The EGU will welcome Ilaria Capua and Mario Monti at the 2019 General Assembly during the high-level Science, Politics and European (dis)integration session on Wednesday 10 April, 12:45–14:00 in room E1. The session will focus on science and politics with a global perspective, and the impact of populism on European integrity and scientific research.

“European integration is essential to scientific research and progress” says incoming EGU President Alberto Montanari. “In recent years the world has seen a surge of populist movements that deny or distort scientific facts. We would like to put research evidence upfront at its rightful place in scientific and societal debates in Europe. Ilaria Capua and Mario Monti are distinguished examples of researchers that succeeded in delivering an important political message to support the European Union.”

During a conversation with geosciences, Capua and Monti will outline optimal strategies that researchers can use to deliver clear scientific messages to key institutions. Presentations from the two speakers will be followed by a question and answer session with General Assembly participants.

Ilaria Capua is the Professor and Director of the One Health Center of Excellence at the University of Florida. She is a veterinarian by training and virologist by passion, and was a Member of the Italian Parliament from 2013 until 2016. She has authored over 220 publications in peer reviewed journals and has published scientific books on Avian Influenza and Newcastle disease and books on careers in science for the general public. She is also actively participating in science communication, science policy and in promoting female leadership in the scientific arena.

Mario Monti is currently a lifetime member of the Italian Senate and the President of Bocconi University in Milan where he also served as Rector in the early 1990s. He served as a European Commissioner from 1995 to 2004, with responsibilities involving the internal market, customs, taxation and competition. He was Prime Minister of Italy from 2011 to 2013, leading a government of national unity to cope with the Italian debt crisis. His publications primarily focus on monetary and financial economics, public finance, European integration and competition policy.

Capua’s and Monti’s high-level session, convened by the EGU Vice-President and incoming President Alberto Montanari and EGU President Jonathan Bamber, will be held in the new union-wide session format, Science and Society. This innovative symposium format will host scientific forums specifically dedicated to connecting with high-level institutions and engaging the public and policymakers.

The 2019 General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union is taking place in Vienna, Austria, on 7–12 April at the Austria Center Vienna. The SCS1 session, ‘Science, Politics and European (dis)integration: A conversation of Geoscientists with Ilaria Capua and Mario Monti’, is taking place on Wednesday, 10 April, 12:45–14:00 in room E1.

• ‘Science, Politics and European (dis)integration: A conversation of Geoscientists with Ilaria Capua and Mario Monti
• EGU General Assembly 2019