CLICCS at EGU 2025Science, dialogue and a strong research community

19 May 2025, by Thomas Merten

Photo: UHH/CLICCS

This year’s European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly once again brought together geoscientists from around the world in Vienna – and CLICCS, the Cluster of Excellence for Climate, Climatic Change, and Society, was right at the heart of it. During the week, our team was present at booth 18, jointly with our long-standing partner, the German Climate Computing Center (DKRZ). The joint presence showcased not only cutting-edge climate research, but also how collaborative and interdisciplinary climate science can look in action.

A major highlight at the booth was the DKRZ’s interactive globe, which drew attention with its impressive data projections. Right beside it, we introduced visitors to the latest edition of the Hamburg Climate Futures Outlook (HCFO) – our flagship publication that combines natural and social sciences to assess plausible climate futures and identify key conditions for successful climate adaptation. The printed copies of the HCFO were in high demand and went quickly, additional digital versions were easily accessible via QR code. In particular, our nine case studies from around the world drew a lot of interest from international researchers coming by at our stand.

Throughout the week, our Expert Hours proved to be an engaging format – “meet the scientist”! Eight CLICCS researchers hosted informal one-hour sessions at the booth, where they shared insights into their work – ranging from climate modeling to organic matter, organic farming, snowmelt dynamics, and computational methods for natural hazards. These sessions offered an excellent opportunity for networking, scientific exchange, and learning about the diverse expertise within CLICCS. Especially younger researchers from all over the world gained insights into possible paths for their academic career.

A particular highlight was our “Uni Hamburg & Friends” get-together on Tuesday afternoon. The booth transformed into a lively meeting space as colleagues, associates and collaborators from CLICCS, the Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN), and our Graduate School of Integrated Climate and Earth System Sciences (SICSS) came together. Over drinks and informal chats, we reconnected with old friends and explored new project ideas – a truly energizing moment in the midst of a busy conference week.

The atmosphere at EGU 2025 was inspiring. The wide range of sessions – from frontier geoscience to critical discussions on science communication and academic freedom – reflected both the depth and urgency of today’s research landscape. In particular, the closing Great Debate on the future of scientific freedom in light of recent budget cuts and layoffs in the US research system resonated deeply and reinforced the importance of a united research community.

For our young scientists, the EGU offered an exciting platform to present their work to an international audience – a confidence-boosting and motivating experience including many contributions by our researchers. With hundreds of visitors at our booth, fruitful conversations, and connections formed across disciplines and continents, the week was a resounding success.

We returned to Hamburg full of ideas, new contacts, and a deepened sense of belonging to a global, collaborative and resilient research community. Thanks to all people who visited us at our stand – see you soon!