Dear EGU Expert,

I hope that you’re all having a wonderful and relaxing summer! August’s Science for Policy Newsletter highlights science for policy updates, resources that you can enjoy over the quieter summer months, and opportunities for you to jump back into science for policy after your summer break – including the EGU’s 2023 Science-Policy Pairing Scheme.

If you have any further questions or comments about the policy opportunities that exist for scientists in Europe, don’t hesitate to get in touch via policy@egu.eu or on the EGU’s official Science for Policy Twitter Account @EGU_Policy.

Best wishes,
Chloe Hill, EGU Policy Manager

Summer can be a great time to catch up on some of the EGU23 Union Symposia and Great Debates that you may have missed during the General Assembly this year. These Union-wide sessions are gradually being uploaded on to the EGU’s YouTube Channel for you to watch, re-watch, and share! There’s a great selection of policy-related sessions to choose from including As climate change impacts accelerate, are we sleepwalking into the inferno…? and The Science activist: should science get Political?

If you’re having trouble deciding between which session to watch first, check out the EGU’s official Science for Policy Twitter Account which will be posting highlights from each of these sessions throughout the rest of this month! And remember, the #EGU24 call for sessions is now open until 14 September! So, if you’re inspired by these sessions, be sure to create and submit your own for next year’s General Assembly.

Don’t forget that the EGU’s 2023 Science-Policy Pairing Scheme is now open for applications! The Pairing Scheme will sponsor two scientists to work alongside a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for up to a week in November or early December 2023.

The successful applicants will join the MEPs and their assistants in Brussels and may be asked to participate in various aspects of policymaking, which may include:

• Receiving an introduction to the work of the European Parliament from the MEP or their assistants;
• Sharing your research and expertise where relevant;
• Joining privileged meetings or events that involve European Parliament staff (depending on scheduling and meeting sensitivity).

You can read more about the EGU’s Science-Policy Pairing Scheme and apply here before midnight on 15 September 2023.

July’s #GeoPolicy blog post explores two different approaches that scientists can take to engage in the policymaking process: science advice and science activism. The blog post aims to help researchers identify these two different pathways and think about how they engage in and with society. It also emphasises the importance of researchers communicating the role that they are playing in a transparent manner to ensure that they avoid falling into “stealth issue advocacy”.

You can read this blog post and leave your comments here.

If you’re interested in learning more about science activism, then you should consider attending the EuroScience Policy Forum, Science activism: Going beyond informing policy and society on 19-20 October in Girona, Spain. Co-sponsored by the EGU, this event will lead participants through a discussion that will cover a range of issues including how scientists can effectively translate and disseminate research to support evidence-informed policymaking, and how and when it is appropriate for scientists to act as advocates. It will highlight the emerging role of the Science Activist as well as some of the pitfalls and challenges that come along with this increased level of engagement.

Some sessions will be streamed but in-person participation is encouraged for those who would like to actively participate and join in on the discussion! You can read more about the event, programme, and how to register, here.

On 10-11 October, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation will host a hybrid conference that aims to support better science for policy ecosystems. It will bring together policymakers, science advisors, researchers, ethics experts, and other professionals in science-for-policy ecosystems, to participate in a number of exciting panels and interactive sessions.

This event is free of charge and recommended to those who would like to dive into the science-policy interface, learn about Europe’s science advisory mechanisms, and how scientists can more effectively engage in policymaking. You can read more about the conference, its sessions, and how to register here.