Horizon Geoscience: overcoming societal challenges, creating change

On Wednesday 26 September 2018, the European Geosciences Union, together with the European Federation of Geologists, hosted the ‘Horizon Geoscience: overcoming societal challenges, creating change’ dinner debate. The event facilitated dialogue between the 80 scientists, policymakers and industry professionals present about how greater collaboration can be achieved.

One of the highlights of the evening was the high-level panel session which gave the evening’s participant’s the opportunity to hear from respected representatives from the EU Parliament, EU Commission, and geoscience community, namely

• Lieve Wierinck, Belgian Member of the European Parliament,
• Jean-Eric Paquet, Director-General at the European Commission’s DG for Research & Innovation
• John Ludden, British Geological Survey Chief Executive

A participant driven approach
Following the high-level panel, round-table discussions with all the event’s participants were held. These sparked a lively debate and highlighted issues that need to be addressed to tackle Europe’s societal challenges. Key points from the roundtable discussions included the importance of increasing public trust in both science and policymaking, the need for greater dialogue between the sectors, and the need to integrate early career scientists within industry, academia and policy. For an extensive summary of the dinner debate, please see the attachments below.

Read the 2018 EGU Early Career Scientist Policy Competition winner’s review of the event here.

If you would like more information about this event, please contact the EGU Policy Manager Chloe Hill via policy@egu.eu.