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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.

New Website: Discover the Importance of VLBI for Geodesy and Society

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How can we measure the Earth with millimetre precision? How can radio telescopes observing extragalactic black holes help us monitor sea-level rise and tectonic plate motion? These questions and more are answered on a new website developed by the geodetic VLBI research group at the University of Tasmania, in collaboration with Geoscience Australia and AuScope.

This accessible and visually engaging explainer introduces the fundamentals of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and demonstrates why billions of people depend on it every day, often without realising it. Through videos, animations, graphics, and clear explanations, visitors can discover how radio telescopes distributed across the globe work together to measure distances of thousands of kilometres with a precision of just a few millimetres.

It shows how these measurements contribute to the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), which underpins satellite navigation and Earth observations. Visitors can explore how distant radio sources anchor our celestial reference frame, gain insight into the immense data volumes generated by VLBI experiments, and learn about the crucial role Australia plays in global VLBI operations.

Developed as part of a science communication initiative in partnership with Geoscience Australia and the University of Tasmania, the website was created and produced by David Schunck and Lucia McCallum from the University of Tasmania’s geodetic VLBI research group. All graphics and animations are freely available for educational and non-commercial use with appropriate attribution.

https://vlbi.auscope.org.au/

Author: David Schunck

XI Hotine-Marussi Symposium – Call for Papers

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It is both our privilege and pleasure to invite you to the XI Hotine-Marussi Symposium, which will be held in Genoa, Italy, September 7-11, 2026 under the scientific coordination of the Intercommission Committee on Theory (ICCT) of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG). More details are available at the Hotine-Marussi Symposium 2026 website https://hotinemarussi2026.unige.it

Objectives

The main goals of the Symposium are aligned with the objectives of ICCT:

  • advances in theoretical geodesy,
  • developments in geodetic modelling and data processing in the light of recent advances of geodetic observing systems
  • interdisciplinary cooperation between geodesy and other Earth and planetary sciences

In particular, all topics related to activities of the ICCT Study Groups are of interest and submission of related papers are strongly encouraged. Contributions concerning other topics related to possible interactions and mutual benefits between geodetic theory and methodology, and other initiatives and projects involving Earth and planetary sciences (for example the Group on Earth Observation) are welcome.

Venue

The Symposium will be held in the center of Genoa (Liguria Region, Italy), which is easily accessible by several bus routes and by the underground.

 

Abstracts, presentations and papers

Deadline for abstract submission is April 19, 2026; the guidelines and the reference e-mail address will be available in the Hotine-Marussi Symposium 2026 website. Each abstract will be reviewed by the Scientific Committee and decision on acceptance will be notified by e-mail to the corresponding author by May 17, 2026. Upon abstract submission, the corresponding author will have to indicate the preference for oral or poster presentation. However, the final decision on the form of presentation will be taken by the Scientific Committee during the abstract review. Guidelines for the full paper submission for peer-review and related formatting instruction will be available through the Hotine-Marussi Symposium 2026 website. Accepted papers will be published by Springer in an Open Access volume of the official IAG series.

Registration fees

Four categories of registration fees are distinguished:

Category Early bird fee

(before June 30, 2026)

 Standard fee/Onsite fee

(from July 1, 2026)
Delegate 520 Euro 620 Euro
Delegate (IAG Member) (*) 450 Euro 550 Euro
Young Delegate (age < 35 at Symposium)

Early Career Scientist (**)

Retired

 250 Euro 300 Euro
One-day 150 Euro 150 Euro

(*)     https://geodesy.science/member/#iag-membership

(**)  https://geodesy.science/iag/awards/iag-travel-award/

 

Registration fees include:

  • symposium proceedings (IAG Series, on-line form)
  • coffee breaks
  • social tour and social dinner (not included in One-day registration)

The registration fees will be paid according to the information which will be published in the Hotine-Marussi Symposium 2026 website.

As the XI Hotine-Marussi Symposium is an official IAG event, young scientists may apply for a travel award following strictly the rules available at: https://geodesy.science/iag/awards/iag-travel-award/

Social programme

The scientific programme will be complemented with a social one, including a tour and a social dinner. A reception for Early Career Scientist will be organized too. Details on this programme will be published in the Hotine-Marussi Symposium 2026 website.

Author: Mattia Crespi (President of ICCT)

Call for IAG proposals for the IUGG Grants Program 2024-2027

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We would like to draw your attention to opportunities within the IUGG Grants Program 2024-2027.     The 2nd call for proposals in 2026-2027 is now open.

For more information and the application form refer to: https://iugg.org/grants-program/grants-program-2024-2027/

If you wish to propose a project via IAG as leading Association, please contact the IAG Secretary General − IAG-Office(at)bkg.bund.de − and submit your proposal for internal IAG reviewing

                                                                          until 13th of March 2026.

As IAG can submit only one proposal as leading Association, there will be an IAG-internal selection process with a decision by end of March.

 

Proposed projects for the IUGG Grants Program must:

  • explore new scientific ideas, develop future international initiatives, and be of scientific and societal importance to the international geodetic/geophysical community.
  • follow open science practices, thus making its scientific research and dissemination (including publications, data, physical samples, and software) accessible to all levels of society, amateur or professional.
  • involve at least two IUGG bodies (i.e. IAG plus at least one more IUGG Association or Union Commission), whereby preference will be given to proposals that are multi- and trans-disciplinary, especially those involving more than two of the IUGG Associations and Union Commissions.
  • consider aspects of diversity in view of countries/regions, gender and career stage of researchers involved.
  • have deliverables that bring increased visibility to IUGG and the Union Associations, and have results that are expected to provide clear recommendations to politicians and other decision makers and to the general public in terms of the urgent actions to be undertaken.

Example: A typical proposal may be for a workshop or a meeting of experts from several disciplines to develop a specific scientific program or assessment, particularly addressing an enhancement of geodetic/geophysical research and education in underdeveloped and developing countries.

Thank you in advance for your interest and kind cooperation!