After a big success last year, GeoCinema is back for EGU25! As many of you know, doing science is very rarely just about the research, but also involves sharing that research in several forms and formats. For many talented researchers this means using films. Either working with a film-maker or creating something themselves, several of our EGU25 attendees submitted wonderful films this year, from science in the lab or fantastic spectacles in the field, to producing educational features on the Earth, planetary or space sciences! Selecting films on a first-come-first-served basis that met our criteria and standard of quality, we co-ordinated 20 films that will be screened on-site, followed by a short Q&A with the author, and an additional five films which can be watched on demand at any time.
GeoCinema sessions will take place in room E1 at the Austria Center Vienna (ACV) on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of the conference week, between 18:00 and 20:00 CEST. The room is equipped with a hybrid set-up, allowing us to live-stream the films to our virtual audience in addition to those on-site in Vienna.
If you can’t wait to get started, why not take a look at the online archive, with films that explore all facets of geoscience from ocean depths to outer space, submitted to GeoCinema in the past.
Read on for a full description for each of our on-site and on-demand films featured in GeoCinema EGU25!
On-site films
Discovering Earth’s Third Global Energy Field
Mon, 28 Apr, 18:10–18:20 CEST
Convener: Lacey Young
Divisions: PS
High above the Earth’s North and South Poles, a steady stream of particles escapes from our atmosphere into space. Scientists call this mysterious outflow the “polar wind,” and for almost 60 years, spacecraft have been flying through it as scientists have theorized about its cause. The leading theory was that a planet-wide electric field was drawing those particles up into space. But this so-called ambipolar electric field, if it exists, is so weak that all attempts to measure it have failed – until now.
In 2022, scientists traveled to Svalbard, a small archipelago in Norway, to launch a rocket in an attempt to measure Earth’s ambipolar electric field for the first time. This was NASA’s Endurance rocketship mission, and this is its story.
The 42 plots
Mon, 28 Apr, 18:20–18:30 CEST
Conveners: Amicie Delahaie
Divisions: SSS
This short film presents the longest-running bare fallow experiment of the world, located a few kilometers away from Paris, France. Created in 1928 by the French agricultural engineer Albert Demolon, this long term experiment enables us, among many things, to measure the dynamics of carbon decay in soils and improves our understanding of how soils evolve under the impact of fertilizers.
Fire and Coral – The Fragile Balance of the Caribbean
Mon, 28 Apr, 18:30–19:00 CEST
Conveners: Thomas Sheldrake & James Vincent
Divisions: BG, EOS, GMPV, OS
“Fire and Coral: The Fragile Balance of the Caribbean” highlights the fascinating research of Prof. Thomas Sheldrake and his team (Frank Förster and James Vincent) from the University of Geneva. They are studying how coral skeletons might enhance our understanding of tropical volcanic eruptions. We had the privilege of filming this exciting research project during a field mission in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in February 2024.
ExploreICOS series
Mon, 28 Apr, 19:00–19:30 CEST
Convener: Karlina Ozolina
ExploreICOS is a video series presenting the people, the stations and the activities of ICOS, the Integrated Carbon Observation System. ICOS produces standardised data on greenhouse gases, which is essential in understanding and mitigating climate change. Our data is being used by scientists, governments, and international organisations in their efforts to solve challenges caused by global warming. In the ExploreICOS series, we take you on a journey to the fantastic locations of our stations and introduce you to our scientists, technicians and other important people behind the data.
- ExploreICOS: Lampedusa – monitoring greenhouse gases in the ocean, atmosphere and ecosystem The Lampedusa station in Italy is the only greenhouse gas station covering all the ICOS’ thematic areas – the crew is monitoring greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, ecosystem and ocean. Divisions: AS, BG, CL, EOS, ITS, OS, SSS
- ExploreICOS: Greenhouse gas data from the heart of the Thuringian Basin The Gebesee Ecosystem station is one of the longest-running Ecosystem stations on a crop site in the ICOS network. The station produces important greenhouse gas data that helps to assess the sustainability of agricultural management. In 2022, the crop of the year was sunflowers. Divisions: AS, BG, CL, EOS, ITS, ERE, SSS
- ExploreICOS: Hegyhátsál – 30 years of atmospheric measurements Hegyhátsál measurement station in western Hungary has been conducting atmospheric measurements since 1993. Joining ICOS helped Hungary strengthen its scientific capacity in this field of science and provide data for decision-makers. Divisions: AS, BG, CL, EOS, ERE, ITS
Chasing the Arctic Melt
Mon, 28 Apr, 19:30–20:00 CEST
Convener: Stella Papadopoulou
Divisions: AS, CL, CR,OS
Through the lens of the ARTofMELT2023 expedition, “Chasing the Arctic Melt” tells a compelling story of scientific discovery and human resilience. Aboard the Swedish icebreaker Oden, researchers braved harsh Arctic conditions, wildlife encounters, and emotional highs and lows—joy, frustration, and uncertainty. The film highlights the science fuelling this pursuit as well as the camaraderie forged as the scientists set out on their mission to unveil the mechanisms driving the seasonal Arctic melt.
