GeoLog

GeoPolicy: One American’s way into the European Commission

Aaron McKinnon September 27, 2019

The EU Commission's Blue Book Trainees Oct 2017 - Feb 2018. Credit: EU Commission via Twitter

An unsolicited email to a LinkedIn connection holding the title “science communicator” led me to the European Commission. My journalism master’s thesis was now complete, and I was in hasty pursuit of a career in citizen engagement of science. The EGU’s Policy Officer Chloe Hill responded to my spontaneous request for career direction and forwarded me a running list of science-policy traineeships a ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: The polje between sky and Earth

Cyril Mayaud September 23, 2019

The polje between sky and earth. Credit: Cyril Mayaud (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu).

Poljes are one of the most impressive features existing in karst landscapes. These large flat closed depressions are prone to regular flooding that can form temporary lakes on their surface. Planinsko Polje [in Slovenia] is surely the most famous example of polje existing. The highest floods can reach up to 8 metres above the gauging station and last for more than two months. The lake is then more ...[Read More]

Gender equality and equal opportunities – keep the discussion going!

Stefanie Lutz September 18, 2019

Early career hydrologist Stefanie Lutz reflects on the results of an online survey about how geoscientists perceive gender stereotypes and inequality in their work environment. Credit: Argonne National Laboratory (via flickr)

Why do I feel uncomfortable as the only woman in a meeting? Why do they gossip about the male postdoc who is supervising three female MSc students? Have I really been asked to give this presentation just because I am a woman? It was thanks to all the work and reading I was doing for our study about gender inequality in the geosciences that I realised it is not ok I have to ask myself these questio ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: How do Earth’s Northern Lights form?

Konstantina Nakoudi September 16, 2019

Aurora Borealis in Ny Ålesund, Svalbard. Credit: Konstantina Nakoudi (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

Aurora Borealis, which means Northern Lights are caused by electrically charged particles from the sun, which enter the Earth’s atmosphere and collide with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. When the charged particles are blown towards the Earth by the solar wind, they are largely deflected by the Earth’s magnetic field. However, the Earth’s magnetic field is weaker at the poles and therefore some ...[Read More]