This last month has seen me survive my first half-semester of full-time teaching. The job feels like it fits me like a glove though and I am definitely in my happy place in the classroom. Teaching weeks can feel relentless, delivering your material and making sure you have stuff prepared for future sessions, as well as keeping on top of the many admin tasks. My ADHD brain works best when it is this just-in-time mode of working but the sustained focus is exhausting. The Easter break therefore has been very welcome!

As well as time off, I have had a bit of space to prepare some teaching in advance, aware that I am away for two weeks in the next month and need to get ahead. I’ve also had a little bit of time to think about research, beginning conversations with collaborators about an exciting new project for the summer – more on that in a future post, I’m sure.

The European Geoscience Union General Assembly 2026

The EGU general assembly is a big date in my annual diary. If I’m honest, it’s the highlight of my year and something I really look forward to. I’ve been very fortunate to have been awarded internal funds from York St John University to attend this year, and I am set to have a busy week, as I explain below.

I will be attending virtually on Monday 4^th May, travelling Tuesday 5^th, and attending in person Wednesday 6^th to Friday 8^th, travelling back on Saturday 9^th May. If you’d like a catch-up/chat, please get in touch at c.skinner@yorksj.ac.uk and we can put something in the diary.

Most importantly, I am delivering two presentations, both on Friday 8^th May:

EGU26-13186 | Orals | EOS3.2 | Fostering connection and advocacy: Creating a neurodivergent network at EGU  | Christopher Skinner, Simon Clark, Ana Bastos, Lucile Turc, Arnaud Beth, and Ana Cristina Vasquez | Fri, 08 May, 14:15–14:25 (CEST)   Room -2.92

At EGU25, a bunch of us discussed starting a network to support neurodivergent geoscientists. We also ran a survey to capture the experiences of neurodivergent attendees at the conference. It led to the start of an online community and the submission of a report to the EDI committee. In this presentation, I will talk about this experience.

EGU26-5395 | Posters on site | HS2.2.7 | Adventures in Model Land: Using tabletop roleplay games to explore the abstract worlds of numerical models  | Christopher Skinner, Erica Thompson, Jessica Enright, Rolf Hut, Sam Illingworth, and Elizabeth Lewis | Fri, 08 May, 16:15–18:00 (CEST)   Hall A | A.1

If you have been reading my newsletter for a while, you will be familiar with Adventures in Model Land already (if not, read more here). Last year I shared a poster in the Games for Geoscience session and this year I’m presenting to modellers in one of my favourite sessions, led by Diana Spieler.

On Adventures in Model Land, I will be seeking interest in a project pairing modellers up with artists to conceive and create new model lands. If you’d be interested, please get in touch using c.skinner@yorksj.ac.uk

In addition, I’m involved in two other presentations that will sadly happen on days I’m not there or am travelling:

EGU26-13856 | ECS | Posters on site | GM3.3 | The role of sediment transport in amplifying flooding | Josh Wolstenholme, Christopher Skinner, Christopher Hackney, Matthew Perks, and Daniel Parsons | Mon, 04 May, 10:45–12:30 (CEST)   Hall X3 | X3.13

This is some really exciting modelling work led by Josh that reveals how sediment transport during a single flood event can exacerbate flood risk. These are processes not represented in traditional hydrological and hydraulic models used for flood risk planning and forecasting, potentially meaning we are underestimating real flood risk.

EGU26-18054 | Orals | EOS1.1 | Communication within the UK flood hydrology community: bridging the gaps between science and practice  | Linda Speight, Emma Ford, Anita Asadullah, Louise Slater, Sally Brown, Helen Harfoot, Owain Sheppard, Chris Skinner, Clare Waller, and Thomas Willis | Tue, 05 May, 10:00–10:10 (CEST)   Room 0.15

This work, led by Linda, shares research conducted by the Science and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) of the UK Flood Hydrology Roadmap (UKFHR). The work sought expert views from the hydrological community on why the latest hydrological science and approaches were not leading to innovation in operational practice, and how we can improve this situation.

Geoscience Games Day 2026 @ EGU!

In addition to my presenting duties, I will also be leading activities for the annual Geoscience Games Day at EGU on Wednesday 6^th May. This will be the 9^th one in a row! You can get the full lowdown over on the Games for Geoscience webpages but below is a summary of the activities:

EOS1.3 | PICO | Games for Geoscience | Convener: Christopher Skinner | Co-conveners: Rolf Hut, Elizabeth Lewis, Lisa Gallagher, Maria Elena Orduna Alegria^ECS | PICO | Wed, 06 May, 16:15–18:00 (CEST) | PICO spot 4 

Activities kick off at 16:15 with our usual science sharing session, this year in interactive PICO format! This year we have 15 presentations covering both analog and digital games, each with a 2-minute lightning talk followed by an interactive display.

NET15 | Geoscience Games Night | Conveners: Christopher Skinner, Lisa Gallagher, Maria Elena Orduna Alegria^ECS, Rolf Hut, Elizabeth Lewis | Wed, 06 May, 18:00–19:30 (CEST) | Foyer D 

We then immediately run off to the world-famous Geoscience Games Night. This event gets busier and busier each year, so make sure to come along and play the latest in geoscience gaming. Don’t forget to bring a game or two with you too!

As it will be the 10^th anniversary of Games for Geoscience next year, I’m exploring the possibility of marking it with an edited volume or a special issue. I will be seeking interest at the conference and feel free to express interest to me on c.skinner@yorksj.ac.uk

Teaching

Last year during my River Management module I used Vienna and the development of the ‘three Danubes’ as a case study. Whilst at EGU, I’m planning on using an early morning walk to capture footage with my 360 camera to make a simple virtual field trip for my students next semester. Some of that footage might even make it to a 360 flood tour on my GeoSkinner 360 YouTube channel!

See you in Vienna in May!

Chris

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