More information about the expedition: https://www.su.se/artofmelt
Convener: Lotta Bergfeld
Divisions: CL, EOS, ITS
What do freedom and protecting the earth have to do with each other? Quite a lot! The fact that our climate is as stable as it has been over the past millennia shouldn’t be taken for granted. This stability is the foundation on which our civilisation is built. But we are at a critical point: we are exceeding the planetary boundaries. We are releasing too many greenhouse gases and jeopardising the functioning of ecosystems. This has serious consequences for our society. After all, we need a stable planet as the basis for our freedom and a good life for all.
Studio Silverback and PIK have produced a five-minute documentary film on this topic. The film focuses on the thoughts of children and young people and brings them together with scientific findings about our planet, and what the transition from Holocene to Anthropocene means for our societies. The project was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the German Science Year 2024 – Freedom.
Conversing Faults: The 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake
Tue, 29 Apr, 18:20–18:30 CEST
Convener: Alice-Agnes Gabriel
Divisions: SM
The 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes occurred in a complex system of fault lines in the Mojave desert. Separated by 34 hours, the earthquakes were caused by ruptures in separate but nearby faults. In this study of the geophysical processes underlying these events the surface, known faults and the volumetric subsurface are modeled on HPC systems. Visualization techniques are used to analyze the simulation results in their three-dimensional context. Extended Video summary: https://sc23.supercomputing.org/proceedings/sci_viz/sci_viz_files/svs102s3-file1.pdf
PACE Scientists Take to the Sea and Air (and Really High Air)
Tue, 29 Apr, 18:35–18:50 CEST
Convener: Ryan Fitzgibbons
Divisions: AS, BG, EOS, OS
One of NASA’s most expansive and complex field campaigns took place over the month of September. The goal: to check the data that the new PACE satellite is collecting from orbit about Earth’s atmosphere and ocean. To do that NASA’s PACE-PAX (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission Postlaunch Airborne eXperiment) deployed several aircraft and ships from multiple locations in California including NASA’s Armstrong Research Flight Center in Edwards, Marina, and Santa Barbara. Follow the scientists, sailors and pilots as they plan, fly, sail and re-plan during the tail end of the PACE-PAX validation campaign.
Echoes of the Rainforest
Tue, 29 Apr, 18:50–19:20 CEST
Convener: Dael Sassoon
Divisions: BG, CL, SSP
In ‘Echoes of the Rainforest’ Dael Sassoon and Encarni Montoya, palaeoecology specialists at GEO3BCN-CSIC, join forces with Peruvian environmental researchers and indigenous communities in the Pacaya-Samiria National Park to explore the critical work of studying, protecting and conserving Amazonian ecosystems. This short documentary offers a rare insight into how palaeoecology, through the detailed analysis of pollen samples, helps to understand climate change and its role in the conservation of the Amazon. The documentary highlights the vital collaboration between international research teams, Peru’s scientific community, environmental activists and indigenous communities, highlighting conservation efforts and the central role of palaeoecology in uncovering the Amazon’s past to anticipate its future. This documentary was produced for the MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) project PALOMA, funded by the European Union. In association with GEO3BCN-CSIC Geoscience Barcelona.
Death of a Glacier
Tue, 29 Apr, 19:20–19:30 CEST
Convener: Andrew Jones
Divisions: CL, CR
A eulogy for glacier disappearance featuring an upright bass on a glacier in Iceland. Death of a Glacier is an interdisciplinary outreach project that likens glacier disappearance to death, accompanied by a classical music performance. The film was created as means of processing and lamenting the inescapably concerning data about our warming planet that geoscientists deal with every day. In contrast to the endless firehose of climate change data unrelentingly sprayed at the public, this film offers an alternative way to hear and hopefully feel the reality of climate change.
