講演情報
[U01-04]Future Geosciences Funding Policies and Research Directions – the EGU Perspective★Invited Papers
*Pieter van der Beek1 (1.University of Potsdam, Germany. EGU President)
The global geoscience community is currently navigating a period of significant structural, political, and societal transition that affects research capacity, collaboration, and knowledge dissemination. From a European viewpoint, a primary challenge is the uncertainty and uneven distribution of research funding, which depends on a combination of European Union framework programs and national-level investments, resulting in variable support across countries. Concurrently, shifting geopolitical priorities, particularly the perceived need for increased defence spending and fluctuating political commitment to climate and environmental initiatives, are reshaping the policy landscape in which geoscientific research operates, reinforcing the need for sustained, evidence-based engagement with decision-makers. International scientific collaboration, central to advancement in the geosciences, faces new challenges due to funding pressures, travel and visa barriers, and broader global tendencies toward political fragmentation. These developments also raise concerns about the continuity of shared research infrastructure and open-access environmental datasets, underscoring the importance of safeguarding long-term observations through coordinated international stewardship. At the same time, there is a need to strengthen partnerships with regions in the Global South, which requires addressing historical inequities by fostering more inclusive, reciprocal collaborations and expanding access to participation, publication, and capacity-building opportunities. Sustaining the field of geosciences in the future requires enhancing public engagement, improving diversity and inclusivity within the geoscience workforce, and strengthening the science-policy interface, including the development of intermediaries who can effectively connect research outcomes with policy action. Continued openness, transparency, irreproachable ethics and global cooperation are essential to ensuring that geoscientific knowledge and expertise can effectively inform societal responses to climate change, resource management, and natural hazards.