For the first time since 2008, EGU is forming a new scientific division. The Geoscience and Society Division (GS) will represent any researcher focused on the connection between geoscientific topics across the Earth, planetary and space sciences, and social subjects, from communication, psychology and ethics, to policy, societal impact, education, economics–and beyond! The decision to create a new scientific division was not one taken lightly by EGU’s organising Council, but given the requests from our members and the clear role that social geoscience subjects have in helping us to combat the greatest scientific issues we face as a society, it was essential that EGU stepped forward in this way to support our community.

Interim President John Hillier explained why the new Division is so necessary, commenting, “It's important because as scientists we often don't engage well enough with society. Many try, but it can end up as an add-on; a secondary thing to do. Despite that, there is a thriving community of researchers working in just this space, so by creating a Division, and giving these socially-interested geoscience researchers a ‘home’ in EGU, we hope it will bring people together, sharing this incredibly valuable experience with other physical-process geoscientists, whilst supporting the advancement of the field.” 

“Putting geoscience into practice shapes decisions that affect people’s lives from how communities prepare for hazards to how we manage water and respond to climate change,” added interim Deputy President Caitlyn Hall. “People across EGU are studying and strengthening those connections. This Division brings them together to share what works, ask difficult questions and improve how geoscience supports action and society.”

The creation of the new Division will have several key benefits:

• To provide better recognition for the high scientific value of work done at the intersection of geoscience and society
• To promote the ability of social geoscientists to self-organise and build community within EGU
• To better integrate social research within EGU’s governance and decision-making structure, and make this research more visible and available to EGU members
• To normalise meaningful engagement with social science (and adjacent) collaborators

EGU President Peter van der Beek is enthusiastic about the new Division. “The creation of a new Division is always a big step, and the Geosciences and Society Division really opens up new horizons for EGU. The importance of science for policy, education and outreach, as well as questions of EDI in the geosciences have grown significantly, and these pursuits require data and research. The new division will bring together practitioners and researchers on these issues, give a home to a community that, up to now, was somewhat dispersed within EGU, and provide it with a voice in the governing structure. I strongly welcome that”.

Over the next 12 months the Geoscience and Society Division will be run by interim President John Hillier and interim Deputy President Caitlyn Hall, with an election for the first Division President to be held in autumn 2027, who will then serve as Deputy President for a term in the normal way before becoming President. To find out more about how you can volunteer for this new Division, please contact them or visit the GS Division webpage.

Lastly, the Geoscience and Society Division would not exist without the sustained and constructive effort of many EGU members over the last few years and EGU would like to thank all those who have contributed in this monumental endeavour. We specifically want to give credit to Sam Illingworth, Mioara Mandea, Martin Archer, Solmaz Mohadjer, John Hillier and Caitlyn Hall, and remember the efforts of Chris King, as well as to thank the members of the Education and Outreach Committees, Science for Policy working group, EOS and ITS programme group chairs, and the Union's Executive and Council for their support for this initiative.

The European Geosciences Union (EGU) is Europe’s premier geosciences union, dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the Earth, planetary, and space sciences for the benefit of humanity, worldwide. It is a non-profit interdisciplinary learned association of scientists founded in 2002 with headquarters in Munich, Germany. The EGU publishes a number of diverse scientific journals that use an innovative open access format and organises topical meetings plus education and outreach activities. Its annual General Assembly is the largest and most prominent European geosciences event, attracting more than 21,000 scientists from all over the world. The meeting’s sessions cover a wide range of topics, including volcanology, planetary exploration, the Earth’s internal structure and atmosphere, climate, energy, and resources.

• EGU Geoscience and Society Division