EGU bills itself as a global organization, yet scientists from Africa, South America and South Asia, and those in the African, South American and South Asian Diaspora, are deeply under-represented. How shall EGU more effectively engage the Global South community? An important first step is to reach this community. Yet, a relatively low conference profile, along with Visa refusals, and limited local resources, severely hinders participation. We should highlight Global South prize winners, and invite more top speakers, as show concrete examples that creative freedom exists without boundaries. It pays to show that Virtual Attendance by Global South colleagues is a robust means to participate, too.
This will foster an atmosphere of directness, unity, community, fairness, support and friendship. For example: Why is African attendance at EGU miniscule despite being a neighboring continent to Europe? Change will not happen overnight. Highlighting personal success stories from and research opportunities with Global South scientists would do much to sow the seeds for authentic engagement.
In this Town Hall, we seek to promote mature and informative conversations by asking everyone, Global North and South (and East and West), what they have to say regarding topics such as Equality-Diversity-Inclusivity and Neocolonialism! These issues do not exist in isolation from one another, nor is the conversation a one-way street. What do colleagues from well-represented groups at EGU have to say? It would help to understand what the genuine challenges are that people face with respect to attitudes to, for example, "helicopter science". We need to hear more to begin to understand what it feels like to experience exploitation in order to fight it convincingly.
Several key issues call for convergence: What cultural perils and barriers exist, including professional dangers, to participating in political discussions at conferences? How are colleagues from under-represented nations discouraged by the ‘"savior complex" ? Ultimately, we pose the question: How can Global South scientists feel more invited at EGU?
Speaker
- Stephen J. Mojzsis, HUN-REN CSFK, Hungary