What’s on at EPSC2024?

The Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC) 2024 will take place at the the Henry Ford Building, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, & online from 8-13 September. Europlanet, the EPSC Executive Committee, EPEC and the Regional Hubs are all looking forward to meeting people there.

Beyond the science programme, here is a heads-up of some of the community events that will be taking place during the week:

Diversity Events | E-SPIN | Early Career Events | Europlanet Events | Planets in your Hand

Diversity Events

Bystander Intervention Workshop at EPSC 2024

Have you ever overheard a comment that you knew was not right but did not know what to say? Are you ever the one who feels the need to “laugh” at a “joke” that is more harmful than funny? Do you ever find yourself heading home after work thinking, “I should have said…”? Would you like to have some specific skills designed to help interrupt break-room gossip?

This Bystander Intervention workshop is an in-person, interactive workshop that is designed to engage participants in conversation about difficult topics including, but not limited to, racial-, sexual-, religion-, age-, gender-, and sexuality-based harassment, bullying, and exclusion.

• When: Sunday, 8 September 2024, 13:00–17:00
• Where: Room Mercury – Konferenzraum III
• Who: Organised by the Europlanet Diversity Committee, the workshop trainer is @Moses Milazzo.
• How to attend: This workshop has a capacity of 27 participants, if you wish to attend, please sign up here. 
• More information. 

Diversity Keynote talk – Don’t shoot for the stars: shoot higher! by Iris van Zelst

Join us after the Icebreaker for this year’s EPSC Diversity Keynote talk. Iris van Zelst (DLR, Patience Cowie Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh starting in 2025) will show some preliminary results of analysis into the participants of the Ada Lovelace workshop — a biannual workshop for geodynamical modellers — to demonstrate the evolving diversity of the geodynamics community specifically. She will also discuss different initiatives to pursue both as an individual and as a community to make sure we continue to diversify our community and provide a welcoming space for everyone.

https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2024/session/51541

Europlanet SPace Innovation Night (E-SPIN) 2024

“SmallSat vs Large-scale Missions: Exploring Opportunities across the Europlanet Community”

To foster interactions, connections and potential collaborations among diverse
Europlanet communities — including academics, industry professionals, policymakers,
and communicators at all career levels — E-SPIN is a new thematic event at the 2024 Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC) in Berlin. The event will focus on ‘innovation’ in planetary sciences, serving as a common thread across all these communities.

• When: Tuesday, 10th September 2024, from 19:00 to 21:30 CEST (19:00 –
  20:30 CEST for online participants)
• Where: Room Sun (Auditorium), Henry-Ford Building, Freie Universität,
  Berlin, and online
• Who: Open to all EPSC registrants (in-person and online), free of charge
• What: Moderated Panel Discussion on this year’s theme “SmallSat vs Large-
  scale missions: Exploring opportunities across the Europlanet community”, with in-
  person and online audience participation, followed by a networking reception (in-
  person only).
  To secure your place, please register your interest.

More information

The objectives of this year’s thematic debate are as follows:

• Analyse the potential challenges and benefits of integrating NewSpace
  approaches into traditional planetary science frameworks;
• Facilitate the exchange of ideas on how different stakeholders (including early
  career professionals) can contribute to and benefit from the evolving
  landscape of space exploration and technology;
• Discuss the role of Space Agencies and SMEs in the European NewSpace
  strategy;
• Explore how academia and industry can collaborate innovatively on future
  missions;
• Examine how novel forms of communication can effectively raise public
  awareness of planetary science.

The invited panelists (in alphabetic order) will offer unique perspectives and insights
to foster an engaging discussion and encourage the development of cross-
community interactions:

1. Dr Noel C. Baker, Project Manager of ALTIUS SmallSat, Brussels (Belgium),
   Member of EGU’s Science for Policy working group, representing the
   academic/policy/communication communities;
2. Tobias Bohnhardt, Head of the DLR School Lab, Berlin (Germany),
   representing the communication/outreach communities;
3. Prof. Nigel J. Mason, University of Kent (UK), Co-I of MAUVE cubesat,
   representing the academic community;
4. Irene Selvanathan, founder and CEO of Neurospace, Berlin (Germany),
   involved in the TACHELES satellite on Artemis 2, representing the industry
   community;
5. Dr Yannis Zouganelis, ESA Solar System Science Coordinator, deputy PI of
   the Solar Orbiter mission, representing the space agency/policy communities.
   
   For further information, contact Luca Montabone.

