[THE LOUPE] YOUR EGU GEOSCIENCE RESOURCE - DECEMBER 2025 ======================================================== Science surprises When good things come from unexpected places As the end of the year approaches, it can be easy to look back on 2025 and see only the challenges, the negatives and the bad news - but at this time of year, we in the EGU office like to look for the good news, the positive stories and the way that science continues to surprise us, for the better. Asmae Ourkiya's blog post (https://egu.eu/3814EK/) on the Guzman Prize exemplifies this, by sharing how a prize established in 1900 to reward anyone making contact with alien life (expect Martians) ended up funding more than a century of astronomy research and innovation (https://egu.eu/3814EK/). Guest blogger Fernanda Matos (https://egu.eu/2EPC6H/) shared ways she was surprised to discover her autism had been driving her interest in Oceanography for years, in her blog on how we can better support people with disability in geoscience (https://egu.eu/2EPC6H/). It's also important to AVOID certain surprises, especially with the international visa system, as we explore in our guide to navigating the Austrian visa and Schengen process ahead of EGU26 (https://egu.eu/96PEKO/). If you are looking to surprise someone with a last minute gift this season, don't miss out on EGU's top 5 gifts for geoscientists ideas for 2025 (https://egu.eu/22QC8M/)! Also the EGU26 call for abstracts is now open (https://egu.eu/93MVOY/) \- you have until 13:00CET, 15 January 2026 to submit your abstract. You can also now apply to support your community at EGU26 by volunteering to our Peer Support programme (https://www.egu.eu/outreach/mentoring/) that helps General Assembly novices navigate the meeting! Apply to take part (https://www.egu.eu/outreach/mentoring/) by 31 March 2026. DEADLINES --------- 13:00CET 15 JANUARY EGU26 abstract submission deadline (https://egu.eu/93MVOY/) 23 JANUARY EGU26 waivers for accessibility advisors (https://egu.eu/9PXKSQ/) SCIENCE FOR POLICY ------------------ Don't miss EGU26 policymaker registration waivers! EGU26 is offering free registration (https://egu.eu/9X51OI/) (on-site or virtual) and abstract submission procedure to European policymakers to enable them to attend scientific sessions that are relevant to their legislative work, and to connect with the research community. Time is running out for abstract submissions and waiver requests for policymakers! If you are interested in inviting a policymaker to your policy-related session, you can send them this form (https://egu.eu/9X51OI/) to indicate their interest until 15 January 2026, 13:00 CET. Reflections on Think2030 Dialogue Denmark Think2030 Dialogue Denmark (https://egu.eu/2VPAUH/) brought together European decision-makers, businesses, policy experts and civil society leaders to discuss some of the most pressing sustainability challenges facing Europe. It featured the relevance of EU as a global climate leader amidst geopolitical tensions, as well as the synergies between climate ambition, economic competitiveness and energy security. Read more in the GeoPolicy blog post Rethinking Europe’s historical climate leadership in a ‘Time of Transition’ (https://egu.eu/4QXC2T/). EGU–IEEP Policy Mentoring Scheme mentee publishes important policy brief Alice Albertini, who joined the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) (https://ieep.eu/) in April 2025 as the first EGU–IEEP Policy Mentoring Scheme mentee, co-authored a IEEP policy brief "Accelerating Climate Action in EU Agriculture and Food" (https://egu.eu/190SRC/). The 2026 EGU–IEEP Policy Mentoring Scheme will open in January, so stay tuned for more information! JOURNAL WATCH ------------- "Understanding the seasonal evolution of Antarctic snow is essential for interpreting satellite observations and quantifying surface mass balance in Antarctica. The paper describes a data set collected in 2022–2023 in Antarctica as part of the Low orbit altimetry, albedo, and Antarctic Snow and Sea-ice Surface Roughness (LAS3R) project." Leppänen et al (2025) Measurements on physical snow properties in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica (https://egu.eu/0WK3WC/) Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems GEOROUNDUP December EGU journal highlights (https://egu.eu/6FA7QA/) ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------- EGU's 5 year strategic priorities: share your opinion today! As a member-led organisation, we have put together a very short survey about what you think our strategic priorities should be over the next 5 years (https://egu.eu/1CYT8Y/), in order to make sure that we are heading in a direction our members want. If you are an EGU member, please share your opinion (https://egu.eu/1CYT8Y/) in this 5-10 minutes survey (https://egu.eu/1CYT8Y/) by 23 January 2026. RESOURCE OF THE MONTH --------------------- Don't miss any of our 2025 resources, research or training! Throughout the year EGU has published a host of webinars on a wide range of topics: careers; science communication; publications; policy; EDI; and more! Check out our 2025 roundup (https://egu.eu/20ICQF/) to catch any resources you missed! UPCOMING DATES -------------- Apply for a Field School for Teachers, or Geoscience Education Event in 2026 Applications are now open for the 2026 Field Schools for Teachers and Geoscience Education Events schemes, which provide support and financial assistance for events promoting education in the Earth, planetary, and space sciences. Apply (https://egu.eu/96EKUA/) by 31 December 2025. EGU Science for Policy Hangout Come virtually network with those working at the science-policy interface! Register (https://egu.eu/5P10P0/) for our next #Sci4Pol Hangout at 14:00 CET on Monday 5 January. EGUwebinar: Climate of the Past 20th Anniversary: Polar Climate History Polar regions play a critical role in the global climate system, affecting ice sheet dynamics and sea level changes. Drawing perspectives from both poles, this session will explore polar climate history with views from the distant past to more recent changes. As part of a special series celebrating 20 years of EGU journal 'Climate of the Past', join this EGUwebinar at 16:00CET, 14 January to hear leaders in the field address these ideas. Register here (https://egu.eu/2XIDOJ/) today. Funding now available to host EGU-sponsored Geoscience Day 2026 public event Apply now (https://egu.eu/2OWOH5/)for up to €10,000 funding to host a Geoscience Day public event to raise awareness of the geosciences among school students, policymakers, journalists and the wider public. Deadline for applications (https://egu.eu/2OWOH5/) is 19 January 2026. EGU seeks proposals for the development of science communication workshops! Do you run online science communication workshops? The EGU Outreach Committee is soliciting the development and delivery of online workshops to provide training for our members in various aspects of science communication, so submit your proposal (https://egu.eu/5MRRJ3/) by Monday 19 January 2026. EGU BLOGS --------- Taking time off in the academic world: Why it’s hard and how to do it (https://egu.eu/7RX3TD/) Geodesy Division blog Why we need to put plants back in the soil carbon picture (https://egu.eu/4LE7VG/) Geolog, the Union’s official blog Berlin – the city of unusual geology (https://egu.eu/2Z5V3U/) Tectonics and Structural Geology Division blog Harnessing Machine Learning to Advance Tropospheric Ozone Science (https://egu.eu/00AMTV/) Atmospheric Sciences Division blog GeoTalk: meet Robert Piotrowski, geomythologist and folklorist (https://egu.eu/1ZM6KS/) Geolog, the Union’s official blog Advancing Geosciences: Innovation and Community in the GI Division (https://egu.eu/2C5AK3/) Geosciences Instrumentation and Data Systems Division blog Geomythology: Craitbul journey through the Newer Volcanics in SE Australia (https://egu.eu/14LW5O/) Tectonics and Structural Geology Division blog Biogeosciences books for the winter holidays – Editorial picks (https://egu.eu/4PMM1E/) Biogeosciences Division blog Türkiye’s Climate at a Crossroads (https://egu.eu/80B0AY/) Climate: Past, Present and Future Division blog FOLLOW US --------- Web: https://www.egu.eu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-geosciences-union/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eurogeosciences/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/EuroGeosciencesUnion Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanGeosciencesUnion Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@EuroGeosciences Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/egu.eu ©2025 European Geosciences Union. 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