Dear EGU Experts,

November’s Science for Policy Newsletter includes several resources to help you learn more about and engage with Europe’s science-policy interface! This month, you have the opportunity to join a Masterclass on lessons and tools to increase your public affairs impact, watch the recording of the popular ‘Fighting fake news’ webinar, learn about how Earth Observation has been used to support evidence-informed policymaking, and Have your say on a European Commission Consultation.

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

At 14:00-17:00 CET on 17 November, the European Federation of Geologists will be hosting a Masterclass: Lessons and tools to increase your public affairs impact.

This three-hour training will provide scientists with the skills and knowledge that they need to be more impactful as individuals and support them in communicating science to decision-makers. This workshop will provide insights into how scientists can speak with confidence and authority, how they can organise and prepare their key messages, and tools that can help them to build a long-term Public Affairs Strategy. This Masterclass is limited to 25 in-person participants and 100 online participants. You can read more about this Masterclass and register, here.

Earlier this month, the EGU hosted the webinar, Fighting fake news: identifying and addressing scientific misinformation with Hendrik Bruns, policy analyst at the European Commission Joint Research Centre, and Guy Pe’er, ecologist and commentator on agricultural policy German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). In this webinar, Bruns outlined what constitutes misinformation, how it is generated, and how it spreads. Pe’er then used the recent example of the EU Commission’s proposed Nature Restoration Law to provide a real-word example of how misinformation can be created during policy processes and what the scientific community can do to help to prevent it from spreading.

You can watch the recording of this webinar on the EGU’s YouTube channel, and even share with all your colleagues, friends, and family members.

The Knowledge Centre on Earth Observation helps EU policymakers to fully exploit the growing amount of EO data, products and applications. Not only do they assess the information needs and priorities of EU policymakers but they also bring together an active community of scientists, policymakers, and specialists. Earlier this year, they published a Biodiversity Deep Dive that outlines the biodiversity-relevant policy needs and how these could be met by existing Earth Observation products and services. The report also identifies existing gaps and areas where Earth Observation technology and processes could be streamlined. Furthermore, it highlights Earth Observation use cases for policymakers working across a broad range of topics, from monitoring urban green spaces to marine biodiversity. You can read the full Deep Dive here.

The European Commission’s Consultations and Calls for Evidence provide individuals and organisations with an opportunity to contribute to the EU policymaking process by providing feedback on Commission initiatives as they take shape or are being evaluated. Both individuals and organisations that are listed on the EU’s Transparency Register can engage in this feedback mechanism!

EU Space Law – new rules for safe, resilient, and sustainable space activities

This initiative aims to create common rules to help mitigate space debris, improve risk management and cybersecurity that are tailored for the space sector, support life cycle assessment of space activities, and to prevent light pollution of the night sky. You can read the proposed EU Space Law and provide your feedback here until midnight on 28 November 2023.

Microplastics pollution – measures to reduce its impact on the environment

This initiative’s objective is to tackle microplastics unintentionally released into the environment. It aims to build on existing knowledge regarding the risks and occurrence of microplastics in the environment, tap water, and food. It also aims to reduce environmental pollution and potential health risks, while respecting the principles of the single market and encouraging competitiveness and innovation. You can read the proposed regulation and provide your feedback here until midnight on 07 January 2024.