[U-25] Special session for a Borderless World of Geoscience after COVID-19 (Challenges for the future)

[U25-03] A Borderless World of Geoscience in Asia after COVID-19… for Asia and the World

★Invited Papers

*David Laurence Higgitt¹ (1.Lancaster University College at Beijing Jiaotong University, Weihai, China)

Keywords:AOGS, Natural Hazards, Inclusivity, Diversity

Rapid economic growth, massive R&D spending, technological innovation, high participation in STEM postgraduate education and an emerging number of top-ranked universities are characteristic of many Asian countries. The lifetime of AOGS (founded in 2003) has witnessed the rapid expansion of geoscience research in many Asian countries, growing confidence and internationalisation as well as a burgeoning amount of science output. Will the impact of COVID-19 be a road bump in the continuing rise of Asian geosciences or fundamentally adjust the relationships between science and society? The principal mission of Asia Oceania Geosciences Society is to promote the application of geosciences for the benefit of humanity. Asia is a continent of diversity with uneven access to resources between and within countries. In a region where natural hazards are prevalent, sharing an understanding of risk management through scientific, social and technological means is vital. Constraints on fieldwork and travel because of COVD-19 hinder international cooperation but also provide an opportunity for reimagining digital technologies, remote monitoring and adjusted responsibilities in research teams. Coupled with flashpoints of racial inequality how can an inclusive diverse and sustainable geoscience emerge from COVID-19. And (using the tagline for AOGS) how can geoscience in Asia serve Asia and the World?