EPEC@EPSC Events 2024

Location: All Early Career Events take place in room Saturn* in the Henry Ford Building, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany

Find all links to connect with us before, during, and after the conference here: https://qrco.de/bdJX7p

Europlanet Early Career General Assembly

Time: Monday, 13:30 – 14:20

The EPEC network is the official entity representing early careers within the Europlanet Society. Early Careers from all over the world are encouraged to participate in the EPEC assembly organized during EPSC to unite, get to know the network and your peers. At this assembly, there will be an introduction to how EPEC is organized, an update on the past year’s activities, an overview of all early career related events at the conference and the latest news. Come meet the team and ask your questions! By joining our community, you will get opportunities to be involved in a variety of activities in a friendly, welcoming, and inclusive environment.

Science Flash

Time: Tuesday, 18:15-19:00

Science Flash returns to this year’s EPSC and we are excited to see what the contestants come up with this time! During the Science Flash, early-career scientists have three-minutes to convey their work in an unconventional, engaging way. Top tip: Less is more! Each presenter may use up to one prop and up to three figures – but no text allowed! For inspiration: The last winner used an image of a fizzy drink whereas the runner-up made great use of an onion.

All are welcome to come and enjoy the presentations. But why not give it a shot? This year’s main prize is a free registration to next year’s EPSC! But fear not, there are also three “one-of-a-kind” Science Flash 2024 mugs for the top three presentations. If you want to register as a contestant, send an email with your name, institution and a three-image only (no text) pdf to noah.jaeggi@virginia.edu (Deadline: Midday on Tuesday September 9).

Panel Discussion on Career Development

Time: Thursday 13:00-14:20

How can we shape our career in planetary sciences and face the current challenges in academia and beyond? How can different paths lead to landing a successful and fulfilling role? The Europlanet Early Careers have gathered four accomplished members of the Europlanet Community to talk about their experiences, each carving a distinct path through science that has led them to where they are today.

Join us for a lively discussion with our four panel members and learn from the different experiences of our community. With this discussion, we hope to inspire you on how to pursue the path that best suits you and leads us to our best scientific and personal development.

EPEC Social Event

Time: Thursday 19:30-23:00

Come and join us for the early career social event at Alter Krug, Dahlem. The social event is a great opportunity to meet up with your fellow early career researchers and students, and expand your network. The door of this cozy biergarten opens at 19:30 with drinks (alcoholic/non-alcoholic) and snacks (vegan/vegetarian options available) that can be purchased at the bar. No registration is required, just come and have a great time!

*The social event will take place at Alter Krug, Königin-Luise-Straße 52, 14195 Berlin. It is approximately 20 mins/1.5 km of walking distance from Henry-Ford building (our venue for EPSC).

Europlanet Events

General Assembly

Tue, 10 Sep, 12:15–13:15 (CEST) | Room Sun (Auditorium)

The Europlanet General Assembly is the annual forum for Europlanet Society members (and non members) to learn about the activities of the Europlanet Society which also runs EPSC and was integral to the Europlanet 2024 Research Infrastructure. To learn about our activities, plans for the future and how you can get involved in the Society’s activities please come along to the General Assembly.
A limited number of lunch bags will be provided to General Assembly attendees during the assembly.

Agenda:

1. Approval of this year’s agenda
2. Approval of 2024 balance sheet and budget for 2025
3. Approval of Europlanet’s Sustainability Plan for organisational membership
4. Approval of changes to the Europlanet AISBL statutes
5. Appointment of the new Vice-President to the Europlanet Society Executive Board
6. Discussion of future activities
7. Date of next General Assembly
8. AOB
    

Planets in Your Hand

The Planets in Your Hand exhibition will be displayed on the Level 1 – Intermezzo of the EPSC2024 conference venue.

The Planets In Your Hand exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to see, learn and touch the special features of each planetary surface in our Solar System. At the same time, it contributes to the dissemination of the scientific knowledge we currently possess about planetary exploration to schools and the public, with a special focus on visually impaired people. 

The Planets In Your Hand team is one of the most active science communication groups in the Department of Physics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The program and the team were founded in 2017 under the “Europlanet Funding Scheme 2017” organized by Europlanet, the European network of planetary science. Our proposal was evaluated, distinguished among many others and awarded, receiving funding for its implementation. 

Planets In Your Hand program aims to highlight the different conditions that prevail in our Solar System. This has been done by building specially designed exhibits, where the surface and characteristics of each planet are simulated. 

In the context of the proposal’s implementation, a website and social media channels (facebook, instagram) have been created