Communicate, Connect, Collaborate

GEO.X • IUGG EARLY-CAREER SCIENTISTS WORKSHOP 2026

Communicate, Connect, Collaborate:

Early Career Scientists Beyond Disciplinary Boundaries.

About the Workshop

The Geo.X – IUGG Early-Career Scientists Workshop brings together researchers from across the geosciences to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, science communication, and professional development. Through keynote lectures, networking activities, and interactive sessions, participants will exchange ideas, build collaborations, and strengthen their international scientific network.

Participation is free of charge, but places are limited. Priority will be given to applicants from Geo.X partner institutions. Applications from outside the Geo.X network are also welcome and may be considered if places remain available. Participants are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.

This workshop is funded by the Geo.X ECS Community Grant and supported by the IUGG, fostering connections with researchers across Berlin, Potsdam, and the wider international geoscience community.

Why attend

Network Across Disciplines

Meet Early-Career Scientists from diverse geoscience disciplines, exchange ideas, and build lasting international collaborations.

Develop Communication Skills

Strengthen your communication skills through elevator pitches, interviews, and interactive science communication activities.

Advance Your Career

Expand your professional network, explore interdisciplinary collaborations, and discover new opportunities within the international geoscience community.

Workshop Programme

Discover this 1.5-day workshop of interactive sessions, networking opportunities and hands-on activities designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among early-career geoscientists.

Day 1 · Monday, 21 September (13:00 - 18:00)

🌍 Science communication and research pitching

Welcome and introduction
Science-communication training and short research-pitch practice
Telegrafenberg research campus tour
Optional filming activity for interested participants

🕐 13:00 – Welcome & Introduction
Meet the organisers and fellow participants, discover the workshop objectives and begin building your interdisciplinary network.

🎤 13:30 – Science Communication & Pitch Training
Learn practical techniques to communicate your research clearly and confidently. Participants will prepare and refine a short research pitch through interactive exercises and discussion.

☕ 14:30 – Coffee Break
An opportunity to network, exchange ideas and meet researchers from different geoscience disciplines.

🚶 15:00 – Guided Telegrafenberg Tour & Interactive Activity
Participants will be divided into two groups: one group will take part in a guided tour of Telegrafenberg, while the other completes a practical science communication exercise. The groups will then switch, ensuring that everyone participates in both activities.

🎥 17:00 – Early-Career Scientist Video Interviews (optional)
Selected participants will have the opportunity to record a short professional interview for the IUGG Early-Career Scientists platform, sharing their research with the international community.

Additional Information

Camera-training exercise

The science-communication and camera-training session will be led by Katia Pinheiro (ISTerre, France). Participants will practise presenting their research in a short, understandable, and engaging format. The activity is intended to help participants become more confident when speaking about their work in front of a camera or to a non-specialist audience.

Participation in the training exercise does not require participants to be recorded. Any recording connected with the exercise will be voluntary, and participants who are interested will receive further information before deciding whether to take part. Recording will take place only with the appropriate consent.

Optional ECSNet interview

Separate from the camera-training exercise, Katia Pinheiro will offer interested participants the opportunity to volunteer for a short filmed interview for the ECSNet webpage and IUGG YouTube channel.

This interview is completely optional and is not required for participation in the workshop. Indicating interest in the registration form does not constitute consent to filming. Volunteers will receive further information about the interview, the intended use of the recording, and the relevant consent procedure before filming takes place.

Day 2 · Tuesday, 22 September (09:00 - 17:30)

🚀 Career stories and interdisciplinary proposal development

The second day brings together inspiring career conversations, interdisciplinary teamwork and a collaborative proposal challenge, giving participants the opportunity to develop new ideas with guidance from experienced researchers.

Career stories behind the science: experiences, turning points, challenges, and lessons that are rarely visible in a CV
Introduction to interdisciplinary proposal writing
Interdisciplinary mini-proposal challenge in small groups with scientific advisors
Preparation and presentation of short proposal pitches
Feedback from a review panel
Closing discussion and participant feedback

🕘 09:00 – Opening & Orientation
Welcome back! We will introduce the objectives for the day, explain the collaborative proposal challenge and prepare participants for the interactive sessions ahead.

🎙 09:15 – Career stories behind the science: experiences, turning points, challenges, and lessons rarely visible in a CV
Engage in an open conversation with leading scientists about the experiences, turning points, challenges, and lessons rarely visible in a CV. Early-career scientists will be encouraged to ask questions, exchange perspectives, and discuss career paths, international collaboration, and opportunities in the geosciences.

09:15 – Prof. Mioara Mandea (CNES, France): Career journey, turning points, challenges, and lessons learned
09:35 – Prof. Jens Wickert (GFZ, Germany): Career journey, turning points, challenges, and lessons learned
09:55 – Moderated conversation and joint Q&A: Questions for both speakers
10:15 – Open discussion: Questions and exchange with all participants

☕ 10:45 – Coffee Break
Take time to network, exchange ideas and continue conversations with fellow participants and invited speakers.

💡 11:00 – Interdisciplinary Proposal-Writing Session
Learn practical strategies for developing successful interdisciplinary research proposals through expert presentations and real-world examples.

🍽 12:15 – Lunch Break
Enjoy lunch while continuing informal discussions and expanding your professional network.

👥 13:15 – Collaborative Group Challenge
Working in multidisciplinary teams with experienced mentors, participants will design an innovative research proposal addressing a real scientific challenge.

🚀 15:00 – Mini-Proposal Presentations
Each team will pitch its proposal to the workshop panel, practicing concise scientific communication and collaborative problem-solving.

⭐ 16:15 – Expert Panel Feedback
Receive constructive feedback from experienced researchers on proposal design, interdisciplinarity, feasibility and scientific impact.

🎉 16:45 – Closing Discussion & Next Steps
The workshop concludes with a collective reflection, participant feedback and opportunities to stay connected through the IUGG Early-Career Scientists network.

OUR SPEAKERS

Meet internationally recognised scientists and science communicators sharing their expertise, career journeys and practical insights throughout the workshop.

Career stories behind the science

Mioara Mandea

Head of Science Coordination Department

CNES • France

President-Elect of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), leading international collaboration across the Earth and space sciences. International expert in geomagnetism and satellite missions.

Jens Wickert

Group Leader

GFZ • Germany

GFZ Research Director “Atmosphere in Global Change”

GFZ Working Group Head GNSS Remote Sensing, Deputy Director of the Institute of Geodesy, Technische Universität Berlin (TUB).

Interdisciplinary Proposal

Monika Korte

Head of GFZ section 2.3 Geomagnetism and IAGA Secretary General.

GFZ • Germany

Monika was awarded a prestigious ERC Synergy Grant for the GERACLE project, supporting ambitious international research that brings together multiple teams across disciplinary boundaries.

BEYOND THE WORKSHOP

Amplifying Early-Career Scientists’ Voices

During the workshop, selected participants will have the opportunity to record short professional videos presenting their research through an elevator pitch and sharing their experiences as early-career scientists.

The edited videos will be shared through the IUGG ECSNet platform and the IUGG YouTube channel, extending the impact of the workshop beyond Potsdam and giving emerging researchers international visibility across the geoscience community.

Partner with us

Primarily supported by IUGG through the ECSNet project, this initiative welcomes additional partners to support the filming, editing, subtitling and dissemination of video interviews with early-career scientists. Partners will be acknowledged in the video credits and related communication materials.