Dear EGU Expert,

This month's newsletter offers our readers plenty of opportunities to dive into science for policy and develop skills to increase your policy impact! We’re thrilled to announce the open call for our 2024 Science-Policy Pairing Scheme as well as opening the registration for our upcoming science for policy event, Evidence-informed planning for a new era of climate hazards that will be hosted in Brussels and online. We will also be hosting two science for policy webinars in October and November that will help you develop your science for policy skills. This month's newsletter also highlights the Risks on the Horizon report that identifies 40 risks considered relevant for the future of the European Union and the call for more bottom-up funding for The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

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.

Best wishes,
Chloe Hill, EGU Policy Manager

If you’re curious about science for policy and would like to experience life inside the European Parliament, then don’t miss your chance to apply for the 2024 EGU Science-Policy Pairing Scheme! We are pleased to announce that this year’s pairing will be with MEP Jutta Paulus, a German Member of the European Parliament (MEP), representing the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance.

The successful applicant will join Ms Paulus and her team in Brussels in early December 2024 and will participate in various meetings and aspects of the policymaking process. Your can read more about the Pairing Scheme here and learn about the experiences of previous Pairing Scheme participants here.

To apply, please submit your application form, attaching a CV (max 1-page) and a cover letter outlining your motivation for participating in the Pairing Scheme, by midnight CET 4 November 2024.

On Monday 4 November 2024, EGU will host the event, 'Evidence-informed planning for a new era of climate hazards' in Brussels and online. This event aims to bridge the gap between researchers and policymakers by providing them with the opportunity to collectively discuss the climate hazard challenges that we are facing along with potential solutions.

Following a high-level panel, moderated table discussions will enable participants working on similar thematic areas to share their experiences and connect on the best available scientific evidence and current or potential policy solutions. This co-creative process will enable participants working on climate hazards to identify key areas of immediate and future action. You can read more about this event and how you can participate here.

EGU will be hosting two science for policy webinars in the coming months. These webinars aim to provide you with insights into specific methods of engaging with science for policy, help you to develop skills that increase your policy impact, and outline steps you can take to further your career in these areas.

How to write a policy brief

Policy briefs are concise, accessible documents that aim to communicate the practical implications of research to a particular policy audience and provide them with solutions to a specific issue. Although policy briefs are just one method of communicating information to a policy audience, they can be a valuable communication tool when effectively written and disseminated. At 12:00 CET on Wednesday 30 October, EGU will be hosting a webinar that outlines how researchers can write an effective policy brief and disseminate it so that it has policy impact.

You can read more and register for this webinar here.

Science Diplomacy 101: A guide for researchers

Science diplomacy is a broad term used to describe the various roles that science and researchers play in bridging geopolitical gaps and in finding solutions to international issues. At 13:00 CET on Wednesday 13 November, the EGU will host a webinar that introduces key science diplomacy concepts and outlines the skills that are required to effectively engage in science diplomacy!

You can read more and register for this webinar here.

In response to today’s increasingly complex risk landscape, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission has published Risks on the Horizon. This study identifies 40 risks considered relevant for the future of the European Union that have been sorted into ten overarching clusters of risks for policymakers to keep in mind when formulating strategies. Not only does Risks on the Horizon list the risks but it evaluates their gravity and urgency, deeming three risks: environmental degradation; environmental disasters; and the loss of human autonomy; as potentially existential. Despite this, it’s not all bad news with the report also highlighting opportunities for innovation, leadership in sustainability, and progress towards a more inclusive society.

You can read the full report here.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), is the EU’s flagship programme for supporting doctoral and postdoctoral training through research and mobility. The programme funds high-quality, bottom-up research, enhances the career development of researchers at all stages, and supports the creation of interdisciplinary and intersectional, global research collaborations. A coalition of scientific and research organisations have recently published a statement urging the European Commission, Parliament, and Council to recognise the MSCA's invaluable contributions by increasing its budget, while maintaining its bottom-up modality.

You can read the full statement and call for action here.