Union Symposium US 3 EGU 2023

Challenges and solutions to increasing accessibility, representation, recognition and diversity of European countries in the European geosciences community.  

Short description

In the need for a diverse representation of European geoscience and geoscientists throughout the EGU this Union Symposium is meant to raise awareness on the existence of under-represented countries in the EGU structure. In reference to countries of researchers’ affiliation, not their nationality, we will explore the barriers and the cultural differences that potentially mitigate participation of certain nations in decision-making activities of our Union as well as the available tools and mechanisms that can increase a sense of belonging within the geoscience community. Our aim is to come up with concrete and feasible ways to foster inclusivity and strengthen the research ties between relatively under-represented countries in the EGU structure, and those with strong historical connections to the Union that shall lead to appropriately enhancing the representation of countries within Europe that are otherwise vastly underrepresented in EGU leadership structures (e.g. Division Presidents/Officers, Journal Executive/Chief editors, General Assembly session conveners, journal topical editors of EGU journals). The outcomes of this Symposium will be compiled into a suite of Policy Recommendations that will be presented by us at the Friday afternoon EGU PC Feedback and Council Meetings.

The Union Symposium is structured in two time blocks starting at 8:30 and finishing at 12:30. We plan to have presentations in the first time block and a round table and a moderated discussion with the audience in the second time block with an open-forum and directed questions that address policy and function and constructive means of engagement.

Agenda 

Europeans and the EGU. Who is missing?

Time Block 1 (8:30-10:15)- moderated by Lisa Wingate

8:30-8:45 Lisa Wingate (INRAE, France, EGU EDI Committee, BG division president) - Welcome, presenting the aims of US 3 and introduction of the Conveners of US3

8:45-9:00 Stephen Mojzsis (Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary, PS division president)

Problems, potentials, policies, pitfalls and polities in the European geosciences Union

9:00-9:15 Liviu Matenco (Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Netherlands)

Understanding the complex east-west relationships in the European geoscience research landscape. How European is the EGU?

9:15-9:30 Alida Timar-Gabor (Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

How inclusive is the EGU? Editorial boards of EGU journals show an imbalance in European countries-of-affiliation.

9:30-9:45 Slobodan Nickovic (Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia Belgrade, Serbia)

Testimonials and challenges of the Plinius Medal (2022) recipient.

9:45-10:15

Helen M. Glaves (British Geological Survey, UK, EGU president)

Irina M. Artimieva (GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany and Stanford University, USA, EGU vice-president)

Martina Krämer (Institute for Energy and Climate Research 7: Stratosphere (IEK-7), Research Center Jülich, Germany, Senior Editor Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry Journal).

Time Block 2 (10:45-12:30) - moderated by Stephen Mojzsis

Round table guests and speakers: 

Ira Didenkulova (University of Oslo, Norway, NH division president)

Irka Hajdas (ETH Zurich, Switzerland, CL division president)

Alberto Montanari (University of Bologna, Italy, EDI committee co-chair)

Igor Leščešen (University of Novi Sad, Serbia)

Liviu Matenco (Utrecht University, Netherlands)

Danuta Michałska (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland)

Slobodan Nickovic (Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia)

Mihai Niculiță (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iași, Romania, NH OSPP Coordinator)

Alida Timar-Gabor (Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania)