Caption: Our packed session on Blue Carbon on the first day of the EGU General Assembly 2024 (Photo credit: Dr Ed Garrett, University of York).

Caption: Me (middle) with co-conveners, Dr. Craig Smeaton (left) and Dr. Lucas Porz (right), after our Blue Carbon session.

Presenting my research poster was highlight of my time in Vienna. Engaging in discussions with fellow researchers from around the world provided valuable insights on my PhD research, and a simple sticker highlighting my openness to postdoctoral positions in the coming year proved effective in sparking conversations. I received a few informal “come work for me!” comments, which I am looking forward to following up with in the coming months. The poster session for me highlighted just how valuable this format can be for establishing new connections with researchers at all levels that hopefully last beyond the conference.

Beyond my specific research area, I attended sessions covering a range of topics, from ocean alkalinity enhancement to nature-based solutions for urban environments, broadening my understanding of diverse geoscience disciplines and helping me to develop potential new avenues for my own research and interests. Specialised meetings and panel discussions hosted by leading researchers in my field also offered insights into the broader impact of my research area on policy and environmental initiatives, which is an area I’d like to continue to work in.

The conference offered opportunities for reconnecting with old colleagues and establishing new connections during coffee and lunch breaks, as well as during the infamous “beer o’clock”. I had the chance to meet up with a friend from my PhD who has since moved onto a post-doctoral position in Germany, and with a friend-of-friend who works in the implementation side of my research field in Switzerland. These informal networking opportunities are great for maintaining and establishing meaningful connections, as you never know where you’ll end up next. Incredibly, I also bumped into an old flat mate from my exchange year in Chicago many years ago, who is a post-doctoral researcher in the USA, proving that the EGU General Assembly is a melting pot of geoscientists the world over!

Another highlight of the EGU General Assembly this year was that, with the help of funding from the Challenger Society, I was able to choose a lower emission route to the conference. I took a combination of air and rail travel to the conference this year, balancing the cost and time implications with my budget. Whilst I would have loved to travel the entire route by rail, this was prohibitively expensive at the time of booking. I think cutting emissions where possible using hybrid travel options is a good compromise and, not only that, I was able to take the incredibly scenic rail journey from Zurich to Vienna – a must do!


Caption: Taking the scenic route to Vienna by train from Zurich.

I’m grateful for the Challenger Society for funding to attend the EGU General Assembly this year, as the conference not only enriched my scientific knowledge and developed my ability to present and defend my work (a vital skill leading up to the end of my PhD!), but it also reinforced my sense of community within the global geoscience field.

Author profile:

I’m a third year PhD student at Swansea University based at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton, where I study natural carbon storage in coastal and marine ecosystems around the Isle of Man. Prior to my PhD, I had quite a varied career path: from an integrated Masters degree in materials chemistry from the University of Edinburgh, to becoming a chemistry journals editor for Wiley in Germany, then a project manager for a website design company in Edinburgh, and finally to studying marine biogeochemistry in Orkney and now Southampton. I’ve always been fascinated with chemistry, geosciences, communicating science, and managing complex projects, so it was only a matter of time before a research career came calling. My main goal now is to centre natural ecosystems within decision making at the interface of science, policy, and society.