Welcome to GeoNews January...

...This month we inform you about the launch of EFGeoWeek, a weekly news compilation published by EFG and the launch of the EAGE/EFG photo contest 2017. We also remind you that there are still places available for the EFG/UNECE conference "International collaboration on raw materials". 

Are you in a hurry? Then scroll directly to News from EFG & its members; EurGeol of the month; Miscellaneous; Panels of Experts or Jobs & Training. 

News from EFG & its members

EFG/UNFC workshop: International cooperation on natural resources:
geoscientists’ contribution to enhanced governance, policy making and attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals
9 (afternoon) and 10 (full day) February 2017
Royal Belgium Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium

        
Co-organisers: EFG, UNECE
Supporting organisations: CRIRSCO, EAGE, EGU, EuroGeoSurveys, Geological Society of Africa (GSAf), PERC, Royal Belgian Museum of Natural Sciences
Join discussion on how geoscientists can contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals: This event will provide a unique opportunity to discuss a transparent and harmonized classification framework for fossil and renewable energy sources and minerals in a cross-disciplinary environment, including EU policymakers, UN representatives, international energy experts, national government officials, academics, energy and minerals company executives, as well as finance, industry and environment experts.
High-level speakers: The programme counts with several high-level speakers from the European Institutions such as Antonio Tajani (President of the European Parliament), Astrid Schomaker (DG Environment, European Commission), Mattia Pellegrini (DG Growth, European Commission) and Martin Bohle (DG Research and Innovation, European Commission) as well as from industry (Bernard Seiller, Total and Karin Ask, Statoil).  
We recommend to register soon because seats are limited and a confirmation receipt is necessary to access the venue. 
More information and registration: http://eurogeologists.eu/efg-unece-conference/



Launch of EFGeoWeek
EFGeoWeek is a new weekly publication by the European Federation of Geologists (EFG). It will be issued each Tuesday and is complementary with EFG’s monthly newsletter GeoNews. 
EFGeoWeek compiles information from the EFG website, the social media and other publicly accessible media sources relevant for European geoscientists. In addition EFGeoWeek promotes each week one of the articles published in the bi-annual European Geologist Journal.
Welcome to the first issue: EFGeoWeek

EAGE/EFG photo contest 2017
The EAGE/EFG photo contest is now open for entries! The theme of the Photo Contest 2017 is ‘Geoscientists at work’.
We invite all EAGE members and members of EFG’s national associations to submit their photos relating to the following five sub-categories until 1 March 2017:
- Education & training
- Landscapes & environment
- Fieldwork
- Energy
- Women Geoscientists
More information: http://houseofgeoscience.org/photocontest


 
EFG becomes partner of ENSQM

The European Network for sustainable quarrying and mining (ENSQM) is a neutral network aiming at boosting sustainable mining and quarrying at national level by creating a culture of cooperation among all the stakeholders in the mining and quarrying sector at national level to open and manage mines and quarries in a sustainable way. At national level, the commitment could materialise in a national/local/regional forum within the framework of jointly agreed objectives and procedure between the stakeholders of the mining and quarrying sector. The ultimate goal would be that the European Network for Sustainable Quarrying and Mining becomes a reference for the sector because it takes into account economic, social and environmental values.
More information: http://ensqm.weebly.com/

Launch of ERA-MIN 2




The ERA-MIN 2 launch event was held in Brussels on 1 December 2016 to kick-off the ERA-MIIN 2 activities, with particular emphasis on the upcoming Joint Call for translational R&I projects on 1 February 2017 with a total budget of 15 million Euro. More than 50 representatives of ministries, funding organisations, research and industry from EU and non-EU countries and the European Commission have participated in a networking cocktail to welcome the official start of ERA-MIN 2.
Building on the experience of the EU FP7 ERA-MIN (2011-2015), the main objective of the Horizon 2020 ERA-NET Cofund on Raw Materials ERA-MIN 2 (2016-2021) is to enhance and strengthen the coordination of national and regional European research and innovation (R&I) programmes in the field of non-energy, non-agricultural raw materials, namely, construction, industrial and metallic minerals, through the implementation of three joint calls for transnational collaborative R&I projects.
The ERAMIN 2 network will launch a Joint Call on 1 February 2017, with a deadline for pre-proposals on May 5th 2017. The scope of the Joint Call is needs-driven research addressing all aspects of the non-energy, nonagricultural raw materials life cycle covering both primary and secondary resources.
EFG is one of the Associated members of ERA-MIN. 
More information: http://www.era-min-eu.org/
 
News from KINDRA project



KINDRA has now completed the two main steps of the project by developing a Harmonised methodology on Groundwater Research and an inventory on groundwater research & knowledge based upon a common terminology. In autumn 2016, 16 national workshops were organised in the countries covered by EFG’s Linked Third Parties. A full calendar with the dates of all national workshops is available on the KINDRA website.
The upcoming months will be mainly dedicated to dissemination, during which all technical content and results will be adapted into outreach materials that will help the general public to understand the relevance of groundwater in daily life. The project website (http://kindraproject.eu/) has renewed its look and content to facilitate the dissemination of news and information on the project’s findings. The cleaner, more modern design has been completed by adding images and sections that will help citizens to understand and support the actions of KINDRA.
Henceforth, work in 2017 will focus on WP3 – Research Gaps and Recommendations. The aim is to measure and comment on the performance of key ongoing EU, national, regional, international and EU-third party scientific activities and results. The identified research gaps will then be converted into specific recommendations for the further development of relevant policies and EU-level research programmes.

EFG members | SGF, France
4rd Young Natural History Scientists Meeting
Paris, France, 7-11 February 2017 | Read more

EFG members | GSL, UK
Edmund Nickless receives MBE
Former EFG delegate Edmund Nickless has received an MBE (Member of the British Empire) for services to geology. Mr Nickless was the Geological Society’s Executive Secretary for 18 years, retiring in 2015, and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). In 2016 he was awarded the Geological Society’s Distinguished Service Award.

EurGeol of the month: Steffen Loos  

Miscellaneous

Panels of Experts

Jobs & Training

Belgium |Hydrogeology professor 
The faculty of Sciences of the University of Ghent (Belgium) has a vacancy for a professorship, starting from 1 October 2017. It concerns a full time position as Professor in the rank of Assistant Professor tenure track in the Department of Geology (WE13). The duties include academic teaching, academic research and carrying out academic services in the field of “hydrogeology”.
Deadline for application: 31 January 2017
More information here.

Germany | Science Policy officer 
The European Geosciences Union (EGU) is looking to hire a Science Policy Officer to continue developing the EGU’s policy programme, which is aimed at building bridges between geoscientists and European policymakers, engaging the EGU membership with public policy, and informing decision makers about the Earth, planetary and space sciences. The officer will be tasked with mapping out policy opportunities for the EGU, setting up links between EGU members and European decision makers, and developing training and networking events for scientists to engage with policy. More information here.