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News and Activities

GGOS IberAtlantic (GGOS IA) functions as a regional node of GGOS, focusing on geodetic activities across the Iberian Peninsula and the Atlantic region. GGOS IA fosters collaboration among geodetic institutions while promoting scientific research and technological development tailored to the region’s unique geophysical characteristics.

Meet Yuting Cheng – Early Career Scientist

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Meet Yuting, postdoctoral researcher at the Royal Observatory of Belgium, where she works on the ambitious GENESIS project. Her research focuses on a unique ESA satellite co-locating all four space geodetic techniques – a groundbreaking step toward providing a unified point in space where these observation systems align.

Yuting’s work is essential for improving the precision and stability of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, which is the foundation for tracking Earth’s shape, rotation, and movement. What excites her most is the innovative nature of the project: the satellite will operate under unusual conditions for geodetic techniques, offering a rare opportunity to investigate how these four observation systems behave together in space.

 

Do you want to know more about Yuting’s career? Watch the video below:

Learn more about Yuting’s research:

Learn more about ECS activities:

These videos were produced by the IUGG ECSNet.

IAG Geodesy Reception 2026

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On 5 May 2026, the annual Geodesy Reception was once again hosted at the Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying (BEV) in Vienna, Austria, during the General Assembly 2026 of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The event brought together 129 scientists and experts (28% woman) from 16 countries (mainly from Germany, Austria and Switzerland) across the global geodetic community and provided a dedicated platform for networking and exchange beyond the busy conference schedule.

Held at BEV, the reception has become a key social and professional highlight of the EGU week. All available places were fully booked within a short time, underlining the strong demand and continued interest in this event. Participants from Europe and beyond gathered in an informal setting to discuss current developments, foster collaborations, and strengthen existing partnerships.

The event was organized by the GGOS Coordinating Office, hosted at BEV. As the main sponsor, the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) reaffirmed its strong commitment to supporting international collaboration and community-building within geodesy. The reception was further supported by several leading institutions in the field, including the GFZ, the EGU Geodesy Division, the DGFI-TUM, ETH Zurich (Space Geodesy), and IGN France.

The evening featured short welcome addresses by leading representatives of the international geodetic community, including:

  • Claus Kahn, President of BEV (event host)
  • Richard Gross, President of IAG
  • Roelof Rietbroek, President of the EGU Geodesy Division
  • Rebekka Steffen, President of IAG Commission 3
  • Martin Sehnal, Director of GGOS Coordinating Office

In their remarks, they highlighted the importance of global cooperation, open scientific exchange, and the essential role of geodesy in addressing societal challenges.

Early Career Scientists (ECS) were strongly represented at the reception, comprising 45% of attendees. The event offered valuable opportunities to connect with established experts, exchange ideas, and engage with international research networks in an open and welcoming environment.

In addition to networking and discussions, the reception briefly featured the presentation of the winners of the Geodesy Cartoon Competition, an initiative organized by the GGOS Coordinating Office aimed at communicating geodesy to a broader audience in a creative and accessible way. Selected cartoons were exhibited during the event, adding a visual dimension to the evening.

With the continued success of the Geodesy Reception, IAG reinforces its role as a global platform for coordination, collaboration, and communication in geodesy. Events like this highlight not only the scientific excellence of the community but also its openness, diversity, and shared commitment to advancing our understanding of the Earth system.

Author: Martin Sehnal (Director of GGOS Coordinating Office)

Geodesy Cartoon Competition – Winning Cartoons Revealed

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The winners of the Geodesy Cartoon Competition were officially announced on 5 May 2026 during the IAG Geodesy Reception at the EGU General Assembly 2026 in Vienna, Austria. As a special highlight of the event, the top-ranked cartoons were also exhibited on site, showcasing the creativity and diversity of the global geodesy community.

The competition, organized by the GGOS Coordinating Office, proved to be a great success. A total of 274 cartoons were submitted by 119 cartoonists from 46 countries, significantly exceeding expectations. The initiative aimed to make geodesy more accessible and engaging by translating complex scientific concepts into clear and visually appealing illustrations.

Cartoons were submitted across three categories:

  • explaining geodesy for the general public,
  • illustrating observation techniques, and
  • presenting geodetic products.

An international jury evaluated the entries based on clarity, creativity, accessibility, and scientific relevance.

The results highlight the strong interest in innovative science communication within the geodetic community. The exhibited cartoons demonstrated how effectively visual storytelling can bridge the gap between science and society.

The Geodesy Cartoon initiative, launched in 2024 by the GGOS Coordinating Office, continues to grow as a collaborative outreach effort. All cartoons are openly available under a Creative Commons license, encouraging reuse, adaptation, and further dissemination.

More information:

Author: Martin Sehnal