href="https://www.wien.info/en">Wien Info</a> where you’ll find tips on how to enjoy the city to the full, without breaking the bank. The site has information about arts and culture events, free wifi spots, the best places to go for a bite to eat or a drink, as well as a selection of affordable sport options too. And <a href="https://www.viennacitycard.at/view/FAQs">here</a> you’ll find information on the Vienna City Card to get around during the week.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>So there you have it! A beginners guide to help you make the most of your first General Assembly experience. Stay tuned for further conference updates which will be shared regularly via the <a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/">EGU blog</a> and on social media.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/14/first-time-at-an-egu-general-assembly-we-got-you-covered-egu25/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <media:content url="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/DSC00739_EGU_Foto_Pfluegl_240415-1024x682.jpg" medium="image" /> </item> <item> <title>Congratulations to the 2024 winner of the first ever Geolog post of the year!</title> <link>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/07/congratulations-to-the-2024-winner-of-the-first-ever-geolog-post-of-the-year/</link> <comments>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/07/congratulations-to-the-2024-winner-of-the-first-ever-geolog-post-of-the-year/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Asmae Ourkiya]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 07 Mar 2025 11:00:21 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Education]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Science Communication]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Amazighs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Blog post of the year]]></category> <category><![CDATA[competition]]></category> <category><![CDATA[GeoLog]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Morocco]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/?p=46396</guid> <description><![CDATA[At EGU, we’re always looking for new ways to celebrate and amplify the voices of our community. That’s why I am thrilled to introduce the Geolog Top Blog Post of the Year Competition—a new initiative where we recognise the most impactful and engaging post from the past year. For our very first edition in 2024, we selected the top five performing blog posts and held an internal vote within the EGU Executive Office to select the winner. And now, we’re excited to announce that the very first Geolog Top Blog Post of the Year award goes to Racha Zahira Ammati for her compelling piece! Meet the Amazighs: Morocco’s indigenous women and their pivotal role in leading climate resilience initiatives Published on August 9, 2024, Racha’s blog post introduces us to the knowledge and resilience of Morocco’s Amazigh women and walks us through how they have long been leaders in climate adaptation and sustainability. The post explores how these women preserve traditional knowledge, manage natural resources, and sustain their communities in the face of environmental challenges. It’s an inspiring read that blends cultural heritage with climate action—a perfect example of the power of storytelling in science communication. If you haven’t read Racha’s piece yet, now’s the time! Your voice matters – pitch your idea to Geolog! This new initiative isn’t just about celebrating outstanding blog posts—it’s also about inspiring you to share your stories, research, and insights with the wider geoscience community. Whether you’re an early-career scientist, a seasoned researcher, or a science communicator, we welcome guest contributions that explore geoscience topics in engaging and accessible ways. Do you have an idea for a blog post? Maybe you want to highlight an underrepresented issue in geoscience, share your fieldwork experience, or showcase how your research connects with society. If so, we’d love to hear from you! Check out our Geolog submission guidelines and pitch your idea. Congratulations again to Racha for her well-deserved recognition, and we look forward to reading your contributions in the future!]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">At EGU, we’re always looking for new ways to celebrate and amplify the voices of our community. That’s why I am thrilled to introduce the <strong>Geolog Top Blog Post of the Year Competition</strong>—a new initiative where we recognise the most impactful and engaging post from the past year.</p> <p>For our very first edition in 2024, we selected the top five performing blog posts and held an internal vote within the EGU Executive Office to select the winner. And now, we’re excited to announce that the very first Geolog Top Blog Post of the Year award goes to <strong>Racha Zahira Ammati</strong> for her compelling piece!</p> <h3><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2024/08/09/meet-the-amazighs-moroccos-indigenous-women-and-their-pivotal-role-in-leading-climate-resilience-initiatives/"><strong>Meet the Amazighs: Morocco’s indigenous women and their pivotal role in leading climate resilience initiatives</strong></a></h3> <p>Published on August 9, 2024, Racha’s blog post introduces us to the knowledge and resilience of Morocco’s Amazigh women and walks us through how they have long been leaders in climate adaptation and sustainability. The post explores how these women preserve traditional knowledge, manage natural resources, and sustain their communities in the face of environmental challenges. It’s an inspiring read that blends cultural heritage with climate action—a perfect example of the power of storytelling in science communication.</p> <p>If you haven’t read Racha’s piece yet, now’s the time!</p> <div class="rve" data-content-width=""> <blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="VQr9utLKqw"><p><a href="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2024/08/09/meet-the-amazighs-moroccos-indigenous-women-and-their-pivotal-role-in-leading-climate-resilience-initiatives/">Meet the Amazighs: Morocco&#8217;s indigenous women and their pivotal role in leading climate resilience initiatives</a></p></blockquote> <p><iframe loading="lazy" class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" title="&#8220;Meet the Amazighs: Morocco&#8217;s indigenous women and their pivotal role in leading climate resilience initiatives&#8221; &#8212; GeoLog" src="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2024/08/09/meet-the-amazighs-moroccos-indigenous-women-and-their-pivotal-role-in-leading-climate-resilience-initiatives/embed/#?secret=vBUspRuOEc#?secret=VQr9utLKqw" data-secret="VQr9utLKqw" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div> <p><!-- Responsive Video Embeds plugin by www.kevinleary.net --></p> <h3><strong>Your voice matters – pitch your idea to Geolog!</strong></h3> <p>This new initiative isn’t just about celebrating outstanding blog posts—it’s also about inspiring you to share your stories, research, and insights with the wider geoscience community. Whether you’re an early-career scientist, a seasoned researcher, or a science communicator, we welcome guest contributions that explore geoscience topics in engaging and accessible ways.</p> <p>Do you have an idea for a blog post? Maybe you want to highlight an underrepresented issue in geoscience, share your fieldwork experience, or showcase how your research connects with society. If so, we’d love to hear from you! Check out our <strong>Geolog submission guidelines </strong>and pitch your idea.</p> <p>Congratulations again to Racha for her well-deserved recognition, and we look forward to reading your contributions in the future!</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/2025/03/07/congratulations-to-the-2024-winner-of-the-first-ever-geolog-post-of-the-year/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> <media:content url="https://blogs.egu.eu/geolog/files/2025/03/Brown-Green-Aesthetic-Congratulations-A4-Landscape-2-e1741087646546-1024x594.png" medium="image" /> </item> </channel> </rss>