Old Members’ Graduate Conference and Academic Trust Travel Fund report – Catherine Baldwin (2023, DPhil Earth Sciences)

In May this year, I attended the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly in Vienna, Austria. This conference is Europe’s largest geosciences event, attracting over 20,000 scientists from diverse research fields each year. The conference boasts an impressive variety of novel research, with sessions covering every imaginable corner of geosciences as well as some very engaging science outreach and networking events.

Exposure to such a diverse scientific community allowed me to learn about emerging research trends, novel methodologies, and different approaches to addressing complex environmental challenges. The conference facilitated networking with both established academics and fellow early career researchers, including a biogeosciences-specific ECR networking event that I particularly enjoyed.

There were many aspects of the conference programme that were highly relevant to my DPhil research. I study peatland carbon cycling and there were sessions that directly linked to this theme throughout the week. In one of these sessions, I presented a poster on the hydroclimatic drivers of greenhouse gas emissions from peatland streams, which will form the second chapter of my thesis. Since I was presenting preliminary data, in explaining my work to others I was able to see my dataset from new perspectives, which will benefit my final analyses and discussion going forward. This was also a useful opportunity to receive feedback on my work, and to swap ideas and anecdotes about working in peatland environments.

The breadth of the conference sessions also enabled me to explore some topics outside my direct field of research which was inspiring. This was also valuable in helping me evaluate how my own work fits within the broader scientific landscape, and the wider relevance and potential impact of my work.

Vienna itself is a beautiful city, which I was able to explore a little more on the last day before my flight home. I visited the stunning Belvedere Gallery and took some time to wander around the Hofburg Palace area. The highlight of this morning, however, was St. Stefan’s Cathedral, with its breathtaking architecture and impossibly high ceilings. Overall, I left Vienna feeling inspired, and motivated to incorporate new perspectives and ideas into my ongoing research. As a DPhil student I believe that experiences like this are so beneficial for our career and personal development, and I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend. My sincere thanks to the Old Members’ Trust for facilitating this trip with their generous support.

Published: 7 August 2026

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