Despite its rugged appearance of sandstone pinnacles and arches, the ecosystem of Arches National Park in Utah, U.S.A. is very fragile. Beyond the normal ‘high desert’ environment, this beautiful landscape is home to microbial communities in the soil called cryptobiotic crusts. These biological soil crusts are very vulnerable to damage and when harmed they can …[Read More]
The inaugural EGU webinar: EGU journals and Open Access publishing
Last week the EGU executive office debuted something new for our members: the EGU webinar. The first of these focused on the open access journals that EGU publishes in partnership with Copernicus.The webinar discussed the interactive public peer review system, the role of the EGU Publications Committee, how researchers can effectively publish in an EGU …[Read More]
Winners of the EGU Best Blog Posts of 2019 Competition
2019 was a brilliant year for our blogging network here at EGU. Across the EGU’s official blog, GeoLog, as well as the network and division blogs there were so many interesting, educational and just downright entertaining posts this year it was hard to get the blog editors to choose their favourites! Nevertheless in December, to celebrate the excellent …[Read More]
EGU Photo Competition 2020: Now open for submissions!
If you are pre-registered for the 2020 General Assembly (Vienna, 3 – 8 May), you can take part in our annual photo competition! Winners receive a free registration to next year’s General Assembly! The tenth annual EGU photo competition opened on 15 January. Up until 15 February, every participant pre-registered for the General Assembly can submit up …[Read More]
The Carbon Potential of Peat
2020 is being described by many as a tipping point: the year that humanity as a species must take concrete and measurable action to prevent catastrophic climate change. But even if we do manage to slow carbon emissions from 2020 onwards, how would the planet deal with all the carbon dioxide we have produced so …[Read More]
In Vienna for the weekend? Here’s a taste of what’s on offer…
The General Assembly has come to an end, with only a few days left to go. Many of the participants will make their way home over the weekend, but if you’ve chosen to stay on for a little longer, then this list of cultural activities and things to do in Vienna might just be the …[Read More]
Science is in fashion!
Back in August last year EGU’s Laura Roberts-Artal chatted with Sandra de Vries to discuss her new company REpost, which recycles old fabric conference posters into new products, such as bags or even clothes! Today at the European Geoscience Union General Assembly, we caught up with Sandra and one of her satisfied customers, Dr Rolf …[Read More]
Extraordinary iridescent clouds inspire Munch’s ‘The Scream’
Edvard Munch’s series of paintings and sketches ‘The Scream’ are some of the most famous works by a Norwegian artist, instantly recognisable and reproduced the world over. But what was the inspiration behind this striking piece of art? The lurid colours and tremulous lines have long been thought to represent Munch’s unstable state of mind; …[Read More]
Gender equality in the geosciences: is it a numbers game?
Here’s a tricky question for you. Try and name a woman in geoscience who has won an award for their studies in the last 5 years? How about a man? Chances are it is much easier to think of a male geoscientist who has won an award than a female one, but is that because …[Read More]
Geo Talk: One of the youngest EGU 2016 General Assembly delegates sends sensor to space
Presenting at an international conference is daunting, even for the most seasoned of scientists; not so for Thomas Maier (a second year university student) who took his research (co-authored by Lukas Kamm, a high-school student) to the EGU 2016 General Assembly! Not only was their work on developing a moisture sensor impressive, so was Thomas’ …[Read More]