Outreach

GeoTalk: Meet the EGU’s next president, Helen Glaves

Hazel Gibson March 6, 2020

Helen Glaves on the occasion of being awarded the 2016 Ian McHarg Medal (Credit: EGU/Pflugel)

GeoTalk interviews usually feature the work of early career researchers, but this month we deviate from the standard format to speak to Helen Glaves, the incoming president of the EGU. Helen has been involved with the Union for many years, also serving as Earth and Space Science Informatics Division President. Following a year as President-elect, Helen will become President at the 2021 General Ass ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: Tertiary Flying Saucers

Bernardo Cesare March 2, 2020

Polarized light photomicrograph of a thin section of a fossiliferous limestone from Lake Garda, Italy: Tertiary Flying Saucers. Credit: Bernardo Cesare (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

Besides for the purposes of documenting my research, I like to take photos of rocks under the microscope also because of their aesthetic appeal. It’s an hidden, marvelous world. These flying-saucer-looking objects are in fact the fossil skeletons of a Nummulites (the larger) and a Discocyclina (the one on top left), both belong to the phylum of Foraminifera. These single-celled organisms occupyied ...[Read More]

GeoPolicy: How to become a Seconded National Expert for the European Commission

Chloe Hill February 28, 2020

Nicolas Sifakis, a scientist and former Seconded National Expert who is currently working for the European Research Council Executive Agency.

The European Seconded National Expert programme is a fantastic opportunity for scientists who are currently working in a national, regional or local public administration of an EU member state or an intergovernmental organisation to gain experience working within a European policy institution. In most cases, secondments are between six months and four years during which time the Seconded National ...[Read More]

Imaggeo On Mondays: Contrasting Colors of Pinnacles and Mountains

Hazel Gibson February 3, 2020

Contrasting Colors: Pinnacles & Mountains. Credit: Lukas Hörtnagl (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

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 take years to grow back. These barren ...[Read More]