Researchers and those in academia sooner or later come across the scientific editor: the gatekeeper of scientific journals. The editor plays a key role in the publishing process, working closely with authors and reviewers to implement an unbiased peer-review process that upholds rigorous standards. They are often experienced scientists and experts in their field who …[Read More]
20 years and 22 Divisions: EGU Division Presidents share their stories
It’s official: Europe’s leading organisation for Earth, planetary and space research has now entered the third decade of its existence! This week, the European Geosciences Union (EGU) celebrated its 20th birthday. Since it was first founded, EGU has grown in strength and scale to include 22 scientific divisions, responsible for activities related to the Earth, …[Read More]
Geotalk: EGU President Helen Glaves on celebrating 20 years of the Union
Hi Helen, thank you for agreeing to do this interview! Before we dive in deeper, could you please introduce yourself and your role for our readers? I am a geologist by background having started my career with the British Geological Survey in the UK over 30 years ago. In that time, I have had several …[Read More]
GeoTalk: Philippe Courtial, Executive Secretary, reflects on 20 years of EGU!
Hi Philippe, could you please introduce yourself and your role for our readers? Thank you for inviting me today to provide this contribution as part of this celebration of the EGU 20th anniversary. Being fascinated by the geological features and the beauty of the minerals since my early age, I had the opportunity to study …[Read More]
Why hydrogen – the ‘fuel of the future’ – may not be as clean as we think
Around the world, the shift to hydrogen is being considered a key strategy to decarbonize the environment, with experts even calling it the fuel of the future. Hydrogen now features in all eight of the European Commission’s net zero emissions scenarios for 2050, promising to end our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce CO2 emissions …[Read More]
This World Biofuel Day, we look to the future with optimism
Fossil fuels have dominated the global energy market for centuries, and so most people find it surprising to learn that the first ever diesel engine (1892) was run entirely on peanut oil. German engineer Sir Rudolf Diesel who built the engine was almost prophetic when he said the use of vegetable oils for engine fuels …[Read More]
How a Spanish newspaper experiment is improving public understanding of climate change
Climate change is not a new phenomenon. Nor is global warming. So why do researchers report a poor public understanding of this subject around the world? According to a recently published study, 70% of the people surveyed said they were concerned about rising global temperatures but had little knowledge about the climate crisis. When asked …[Read More]
Science is not immune to fraud: How a Microbiologist-turned-Integrity Consultant spots scientific misconduct
Elisabeth Bik is as brave as they come. She has been threatened personally and professionally by people she’s never met, only because she dares to critique some of the most widely read and published scientific papers in the world. The Dutch microbiologist discovered her unique skill of spotting – manually, with her naked eye – …[Read More]
An ocean emergency is upon us. Can the world reverse ocean decline?
“The ocean is not too big to fail, nor is it too big to fix, but it is too important to ignore.” Last week, Dr Jane Lubchenco voiced a thought we’ve all had at some point: that the ocean is so vast and bountiful, it is almost inconceivable that people could impact it. And yet… …[Read More]
The ancient art and science of mining: a look back at the 1500s
Sean Daly is a (now retired) Canadian mining geologist with 40+ years of experience, who has dedicated his career to understanding the close relationship between mining, geology and society. His recent book “From the Erzgebirge to Potosi: A History of Geology and Mining Since the 1500’s” traces the history of mining and geology from the …[Read More]