Strengthening the Future of Geodesy: Empowering Early Career Scientists
Koch, Julia Azumi; Steffen, Rebekka; Klos, Anna; McGirr, Rebecca; Riddell, Anna; Fischer, Artur; RAVANELLI, Michela; Sakic, Pierre; KEMGANG GHOMSI, Franck Eitel; Koç, Öykü
- Publisher
- Zenodo
- Language
- en
Abstract
Early Career Scientists (ECS) play a crucial role in advancing research and innovation, yet their contributions often remain underrepresented. The IAG ECS representatives group was established in 2023 to support the progression of the 3G’s defined by the IAG: Generation, Gender, and Geography. In this initial phase, we focus on three key objectives: 1. Raising public awareness of geodesy to attract future students and ensure the long-term availability and maintenance of geodetic products and services. This includes engaging with high school teachers to introduce geodesy early in education and developing content for potential exhibitions to showcase our field to a wider audience. 2. Encouraging ECS participation in IAG activities to foster engagement and collaboration within the geodetic community. We have established an ECS representative webpage and email address as central points of contact to consolidate information, resources, and opportunities for ECS. 3. Increasing visibility and establishing role models for ECS, particularly from underrepresented geographical regions and gender. To strengthen global engagement, we aim to create a pool of regional representatives who can act as local points of contact and support ECS activities in their regions. Our mission is to enhance the visibility of ECS contributions, strengthen the pipeline of future researchers in the field of geodesy, and create an inclusive and diverse research environment. In this presentation, we will introduce the current ECS representatives, highlight recent initiatives, and outline our future plans. As part of our outreach efforts, we plan to support geodetic summer schools at core stations and geodetic training schools in currently underrepresented regions, providing hands-on training and experience for students and early-career researchers. Looking ahead, we plan to expand our outreach by strengthening connections with students, developing new communication strategies, and collaborating with institutions to address disparities in representation. By working closely with senior researchers, scientific organizations such as FIG (Young Surveyors Network) and EGU (Geodesy Division ECS group), and student networks like IGSO, we strive to build a supportive and globally connected ECS community. We invite all ECS members to participate, share their ideas, and contribute to shaping the future of geodesy. This presentation will serve as a platform to discuss strategies for strengthening ECS-related initiatives and ensuring sustainable support for the next generation of geodesists.
Full text
Strengthening the Future of Geodesy: Empowering Early Career Scientists Julia Azumi Koch on behalf of all IAG ECS representatives
Needs of IAG ECS IUGG GA 2023 –Early Career Scientists - Needs, Wishes & Demands 08.09.2025 Empowering ECS | IAG ECS Reps | IAG SA 2025 2 Sticky dots IAG I have mentors that help me build my research and career I have access to facilities and funds that I require
Needs of IAG ECS IUGG GA 2023 –Early Career Scientists - Needs, Wishes & Demands 08.09.2025 Empowering ECS | IAG ECS Reps | IAG SA 2025 3 I would like my association to do more for ECS members disagree agree I feel comfortable being myself in an academic environment I feel able to participate in my association's activities and organisation Sticky dots IAG
Majority of respondents wish to remain in academia Key challenges for (early career) scientists •Career advancement and support •Financial Barriers •Work-Life Balance •Lack of Diversity and Inclusion •Geographic and international hurdles •Mentorship and networking needs •Institutional barriers •Specific challenges in developing countries 08.09.2025 Empowering ECS | IAG ECS Reps | IAG SA 2025 4 Needs of IAG ECS A Global Geoscience Societies Initiative: The 2023 Early Career and Student Communities Survey 520 responses
History of the IAG ECS representatives IAG task force to increase visibility: generation, gender, geography All IUGG associations except IAG and IASPEI had ECS representatives in the executive committee (July 2023) IAG chairs nominated ECS representatives (non-voting members) →IAG ECS group Goal: IDEA representative1in the IAG executive committee and ECS representatives in each IAG entity (voting member) Empowering ECS | IAG ECS Reps | IAG SA 2025 508.09.2025 1Representative for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility from the IAG Task Force on Inclusion
IAG ECS Reps - Who are we? Anna Klos IAG Commission 1 –Reference Frames Athina Peidou IAG Commission 2 –Gravity Field Anna Riddell IAG Commission 3 –Earth Rotation and Geodynamics Artur Fischer IAG Commission 4 –Positioning and Application Julia Koch GGOS Pierre Sakic ICCM –Inter-Commission Committee on Marine Geodesy Michela Ravanelli ICCT –Inter-Commission Committee on Theory Franck Ghomsi ICCC –Inter-Commission Committee on Geodesy for Climate Research Öykü Koç Quantum Geodesy - IAG Project Rebekka Steffen IAG Executive committee Empowering ECS | IAG ECS Reps | IAG SA 2025 608.09.2025 Find us on the IAG webpage!
Target groups and goals Future students Generation: ECS Gender: Women Geography: Asia, South America, Africa, etc. Raise awareness Encourage participation Increase visibility and establish role models Public Geodesists/ Scientists Empowering ECS | IAG ECS Reps | IAG SA 2025 708.09.2025
Encourage participation ECS Empowering ECS | IAG ECS Reps | IAG SA 2025 808.09.2025 EGU24 •ECS corner at IAG Geodesy reception GGHS2024 • ECS ice breaker, city tour, social gathering at a local pub GSTM/GGOS Topical Meeting/ GGOS days 2024 •ECS Apéro sponsored by IAG, GGOS, GSTM Organize one ECS activity at IAG sponsored meetings (dinner, ice breaker, networking event, …)
Encourage participation ECS / Gender Empowering ECS | IAG ECS Reps | IAG SA 2025 908.09.2025 IAG SA Rimini •Early Career Scientists Dinner •70 participants •Women in Geodesy Breakfast •40 participants Both financially supported by IAG Organize one ECS activity at IAG sponsored meetings (dinner, ice breaker, networking event, …)
Raise awareness of the public Public Empowering ECS | IAG ECS Reps | IAG SA 2025 1608.09.2025 "Geodesy for Dummies" in the "For Dummies" Series Geography, Astrophysics, Geology, GIS, Calculus –How to plot Spherical Coordinates, Physics I –How to Calculate the Period and Orbiting Radius of a Geosynchronous Satellite, Big Data –Spatial Databases in a Big Data Environment Pitch geodesy to educational content creators Invitation to core sites, using white papers and storytelling Individual contributions National Academy of Sciences – Science and Entertainment Exchange to connect the entertainment industry with scientific experts
Solicitation for ECS activities •Time and budget for ECS activities •Contributions to ECS activities should be acknowledged as important work on the same level as scientific output Empowering ECS | IAG ECS Reps | IAG SA 2025 1708.09.2025 ECS activities must be a joint effort of the whole geodetic community: Please support our ideas and activities Questions? Ideas? Want to get involved? Contact us: IAG ECS Reps, [email protected] Find us on the IAG webpage!
