EGSIEM Student Challenge

The Horizon 2020 funded European Gravity Service for Improved Emergency Management project (EGSIEM - more information available at www.egsiem.eu) aims to enhance existing gravity field products by providing them in an increased spatial-temporal resolution for improved forecasting and mapping of hydrological extreme events, thereby accelerating earth and environmental science research applications.

A student challenge has been organized within the EGSIEM project, in order to increase awareness among B.Sc. and M.Sc. students about the most recent and important research topics in geodesy, hydrology and other environmental disciplines. The challenge will seek to widen knowledge and participation by providing an overview of what, why and how research in this field is undertaken. The challenge is composed of two rounds; the first round is based on 20 multiple-choice questions. Students from relevant fields should be able to answer all the questions with the help of online/offline resources. Any participants who can answer at least 15 of the 20 questions will be invited to participate in the second round. The second round is composed of another 20 questions which will require a written answer. While participating in both rounds students will learn more about the fundamentals of earth observation satellite missions, measurement principles, accuracy of measurements, the importance of Earth's gravity field data, and finally how we utilize GRACE based mass-transport as an indicator for drought/flood monitoring and management.

The best two participants from the overall challenge will be awarded an internship at one of the eight research institutes of the EGSIEM consortium. Internships could be from 6 to 8 weeks. The students will be awarded their travel expenses, accommodation, health, accident and personal liability insurance. The third and fourth placed participants will be given scholarships for the EGSIEM summer school. The scholarship covers travel expenses, accommodation, health, accident and personal liability insurance. In addition, all students successfully passing the 1st round will be awarded with a certificate of participation in the EGSIEM challenge and an EGSIEM travel mug.

This unique challenge is available at: http://challenge.egsiem.eu/. Students should register for the 1st round of the challenge by 10^th November. The second round will commence on 15^th November and the deadline to answer these questions will be 20^th December (all times until midnight, central European time). After successful registration a link to the challenge questions will be sent to the participants registered email address within 24 hours.