Young Earth Scientist (YES) Network Activities during the 35th International Geological Congress

The YES Network is an international association of early-career geoscientists who are primarily under the age of 35 years from universities, earth science organizations and companies from across the globe. The YES Network was formed as a result of the International Year of Planet Earth in 2007. In 2009, in collaboration with the IYPE and under the patronage of UNESCO, the YES Network organized its first international Congress at the China University of Geosciences in Beijing, China. The Congress focused on climate, environmental and geoscience challenges facing today’s society, as well as career and academic pathway challenges faced by early-career geoscientists. The YES Network aims to establish an interdisciplinary global network of individuals committed to solving these challenges, and furthering the IYPE motto of “Earth Sciences for Society”. Currently YES Network has over 4000 members from over 120 countries.

Approximately 148 YES members from over 30 countries attended the 35^th IGC. The YES Network coordinated a number of activities, which include three scientific sessions, YES Annual General Meeting (AGM) as well as a One day field trip. The AGM provided a good platform for YES members to engage with one another and National Representatives gave a short presentation about their activities in their respective countries. National chapters presented include South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Malaysia, Iran, and China just to mention the few. The AGM meeting was followed by the YES social dinner event. The YES Network also organized a one day field tour on the rocks and mountains of Cape Town with a focus on local geology. The field trip was organized and led by Ms Ndivhuwo Cecilia Mukosi, with the kind assistance of Mr. Nick Baglow and JP Hunt. The field tour stops include Signal Hill, Sea Point Contact, Hout Bay Beach, Chapmanspeak drive, Cape Point and the Boulders Beach.

During the closing ceremony of the 35^th IGC, the YES Network presented two awards namely, Best Poster from a Young Earth Scientist at 35^th IGC, which was awarded to Mr. Manuel Nopeia (YES Mozambique) and Best Abstract Competition in Applied Geochemistry supported by YES Network and IUGS/IAGC Task Group on Global Geochemical Baselines, which was awarded to Mr. Putra Herianto (YES Indonesia)

We would like thank the 35^th IGC LOC, Council for Geoscience, Geological Society of Africa, European Geological Surveys, Earth Science Matters Foundation, International Union of Geological Sciences, and Kroceus outdoor clothing company for their kind support.

Some of the YES members after the AGM meeting during the 35^th IGC

Some of the YES members at the YES stand From Left- Felix Cumbano & Manuel Nopeia(YES Mozambique), Josephine Uushona &Giesberta Shaanika (YES Namibia) Ephraim Kamethe (Democratic Repubic of Congo)

Some of the YES members at the YES stand: From Left Arpita Pankaj (YES India), Ndivhuwo Cecilia Mukosi and Valerie Nxumalo (CGS/YES South Africa)

Some of the YES members at the YES stand during the 35^th IGC 

YES participants at the YES stand: From Left- Khodani Matshusa, Ndivhuwo Cecilia Mukosi, Sihle Sogayise (CGS/YES South Africa) and Eduardo de Mulder (Earth Science Matters Foundation)

Field trip participants at Signal Hill, Cape Town

Some of the Field trip participants at Cape Point. From Left Taryyn Lee (YES USA), Elyvin Nkhonjera (YES Malawi), Ndivhuwo Cecilia Mukosi (CGS/YES South Africa)