IAGA YouTube

We are here to remind you that IAGA YouTube has a lot of exciting and interesting videos created for the general public, elementary school kids and early career researchers in various aspects of earth sciences as well as planetary and space sciences. Have a look!

Some series that would be of interest are-

1) Magnetic Mosaic: This documentary is not on IAGA official channel but on one of our creator's channel. It talks about the magnetic field of the earth and was one of the finalists in the UNESCO Earth's Future Festival.

2) Geoscience Connections: This documentary is an animated movie along with interviews of various early career researchers talking about everything about the earth- from its formation to its future. The project of the same name also consists of a small animated movie called 'Earth-Human Connections' that uses analogy between the earth and humans to explain about their connection. Finally, it has over 15 scientists talking about themselves and their science in short video formats. Don't forget to check out your favourite videos from the playlist here.

3) Bimbim's Team: Next, we have short animated videos about the Solar System, Earth and Mars in three languages- English, French and Portuguese- for kids. The protagonist is Bimbim, a jolly dog who wants to throw a space themed birthday party!

4) Summer School: There are handy lecture videos from the last IAGA summer school in Berlin 2023 where different science aspects of IAGA was covered by experts. The participants were phd and postdocs who received an understanding of the concepts of geomagnetism and hands on experience in dealing with the data.

5) Finally, we have many more exciting outreach science videos coming up in the following weeks in the form of documentaries, web series and short videos. Don't forget to check them out as well!

Exploration of the Jovian system #2

There are two icy moon missions of this decade that will reach their respective bodies of interest beginning of next decade- JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) and Europa Clipper. The main focus of JUICE is Ganymede and for Clipper is Europa. Both these planetary bodies are moons of our Solar System's largest planet Jupiter. Scientists are particularly interested in the Jovian moons because these bodies contain large oceans under their surface making them a suitable place to study for potential habitability. They are called 'icy moons' because their surface is made up of ice! If you are interested to learn more about these moons, head to our previous blogs about them!

While JUICE launched on April 14th 2023, Clipper is all set to launch this month! If you are a space enthusiast and are interested in watching the launch: in person- head to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, or online: head to NASA's website. The launch window starts within a week on October 10th and goes up till the end of the month. It will take Clipper five and a half years to reach Jupiter in 2030.

Image Credit: NASA

STFC Introductory Course

The STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) Introductory Course in Solar and Solar-Terrestrial Physics was held at the University of Sheffield, UK from September 2nd to 6th, 2023. This annual course, organised by the UK Solar Physics and MIST (Magnetospheric, Ionospheric, and Solar-Terrestrial) Councils, and approved by the Heads of UK Solar Groups and MIST since 2015, continues to play a crucial role in training early career UK solar system physicists. While most of this year’s participants were from the UK, we were pleased to welcome students from Hungary, Germany, France, India, China, and South Korea, adding a truly international dimension to the event.

This summer school is specifically designed for PhD students who are new to the field, with the aim of helping them upgrade, consolidate, and broaden their knowledge. The program covered a wide range of essential topics in Sun-Earth connections. After each lecture, there was a longer break with coffee and biscuits, providing students an opportunity to engage with the lecturers in a more informal and relaxed environment. Alongside these subject-specific lectures, students also benefited from sessions focusing on career development and public engagement.

A highlight of the course was the careers panel, featuring professionals from diverse backgrounds and at various stages of their careers. The panel included individuals who followed a straight academic path from their Master’s degrees to becoming professors, as well as those who took time away from academia before returning to pursue a PhD and continuing in research. Each panel member shared their unique career journey, offering students different perspectives on navigating both academic and non-academic careers. After sharing their stories, the panel opened the floor for questions, leading to a lively and insightful discussion. Students asked the panelists what they might have done differently, and what advice they would offer to those just starting out. The candid responses provided practical guidance and encouragement, helping students think more clearly about their own career paths and future challenges.

The public engagement talk was equally inspiring, as the speaker shared her extensive experience in conducting outreach activities across the globe. Her insights showed the importance of public engagement and demonstrated how impactful outreach can be for both scientists and the broader community.

- Marianna B. Korsos, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, University of Sheffield

Project #askIAGA

With this project, we would like to enhance public understanding of the science covered by IAGA and to engage with the community. Social media channels provide an ideal platform for interacting with teenagers and adults worldwide. The project #askIAGA will not only distribute content tailored for the general public but also create a two-way communication channel that will allow better connections between scientists and community. The use of simple language and graphics will help convey key scientific concepts more clearly to the public.

