EGU General Assembly 2025 – Our Institute in Vienna
28 April – 2 May 2025 | Vienna, Austria
The European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly is one of the world’s largest gatherings of Earth, planetary, and space scientists – and this year, our Institute of Geography was right in the middle of it! With 20,984 participants from over 120 countries, the conference offered five days packed with inspiring presentations, poster sessions, and discussions on everything from microplastics to Mesopotamian boats.
Our institute was represented by a strong team: numerous researchers of the working groups „ecosystem research“ and „geomorphology and geochronology“ – from PhD candidates to senior scientists – contributed with oral talks, poster presentations, and interactive PICO sessions, showcasing the breadth and depth of our research. The atmosphere in Vienna was buzzing with scientific exchange, networking, and the occasional reunion with colleagues from across the globe.
Spotlight on three PhD candidates
Rizwan Khaleel presented his research “Understanding the formation and influence of soil-typical eco-coronas on microplastics through laboratory and field incubation experiments” in Session HS8.1.1. His talk sparked lively discussions on biodegradation potential, seasonal fieldwork, and heavy metal adsorption, and opened doors for potential collaborations with the University of Wageningen and beyond.
Mirijam Zickel took on the role of session convener for the first time – a great opportunity to sharpen organisational skills – and presented “Revealing Bronze Age Construction: Digital Micromorphology and Micro-XRF Analysis of Tell Toboliu Floors in Western Romania” in Session GM4.3. The PICO format allowed her to dive deep into methods and results with fellow geoarchaeologists.
Felix Reize ’s PICO presentation “Timing of the First Mesopotamian Boat Unearthed in a Euphrates Paleochannel near Uruk (Iraq)” drew considerable attention and was even selected as a Highlight Presentation. Soon, his work will be featured in ScienceShot, giving it an even wider reach.
A week to remember
Beyond these highlights, many more colleagues from our Institute made valuable contributions – be it through posters, talks, or engaging in scientific debates over coffee breaks.
A big thank you goes to the GSGS Training and Networking Grant, which supported several of our early career researchers in attending this vibrant conference. We return from Vienna with new ideas, fresh collaborations, and a healthy dose of inspiration for the year ahead.
edited by Luisa Loers