EGU Blogs

Divisions

Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology

Minerals and Art: a centuries-old connection

January 28, 2022
Minerals and Art: a centuries-old connection

Since ancient times, colours have been fundamental for artistic expression: pigments have always been created from fruits, leaves-flowers, and minerals. During the centuries, new material discoveries and techniques increased the shades we can still see and use nowadays. Once upon a Prehistoric time… El Castillo Cave, in Spain, is one of the earliest known cave paintings, dated to more than 40,000 ...[Read More]

CR
Cryospheric Sciences

Camp Century re-visited: sediment from the bottom of a Cold War ice core reveals Greenland’s warm past

January 28, 2022
Camp Century re-visited: sediment from the bottom of a Cold War ice core reveals Greenland’s warm past

A Cold War nuclear-powered military base inside the Greenland Ice Sheet sounds like science fiction, but the science that came out of this U.S. army installation was anything but fiction. In last week’s EGU CR blog post, Paul Bierman and Amanda Schmidt discussed the advances made by the U.S. military in operating across the Greenland Ice Sheet that culminated in the establishment of Camp Century i ...[Read More]

GD
Geodynamics

The Sassy Scientist – Seek The Spotlight

January 28, 2022
The Sassy Scientist – Seek The Spotlight

Mabi has seen a smattering of presentations at conferences. Some of those had the annotation “invited talk”. She wonders: How do you get invited to give a talk? Dear Mabi, Easy: get noticed. I don’t just mean that you should write a stellar paper. There might just be a chance that people miss it. Out of laziness, a crammed schedule or plain disinterest (wrongfully so, of course). ...[Read More]

GD
Geodynamics

The toxic and wondrous world of academia with Science Sisters

January 26, 2022
The toxic and wondrous world of academia with Science Sisters

Good morning, dear readers, this is your editor-in-chief speaking. We are currently experiencing some difficulties in academia, but we ask you to stay calm and remain in your seats with the seatbelt fastened. In the event of loss of pressure, make sure to publish your own paper first (to increase the pressure on your peers). Yes, it’s me! Your favourite (and only) editor-in-chief! And because runn ...[Read More]

NH
Natural Hazards

Geoscience communication series: navigating the light and dark sides of social media

and January 24, 2022
Geoscience communication series: navigating the light and dark sides of social media

We are thrilled to present the last episode of the EGU WEBINARS: Digitalk: online (geo)science communication series. In this episode, we will explore the light and the dark sides of using social media for science communication by a special guest, Roberto Guardo.  Roberto wished to engage in science communication just after completing his PhD. “I have never liked writing scientific papers,” he said ...[Read More]

TS
Tectonics and Structural Geology

TS Must-read – Buck (1991): Modes of continental lithospheric extension

January 24, 2022
TS Must-read – Buck (1991): Modes of continental lithospheric extension

Buck (1991) aims at solving the  intense ‘70s and ‘80s tectonic debate concerning the way extension is accommodated in continental regions (see our previous blog posts here and here). His article explores the physical conditions that can lead to the three end-member modes of lithospheric extension in continents: core complex mode, wide rift mode and narrow rift mode. The three extensional modes th ...[Read More]

G
Geodesy

Geodesists on Tour: On the left side of the road for getting the g

and January 24, 2022
Geodesists on Tour: On the left side of the road for getting the g

Getting the small g (the absolute gravity value) outdoors has always been some sort of a challenge. But, in the early 2000s the possibility to measure gravity has changed by the arrival of the first A10 absolute gravimeters. They to a large extent revolutionized the approach of performing gravity measurements in the open field and with that improved the approach to design and measure national grav ...[Read More]

CR
Cryospheric Sciences

Living IN the Greenland ice sheet: the story of Sites I and II, Camp Century’s older, smaller siblings

January 21, 2022
Living IN the Greenland ice sheet: the story of Sites I and II, Camp Century’s older, smaller siblings

Greenland, cold as it is, was appropriately front and center in the Cold War. Strategically placed between Europe and North America, the United States sought to maintain and enhance its position on the island so that American missiles and bombers were in striking range of many Soviet targets. Soviet bombers and missiles coming toward North America would streak over Greenland making early warning c ...[Read More]

GD
Geodynamics

The Sassy Scientist – The Wild Card

January 21, 2022
The Sassy Scientist – The Wild Card

Abasi really is in the final stretches of his PhD voyage. It’s time to pick the external member of his panel. This role is always a wild card: it could make your viva experience either a 1-hour short ego booster, or a 5-hours long living hell of questioning. He ponders: Who to choose as your external PhD committee member? Dear Abasi, Lots of variables to consider here, and potentially lots o ...[Read More]

TS
Tectonics and Structural Geology

The power and pitfalls of compliments

January 19, 2022
The power and pitfalls of compliments

Part of a good workplace vibe is good contact between colleagues, as well as good contact between you and your supervisor – or between you and your supervisee. A potentially complex ingredient is the power of compliments. Compliments, per definition, are meant well. However, they can backfire enormously, when they are not received in the spirit in which they are meant. Additionally, part of being ...[Read More]