IAGA consists of six divisions, covering topics from the Earth’s core, mantle and crust to the atmosphere, ionosphere, magnetosphere, and solar wind. We plan to produce six posts tackling selected questions representative of each division. The posts can be in the form of graphical material, panels, comic strips and mini animations. They will be released through IAGA’s outreach channels. Additionally, the posts will call for the public to submit further questions using the #askIAGA. The most interesting and intriguing questions suggested by the public will be transformed into subsequent posts. This will foster interaction between the public and IAGA, engaging citizens and allowing them to contribute to scientific questions that deserve answers or might inspire new research topics.

IAGA Outreach awardee for 2024 comprising of the team:

Sanja Panovska, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences Potsdam.

Sabrina Sanchez, freelance illustrator residing in France with previous experience in research.

IUGG Support: Call for Proposals

The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), of which the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) is a member, is offering sponsorship for symposia to be organised in 2025. One of the main aims of IUGG is to promote geophysics through international collaborations and an important role is played by scientific meetings in achieving this.

IUGG funds can be used to provide support to students and early career researchers as well as increase representation in meetings from underdeveloped countries. About 10-15 meetings (up to USD 10,000 each) can be supported through this call for symposia proposals.

The meeting organisers should contact their respective Secretary Generals (for IAGA, visit this page to know the Executive body members) before mid October. The Secretary Generals of each association would then submit their recommendations to the IUGG Secretary General by 31 October 2024. The IUGG bureau will make the final selections by December. 

Don't hesitate to get in contact with the IAGA Executive Committee to know more about the call and visit this webpage for more information.

IAGA School 2025 Applications Open

IAGA School takes place again in 2025 in Lisbon!

IAGA Schools have been organised since 2013 to prepare early career researchers in topics across the breadth of IAGA for their future research! The 7th IAGA School will be held from August 25 – 30 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal, just before the Joint IAGA-IASPEI Assembly (August 31 – September 5). The aim of the IAGA School is to make knowledge on all scientific topics covered by the IAGA accessible to excellent young scientists.

We want to bring early career scientists together to get to know each other, to study, to laugh, to learn together, but also to put hands-on geomagnetic instruments, computer-aided programs and processes and to network in the future, also with their lecturers; international experts in the fields they teach!

IAGA sponsors participants- a number of approximately 20 persons comprising of PhD students or young Post-Docs who are selected from nominations by the IAGA Divisions and Working Groups.

IAGA will cover the accommodation costs and a daily allowance during the summer school but not your travel costs to Lisbon. We assume that you would attend the IAGA conference anyway and that your travel expenses can therefore be covered by your institute.

Are you interested in participating?

Criteria of early career scientists- You must be either:

• Postgraduate (PhD) student.
• You have completed a Masters or PhD within the year 2024.
• You are a recipient of the IAGA Young Scientist Award 2024!

We will also ensure a balance between for geographical and gender diversity. 

How to apply?

Students interested in participating should apply to the Chair of the IAGA Working Group or Division relevant for their topic of work for a nomination. See this webpage for IAGA topics and contact information and to know which Division you belong to. Please visit IAGA School for the application form and further information. Applications should be sent to Division or Working Group Chairs by September 30, 2024.

Looking forward to seeing you in Lisbon!

- Barbara Leichter 

Chair of ICEO (Interdivisional Commission on Education and Outreach) responsible for the Organization for the IAGA School

Learn more about IAGA summer schools and the students' experience from our previous blogs here!

IAGA Bites!

We have started a new page on our website called IAGA Bites (naming credit goes to IAGA and ComNet group member Fred!) that will feature short reports/abstracts of new papers that have been published in the IAGA community. 

We hope it helps authors increase visibility of their paper as well as serve as a place where everyone knows what new is happening in our science! No more constantly searching for new articles that have come out, this repository will have them all *if* you help us build it. 

If you have a paper you'd want to advertise, please reach out to us at iagasocialmedia@gmail.com or here. If you are a co-author on a paper you'd want to share, please reach out to us. If you know someone whose work you'd want to publish here for the community, yes you're right, please reach out to us!

We are looking forward to receiving news about your work from you.