Immersive
Tue, 29 Apr, 19:30–20:00 CEST
Conveners: Thibaut Barreyre & Rohan Thomas
Divisions: CL, ESSI, EMRP, EOS, ERE, GMPV, GD, HS, NH, OS, PS, SM, TS
The film is a deep-ocean exploration into hydrothermal vents and the life they support through chemosynthesis. These ecosystems thrive without sunlight and are under imminent threat from deep-sea mining. Associated disciplinary session: https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/session/53068
SALBIA: A salty threat to the river Gambia
Thu, 01 May, 18:10–18:40 CEST
Conveners: Núria Catalán & Laura Carrau Pascual
Divisions: BG, CL, EOS, ITS, NH
A team of scientists, experts in river ecology, undertake crucial research into a key environmental crisis of our time: the salinization of the planet’s freshwaters. Throughout their journey along the River Gambia, they study the impact of this phenomenon on this socio-ecosystem, from the effects on biodiversity to changes in biogeochemical processes. They also evaluate the relationship of riverside communities with the river and how they are affected by salinization. This journey immerses us in the epicenter of a relentlessly advancing threat while searching for solutions and adaptation strategies to protect the future of this river. **SJF project, poster can be found here https://app.frame.io/reviews/9e8ff66a-51f5-4f62-966a-0f3f4b345845**
Moments from the CleanCloud CHOPIN aerosol-cloud interactions campaign at Mount Helmos
Thu, 01 May, 18:40–19:00 CEST
Convener: Athanasios Nenes
Divisions: AS, CL, HS
The Cleancloud Helmos OrograPhic sIte experimeNt (CHOPIN: where mythology, aerosols, clouds and climate meet) campaign is a major observational activity of the Horizon Europe CleanCloud project. CHOPIN aims to understand the formation and evolution of mixed-phase clouds, and to improve & develop algorithms used for ground-based and spaceborne remote sensing of aerosols, clouds and their interactions. CHOPIN employs an extensive array of in situ and remote sensing instrumentation located at a unique and optimal high-altitude location at Mt. Helmos for targeted studies of aerosol-cloud interactions. The mountain is at the crossroads of many different air streams and is in a “climate hotspot”, and carries a rich history and mythology. This musical documentary is an account of the activities and sites involved in CHOPIN.
Source To Sea
Thu, 01 May, 19:00–19:15 CEST
Conveners: Annukka Pekkarinen & Ville Kankare
Divisions: HS
Source To Sea is a film made by scientists for scientists about Finnish freshwater research. The story begins with snow, and the researchers trying to find out with isotopes, where the snow comes from and where does it go. Capturing scientists working on the hydrology and geomorphology of rivers from far inland, to the coast of Baltic Sea, where geologists are studying the sediments carried all the way into the sea. On the focus is the climate change, and how will it change the water cycle in Finland, if the rivers and the sea will not freeze in the future, and if the snow will turn to water.
The film contains field research imagery and scientist interviews, filmed in 2022-2024, during three research projects, Digital Waters Flagship, Green-Digi-Basin and HYDRO-RI Platform, aiming to make digital twins of the river basins, while also educating the next generation of water scientists specialized in boreal and sub-arctic water resources.
Robominers
Thu, 01 May, 19:15–19:30 CEST
Convener: Giorgia Stasi
Divisions: EOS, ERE, GMPV, GI
Geologists of the Institute of Natural Sciences are venturing underground to help shape the future of mining. In the depths of the old mine of Mežica, Slovenia, they’re testing sensors for a bio-inspired mining robot, to detect even the thinnest ore veins in the rock.
Citizen Observers helping to reduce the risks associated with natural hazards in eastern DR Congo
Thu, 01 May, 19:30–19:40 CEST
Convener: Caroline Michellier
Divisions: NH
In eastern DR Congo, disasters associated with natural hazards occur regularly. However, the general scarcity of reliable and accurate data collected on these events does not allow for a complete picture of their frequency and magnitude, thus hindering effective Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). To fill this gap, a network of citizen observers (CO) has been set up as part of a collaboration between the Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles de Lwiro (CRNS, DR Congo), the Civil Protection (DR Congo) and the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Belgium). Using field images to illustrate the scale of events unfolding in the Kivu region, this video introduces the CO Kivu network, explains its core activity of monitoring and recording natural hazard disasters, and highlights its role towards scientists, land management authorities and communities.
A Remarkable Convergence
Thu, 01 May, 19:40–19:50 CEST
Convener: Jeffrey Munroe
Divisions: GM, SSS
In October, 2024 Jeff Munroe (Middlebury College) spent nearly three weeks traveling to 20 mineral dust collectors deployed on mountain summits in the southwestern United States for the DUST^2 Project, part of the Critical Zone Collaborative Network. This short film documents the majestic landscapes in which the collectors are located, and provides a sense of what it’s like to conduct such a long stretch of solo fieldwork.
Ashley Caves Project
Thu, 01 May, 19:50–20:00 CEST
Convener: Jeffrey Munroe
Divisions: GM
In September of 2024, Jeff Munroe (Middlebury College) and Gabriella Koltai (University of Innsbruck) conducted fieldwork for a project studying caves on the Ashley National Forest in the Uinta Mountains of Utah. They were joined by David Herron (US Forest Service) and Thomas Holmes (City Under Water Media), and were supported by the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, and the Austrian Academy of Sciences. This short film presents scenes from the work, and advertises a public exhibition of photographs that will be on display at various locations this winter, starting in Vernal, UT (January 13 to February 28, 2025).
