The European Geosciences Union (EGU) Natural Hazards Division is pivotal in supporting the growth of early career researchers, giving them a platform to share their work and ideas, enhancing networking opportunities and contributing to career development. So, are you reading this post and wondering who gives a voice to early career scientists in the Natural Hazards space? The EGU Natural Hazards Division has new Early Career Scientists (ECS) representatives!!! We asked them to talk about themselves, why they became ECS representatives and what they aim to achieve. Let’s meet them…
Maria Vittoria Gargiulo – the ECS NH Division representative
Maria Vittoria Gargiulo
I am a dedicated researcher and educator with extensive expertise in multi-risk analysis of natural and man-made hazardous events, risk communication, and stakeholder engagement. I hold a PhD in Mathematics, Physics, and Applications with the prestigious title of Doctor Europaeus. I am also an IMI (International Mediation Institute) qualified Mediator; I recently completed an II-level Master’s in Education and International Mediation.
My research journey includes a post-doctoral fellowship for the EU-funded H2020 S4CE (Science 4 Clean Energy) project, participation in H2020 INNOSUP AMULET (Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies united for Lightweight), and involvement in the Erasmus+ IN-MEDIAS – European Mediator Network. Currently, I am engaged in the H2020 CORE (sCience and human factor for resilient sociEty) and the HE The HuT (The Human-Tech Nexus – Building a Safe Haven to cope with Climate Extremes) projects.
I am passionate about developing educational and communication strategies to help young generations understand risk concepts; I have contributed to orientation programs at the University of Salerno, both on and off campus. As a Positive Peace Activator trained by Rotary International and the Institute of Economics and Peace, my research interests also encompass the positive peace framework within Disaster Risk Reduction.
My aim and commitment
I am excited to serve as the Early Career Scientists (ECS) Representative for the NH Division, alongside Deputy Elisa Nobile. Our shared commitment to advocating for our peers and providing unwavering support throughout their EGU journey is the driving force behind our roles.
My desire to become the ECS Representative stems from a deep-seated passion for fostering a collaborative and inclusive scientific community. I believe in creating opportunities for early career scientists to connect, share their work, and grow professionally. This role allows me to directly contribute to developing a supportive environment where everyone’s voice is heard and valued.
As the ECS Representative, my primary goals are to advance the objectives of the ECS community by facilitating networking opportunities, organising skill-building workshops, and promoting initiatives that highlight the contributions of early career scientists. I am committed to supporting the campfires and workshop committee and actively encouraging ECS members to engage in these enriching activities. Additionally, I aim to bolster our blog activities, inspiring other early career scientists to participate and share their insights. A holistic approach to DEI is central to my vision; I aim to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are ingrained in our community’s activities. I am dedicated to creating an environment where every ECS member feels respected and empowered, regardless of their background or experiences.
Listening to the needs and positions of ECS members within the NH Division is a top priority. I am eager to represent their perspectives and advocate their interests to the division and Union representatives. By maintaining open lines of communication and fostering an inclusive atmosphere, I believe we can achieve meaningful progress and create a vibrant, supportive, and dynamic community for all ECS members. Through collective dedication and collaboration, I am confident that we can continue to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive environment for all ECS members.
Image credit: falco distributed via Pixabay, under Pixabay licence
Elisa Nobile – the ECS NH Division deputy representative
Elisa Nobile
I am Elisa Nobile, a PhD candidate at IUSS Pavia in Italy. My research focuses on flood risk and impact assessment, with a particular emphasis on systemic risk and indirect impacts. I am particularly interested in the analysis of complex systems and the interconnections within them.
Systemic risk involves the potential for disruptions or losses to spread across interconnected parts of a system. These risks tend to be unpredictable and can result in catastrophic events once they begin to unfold. My interest in systemic risk stems from a desire to better understand and mitigate these complex interconnections. In my free time, I love practising juggling and experimenting with different tools and tricks to challenge myself and enhance my coordination skills.
My aim and commitment
I joined the NH division one year ago and currently represent the ECS within the division as deputy representative alongside Maria Vittoria Gargiulo. My decision to take on this role comes from a strong belief in the power of creating bonds and personal connections. I am passionate about fostering a collaborative and inclusive scientific community where early career scientists can thrive. Ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to all our initiatives is very important to me. Listening to the needs and perspectives of ECS members within the NH Division is a top priority. My vision, shared with Mavi, is to create an environment where individuals passionate about natural hazards can come together, share their work, and support each other. As representatives, we aim to facilitate networking opportunities and promote initiatives highlighting early career scientists’ contributions. By actively encouraging ECS members to engage in these activities, we hope to inspire a dynamic and supportive community.
According to EGU official definition, “an Early Career Scientist (ECS) is a student, a PhD candidate, or a practising scientist who received their highest certificate (e.g. BSc, MSc or PhD) within the past seven years. The seven-year period can be extended to allow for periods when the scientist was not working in science because of, but not limited to, caring and/or parental responsibilities, disability, personal illness, community obligations or national service”.
If you have any questions, comments, thoughts or ideas on any relevant topic or for the next Assembly, don’t hesitate to get in touch! They would love to hear from you!
