Science is a bit like posting a letter – once you’ve written the letter it needs to be delivered to the right people and in the right way. At EGU24 attendees are invited to participate in the numerous and diverse selection of sessions which aim to improve how you deliver your research, how you understand the needs of different audiences – from policy-makers to school students – and which showcase the many innovative ways science can be communicated. The EGU General Assembly is also the opportune time to discover how the Union invests in science education and outreach throughout the year and how you can get involved.
Below we’ll highlight some of this year’s science education, outreach and science communication highlights. Attendees inspired to dive deeper into the programme should start with the Education and Outreach Sessions (EOS) programme group. Keep track of all the sessions of interest by updating your personal programme and downloading the EGU24 app!
Science Communication
Attendees curious about the research which informs effective science communication and outreach, be sure to peruse the oral and poster presentations in sessions such as the power of storytelling as a tool for reaching your audience. (Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 April), science communication practice, research, and reflection (Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 April), and the best practices for empowering communities to better understand risk and hazards (Friday 18 April).
To complement to this the Union Symposia on science in the age of misinformation (Wednesday 17 April, 8:30–10:15) and the short course “from misunderstanding to malice: countering mis- and disinformation” (Wednesday 17 April, 14:00–15:45) both offer insight into why false information spreads and how it damages science.
Attendees looking to hone their science communication skills should attend one of many workshops which include how to share your research in a transparent and accessible way (Monday 15 April, 19:00 – 20:00), how to succinctly pitch your research (Thursday 18 April, 14:00 – 15:45), and what to do when discussing a sensitive and complex topic such as risk (Thursday 18 April, 19:00 – 20:00).
Science Outreach
Both historic and modern science communication has involved working with artists, resulting in innovative and creative ways of reaching out to audiences. Get inspired by the art-science projects on display in the session on exploring the Art-Science Interface (Monday 24 April) and develop science-art collaborations in the following short course (Wednesday 17 April, 10:45 – 12:30). This year’s Artists in Residence will also be delivering workshops on how to communicate your research through illustration (Wednesday 17 April, 16:15–18:00) and black-out poetry (Thursday 18 April, 08:30–10:15).
Discover science outreach through gaming at the popular Geoscience Games Night (Wednesday 17 April, 18:00–19:30), where attendees can explore and engage with numerous games built around engaging audiences in the Earth, space, and planetary sciences. Returning this year is Geocinema (Monday – Friday) which will be showcasing films by geoscientists on topics from intriguing phenomena and scientific expeditions to community accounts of disasters and natural hazards all week. Take a look at our “EGU24: The return of GeoCinema!” blog for the full range and description of 14 on-site and eight on-demand films.
General Assembly outreach doesn’t stop at the conference however! Every year EGU delivers a public lecture during the General Assembly. This year the lecture will be on the search for earth-like planets and how we characterize them at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. The Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, the natural history museum in Vienna, is also offering a 50% discount to everyone with an EGU24 name badge!
Finally, discover how EGU invests in outreach and how the Union can support your public engagement at the Meet the Outreach Committee (Tuesday 16 April, 10:15 – 10:45) event. To meet other volunteers and staff members who keep EGU running during the General Assembly and throughout the year take a look at the Meet EGU subprogramme page, which lists the opportunities to meet with the members of EGU’s other committees, journal editors, scientific division teams, early career scientist representatives, and the staff of the EGU executive office. You can read more about networking events like Meet EGU in our “Find your scientists: how to network at EGU24” blog.
Science Education
EGU’s flagship science-education event, Geoscience Information For Teachers (GIFT) (Monday – Wednesday) is once again occurring alongside the Assembly, which invites school teachers to Vienna and gives them direct access to the science on offer at EGU24.
Attendees interested in EGU’s investment in science-education, its resources, and the opportunities on offer should check out the EGU educational activities and resources town hall, on Monday 15 April (19:00–20:00). The panel will include members of the Education, Outreach, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committees, who will be showcasing and taking questions on EGU’s many initiatives. You can learn more about the how the Union’s education initiatives are developed, and who drives them, at the Meet the Education Committee at the EGU Booth on Tuesday 16 April (16:15 – 17:15).
Education is a cross-cutting theme each year, and the EGU24 features a number of highlights including the Union Symposia exploring how science is used to strengthen climate literacy and empower action (Monday 5 April, 8:30 – 10:15), a poster session examining how climate change is taught in schools (Tuesday 16 April,16:15 – 18:00, Hall X1), and an open session on teaching & learning in higher education (Thursday 18, 16:15 – 18:00, Room 1.15/16).
We’ll continue to publish on GeoLog – EGU’s official blog – with more information so keep an eye out for articles during and after the Assembly. Be sure to look at the blogs from EGU’s scientific divisions for their recommendations on topical events too. We look forward to seeing you imminently in Vienna, both in-person and online!
