Volunteering for Science: Strengthening Our Community through Engagement

In the scientific world, progress is rarely achieved in isolation. Behind every major initiative, project, or community lies a network of volunteers who dedicate their time, energy, and passion to strengthen collective knowledge and collaboration. HEPEX, since its foundation 20 years ago, has thrived on such volunteering efforts. It is thanks to the dedication of its members that our community has advanced hydrological ensemble prediction from theory to operational practice across the globe. This same spirit of volunteerism also fuels the European Geosciences Union (EGU), one of the world’s largest geoscientific organisations. 

And now it is time to cast your vote for EGU 2025 Elections, for which two HEPEX members are running as candidates! 

Every year, EGU brings together tens of thousands of scientists, students, and practitioners to share knowledge, co-develop ideas, and build partnerships that transcend disciplines and borders. Much of this success relies on individuals who step forward to take on leadership and service roles within the Union. These roles are voluntary but essential for shaping the future of our scientific community

The ongoing EGU elections provide a moment to reflect on this shared commitment. Voting is not merely a procedural act, but an expression of engagement and appreciation for those who dedicate their time to sustain and grow our scientific networks. Whether through convening sessions, mentoring early-career researchers, or serving on councils and divisions, these contributions ensure that our institutions remain inclusive, innovative and impactful.

You can cast your vote (if you are an EGU member) and make a difference following the link HERE. 

HEPEX members in the EGU 2025 elections

There are amazing candidates that one should vote for. For HEPEX, it is a special moment as we have two HEPEX (ex)Co-Chairs fully engaged in the election process this year: 

Maria-Helena Ramos (INRAE, France), former HEPEX co-chair, is running for EGU President.
  She envisions an EGU that strengthens the bridge between geoscience and society, promotes open science and sustainability, and offers inclusive opportunities for members at all career stages.

Ilias Pechlivanidis (SMHI, Sweden), current HEPEX co-chair, is running for President of the Hydrological Sciences Division.
  He aims to foster an inclusive and globally connected hydrological community, enhance collaboration across disciplines, and empower early-career scientists to contribute to sustainable water management and resilience.

If you are an EGU member, you can read the full vision of their candidacies HERE.

Both candidacies reflect the HEPEX ethos: Collaboration, Openness, and Service to the community. Maria-Helena’s and Ilias’s long-standing commitment to HEPEX shows how active participation in one community can inspire and support collaboration across the wider geoscience community.

As HEPEXers, we celebrate and support such volunteering efforts. The EGU elections are an opportunity for all of us to engage by reading the candidates’ statements, reflecting on their visions, and most importantly, by casting our votes. Active participation ensures that our voices shape the direction of our Union and helps sustain the strong, interconnected community that has defined both HEPEX and EGU.

Let’s continue to value, recognize, and contribute to these volunteering efforts that make our science thrive. Cast your vote before 25 November and good luck to all candidates standing for election across all roles!