GeoNews – EFG’s monthly newsletter December 2024

As usual, we start our monthly newsletter with a brief overview of the most relevant policy news for our profession.

We invite you to read the following summary from the EERA regarding the EU policy agenda for new institutional mandate.

On 16 November, the European Council and European Parliament reached an agreement on the EU’s 2025 budget, totalling €199.4 billion, 6% more than the 2024 total EU budget. Amongst the key EU priorities it finances, the budget includes funding for important EU research and education programmes such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+.

The European Commission has launched two major funding initiatives under the Innovation Fund, totalling €4.6 billion, to support net-zero technologies, electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing, and renewable hydrogen production.

As reports ScienceBusiness, members of the European Parliament’s ITRE committee raise objections regarding the draft report on Framework Programme 10 (FP10), advocating for a doubling of the budgets for the European Research Council (ERC) and the European Innovation Council (EIC).

For more policy news, please also make sure to check out our Panels of Experts sections here below.

The EFG Secretariat extends its warmest wishes for a peaceful holiday season and a wonderful start to the New Year!

Call for Sessions – RST Montpellier 2025

The French Geological Society (SGF) invites you to propose sessions for its annual gathering RST (Réunion des Sciences de la Terre) which will be held in Montpellier from 27 to 31 October 2025. The deadline for submitting proposals is 31 December.

This biennial national congress unites stakeholders from industry, education, and research to share the latest geoscience developments, showcase innovations, and foster collaborations. RST provides a unique platform for professionals to exchange ideas, connect with future partners, and promote careers in Earth sciences.

Nikolaos Koukouzas, Coordinator of the EFG Panel of Experts on CO2 and Hydrogen Geological Storage, recently represented the Federation at an event organised by the Permanent Representation of Kazakhstan to the European Union in Brussels: “Kazakhstan’s geological industry potential: opportunities for cooperation”.

The event was held on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Academician Kanysh Satpayev and was attended by European and Kazakhstani experts of the geological industry, representatives of higher education and scientific institutions, EU and UN institutions, non-governmental organisations and the media.

Thanks to the Permanent Representation of Kazakhstan and the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the EU, Mr. Margulan Baimukhan, for inviting EFG to take part in this highly relevant networking activity. Thanks also to Nikolaos Koukouzas for representing EFG at the event!

The EFG Academy recently launched the first self-paced online courses:

• Where and Why H2 Accumulation Could Be Prospected by Dr. Isabelle Moretti
• Machine Learning for Geoscientists by Tom Meuzelaar
• Environmental Geochemistry and the Mine Project Life Cycle by Tom Meuzelaar

This offering has been developed based on previous live courses and the recordings are now available upon demand.

Are you about to start your career in geosciences? Or would you like to take your career to the next level?
We invite you to participate in the EFGeoMentoring scheme. Over a fixed period of 9 months, you will receive advice and targeted support from an experienced professional, according to your individual goals.
The EFGeoMentoring scheme is open to post-Bachelor students in any field of geosciences and geoscience professionals at all career stages.
Check the conditions for participation and sign up: https://bit.ly/3cB7Gmx

As part of the #EFGinclusion campaign, we are featuring the key contribution of women to our geoscience advocacy event organised at the European Parliament on 21 November.

Organised by the European Federation of Geologists (EFG) at the European Parliament, the event Geology for a Safe, Secure, and Sustainable Europe’ emphasised the vital role of geosciences in addressing Europe’s most pressing challenges, including climate change, sustainable resource management, and economic growth.

Women leaders brought invaluable perspectives, underscoring how role models inspire inclusion and drive systemic change in male-dominated fields like geoscience. Female geoscience experts not only delivered impactful messages but also set an example for younger professionals, demonstrating the importance of representation in decision-making roles.