Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a noninvasive method to detect biodiversity in a variety of environments that has many exciting applications for geosciences. In this short course, we introduce eDNA metabarcoding to a geoscience audience and present potential research applications.

Extreme event attribution (EEA) emerged in the early 2000s to assess the impact of human-induced climate change on extreme weather events. Since then, EEA has expanded into different approaches that help us understand how climate change influences these events.

In unconditional approaches, such as the risk-based method, the oceanic and atmospheric conditions are largely left unconstrained. In contrast, conditional approaches focus on constraining the specific dynamics that lead to an event. One example is the analogues approach, where the synoptic atmospheric circulation is held relatively fixed. Both approaches can be used to assess changes in the likelihood, intensity, or both, of extreme events.

In this short course, we will examine the robustness of the analogues method for EEA, explore different strategies for defining analogues, and discuss their applications in attribution studies.

Going through a career transition (such as moving into or out of a formal research environment) can be a challenge that many people feel underprepared for. Being able to consider the value of a position in its entirety, beyond salary, is an important skill that can be difficult to master until you have had some practical experience. Many elements beyond salary may fall into the category of employment conditions, including: flexible working hours and conditions; contracted hours; location; workplace culture and values; paid leave allowance; healthcare benefits; pension and bonuses; and much more – though only some of these will be negotiable. This short course aims to mitigate the gap in experience through a transparent discussion of not only what you can consider as valuable in a job role, but also when and how you can negotiate these aspects. By drawing on the experience of senior career workers, as well as HR professionals, this short course will address questions such as: what elements you should consider as negotiables in your current or prospective position; what are the processes for negotiating your employment conditions; when is a good time to negotiate a pay rise; and how to negotiate employment conditions once you have received a job offer.

As a practical exercise, this short course will guide participants through writing a proposal or justification for a salary increase or change of employment conditions, with the target that each participant will be knowledgeable and confident enough to put these skills to use when navigating the job market.

In this interactive short course, participants will explore how the art of paper folding and
sculpture can serve as a powerful tool to overcome creative blocks and reignite inspiration.
Whether struggling with writer’s block, a lack of ideas, or the pressure to innovate, this hands-on
workshop demonstrates how engaging in tactile, meditative processes like origami and paper
sculpture can unlock new ways of thinking.
Using simple materials and techniques, attendees will learn to create unique paper forms that
encourage mindfulness, focus, and the flow of fresh ideas. The course will also highlight the
parallels between the iterative process of folding and the journey of idea development in
scientific research, emphasizing the importance of experimentation, flexibility, and patience.
No prior artistic experience is necessary; just bring an open mind and a willingness to explore! By
the end of the session, participants will leave with their own paper creations and actionable
strategies for navigating moments of creative stagnation in both academic and professional
pursuits.

OpenStreetMap (OSM) is probably the widest and most known crowdsourced database of geospatial information. Its data have the potential to be harnessed to address a variety of scientific and policy questions, from urban planning to demographic studies, environmental monitoring, energy simulations and many others.
Understanding the structure and the variety of content in OSM can enable researchers and policymakers to use it as a relevant dataset for their specific objectives.
Moreover, familiarity with tools and services for filtering and extracting data per geographic area or topic can empower users to tailor OSM data to meet their unique needs. Additionally, learning to contribute new data to OSM enriches the database and fosters a collaborative environment that supports ongoing geospatial research and community engagement both for researchers themselves and also in interactions with stakeholders and citizens. By actively participating in the OSM community, geoscientists can ensure that the data remains current and relevant, ultimately enhancing the impact of their work in addressing pressing environmental and societal challenges.
The short course will begin with an introduction to the concepts and content of OpenStreetMap, followed by a brief review of services and tools for filtering, extracting, and downloading data. Participants will engage in hands-on activities to contribute new data directly, along with hints and tips on how to understand and evaluate the pros and cons of its open and collaborative foundational principles.

Maps are used in Sci-Fi and Fantasy books for worldbuilding and adding perspective to a story. A lot of thought goes into their creation to help readers visualise how a character goes from point A to B. Famous examples include Tolkien’s map of Middle Earth in Lord of the Rings, George R. R. Martin’s Westeros in Game of Thrones, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island and C. S. Lewis’ Narnia. Most of us have read books – or been in the audience during a scientific talk – and felt lost within a sprawling story, but maps help to forge an immersive experience.

This workshop aims to merge the fictional story world with science. During the workshop, we will be creating our own fantasy-style maps that relates to our scientific research. I will guide you, step by step, through hand drawing geographical features, settlements, or anything else that you’d like on your map. At the end of this workshop, you will have a unique and beautiful map of your research to decorate your offices with!

No prior artistry needed – come along for a well-deserved break from EGU chaos!

Can’t wait to see you there!