The European Geosciences Union (EGU) is the leading organization for Earth, planetary and space science in Europe. Founded in 2002, it has a membership of over 12,500 individuals from more than 100 countries. The EGU aims to promote and communicate the science of geosciences to all interested parties, including policymakers, educators, students, industry representatives and the general public. In addition to its scientific activities, the EGU also provides support for early career scientists and runs numerous outreach initiatives.
The EGU is headquartered in Munich, Germany. It has offices in Austria, Belgium, France, Poland and the United Kingdom. The Union is governed by an elected Executive Committee consisting of a President, Vice-Presidents and Division Presidents representing each of the main fields of geoscience research within the EGU remit: atmospheric sciences; earth magnetism; solar-terrestrial sciences; solid Earth sciences; biogeosciences; climate: past present & future; geodesy; geodynamics; geoenergetics; geoinformatics & data systems; hydrological sciences; natural hazards & risk assessment; nonlinear processes in geosciences (NP&G); planetary & solar system sciences (PSS); soil systems science (SSS).
Membership of the Executive Committee is open to all members of the Union who have been nominated by their peers. The Executive Committee meets twice per year to discuss Union business.
The day-to-day work of the EGU is carried out by a small Secretariat based in Munich and overseen by a Director General. The Secretariat organises Union activities such as conferences and workshops, manages membership affairs and coordinates external relations on behalf ofthe Executive Committee. It also communicates with members through various channels such as GeoLog –the official blogof the EGU–and social media platforms Facebookand Twitter (@EuroGeosciences).
The European Geosciences Union was established in 2002 as a merger between two existing organisations: the European Geological Society (founded in 1960) andUnion Européenne des Géologues(founded in 1977). This union brought together Earth scientists from across Europe under one umbrella organisation with common aims and objectives. One key aim was –and still is–to provide a strong voice for European Earth science at an international level through representation on important committees such as ICSU World Data System (WDS)and IOC World Commission on Oceanographic Data Management(WCOMM), among others. Other key objectives included promoting communication within Europe about geological topics at all levels –from professional researchers to amateur enthusiasts–and encouraging cooperation between countries with regardsto geological mapping projects or hazard assessment studies.
Today there are 12 500 individual membersof the European Geosciences Union representing more than 100 nations worldwide making it oneof largest multi disciplinary societiesin terms area coveredby its activities which encompass all aspects Solid Earth Sciences including but not limited atmosphere oceanon solar terrestrial interactions biogeochemical cycles environmental change global tectonics resources mineral exploration risk mitigation seismology volcanology .EGU’s Open Access journals receive high numbers submissions articles each year which undergoes rigorous peer review process before being accepted publication ensuring that onlymost highest quality manuscripts see light day . In recent years number unique visitors toubiquitous website reached 4 million per month while paper downloads figures consistently exceed 2 million per month mark .
It should be noted that success would not have been possible without generous financial support received from sponsors member institutions grants agencies private companies foundations etcetera . This allowedus implement ambitious plansfor continued development growth organisation overall improvement functioning both internally externally . Some notable achievementsduring last 5 years include introduction new session typesat annual General Assembly provision free childcare facilities GA expansion Young Scientists Network creation series Science2Society events just name few things that made us proud improve lives people we interact with every day