An Ocean in Bloom
Fri, 02 May, 18:10–18:40 CEST
Convener: Emme Watkins
Divisions: CL, OS
An Ocean in Bloom explores the intricate relationship between human activity, marine ecosystems, and the ongoing struggle against harmful algal blooms, specifically red tides. Through the voices of a NASA scientist, a Florida fishing captain, and medical professionals, the film delves into the devastating impacts of red tides on coastal communities, the economy, and marine life. With new groundbreaking satellite technology, NASA and the scientific community work to better understand and mitigate these destructive phenomena. The PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) mission extends and expands NASA’s long-term observations of our living planet from space, taking the Earth’s pulse in new ways. As time unfolds, the need for global awareness and action is essential to protect our oceans, as solutions lie not only in viewing our planet from space but also in our collective responsibility to safeguard the planet’s fragile ecosystems.
What’s in a Name?
Fri, 02 May, 18:40–19:20 CEST
Convener: Dave Lovelace
Divisions: SSP
What’s in a Name highlights the development of a partnership between paleontologist Dr. Dave Lovelace and the Wind River Reservation community that led to the naming of three new paleontological taxa via multi-generational collaboration between tribal Elders and students. It is a journey that calls for a change in well-entrenched colonial practices throughout the sciences, and specifically to the process of how taxa are commonly named within the science of paleontology.
On-demand films
The following films can be enjoyed on-demand during the General Assembly through the Art-Science gallery of EGU24’s virtual platform Gather.Town, or by clicking the links!
Feature film: DEEP RISING
Available for a limited time (Fri, 25 Apr – Fri, 9 May)
Divisions: CL, ERE, GI, OS
Join us on an epic journey from the deepest depths of our ocean – the most uncharted and inaccessible place on our planet – to the future of green energy, and learn how the two are inextricably linked. Narrated and executive produced by Jason Momoa, and interwoven with awe-inspiring footage of the deep’s most dazzling creatures, Deep Rising illuminates the vital relationship between our ocean’s fragile and mysterious ecosystems, and sustaining all life on Earth. A riveting tale of geopolitical, corporate and scientific intrigue, the film exposes the inner workings of the International Seabed Authority (ISA): a secretive United Nation instrument which oversees nearly half our planet’s surface on the ocean floor. The ISA is empowered to greenlight the massive extraction of metals from the seabed which are deemed essential by some to fulfill demand for the current electric battery technology. As extractive conglomerates pivot investments from oil and gas to deep-ocean mining, Deep Rising asks why we don’t instead choose to develop abundant resources to solve our growing energy demands. Deep Rising reminds us that the seabed is the common heritage of humankind and highlights the urgent need to make the right decision for generations to come.
The link for DEEP RISING will be available from Sun 27 April until Fri 2 May.
Oceanography field research in 360
Contributor: Emma Daniels
Divisions: EOS, OS
Experience sea based research in 360 degrees with our informative videos about the Dutch research vessels, drifter deployments and an ADCP measuring device. The videos are part of the Virtual Ship Classroom: open source educational material for (graduate)students to learn about fieldwork in marine science.
From Waste to Life: Nature’s Recycling Team
Contributors: Vid Naglič & Anže Rovanšek
Divisions: BG, EOS, ERE, GM, SSS
Over 18 days, a hidden world comes to life in which organic waste is transformed into nutrient-rich compost. Beneath the surface, earthworms, fungi, microbes and microarthropods work together in an intricate dance of decomposition and renewal. From the rapid colonisation of fungi to the emergence of mites on a slice of banana, every detail shows the elegance of nature’s recycling system. This microcosm of life in soil reveals the delicate interplay of organisms working in harmony to transform waste into the building blocks for new growth, inviting the viewer to witness the unseen magic of the natural world.
Beneath the surface of Kilauea – A mysterious network of faults
Contributor: Giovan Peyrotty
Divisions: GMPV, NH, TS
A scientific documentary created and produced by SciencEscape, in collaboration with the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Geneva. For several years, a team of researchers from the University of Geneva, led by Dr. Jöel Ruch, has been dedicated to unraveling the complex mechanics governing the propagation of magma from the depths of the Earth through an underground network of faults and fractures. The discoveries made by these scientists have direct implications for our understanding of volcanic eruptions and are of critical importance for public safety. Immerse yourself in the heart of their exceptional scientific mission on the island of Big Island.
Earth-human connections
Contributor: Katia Pinheiro
Divisions: AS, CL, CR, EMRP, EOS, ERE, GMPV, G, GD, HS, ITS, NH, OS, SM, TS
Earth-human connections leads you through a fascinating journey through the Earth’s history. The timeline starts from the formation of our planet and across billions of years when humans became Earth’s inhabitants. On the one hand, the intelligent human brain allowed for the development of various brilliant technologies and a complex society. On the other hand, humans have participated in the uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources, and are thought to have caused many problems to other living beings on our planet.
