Shaping the scientific future of environmental sciences in times of multiple crises: a summary of the 12th SETAC Young Environmental Scientists Meeting in Landau in der Pfalz 2023 -

Abstract

SETAC has a long-standing history of supporting students and early career scientists in the fields of ecotoxicology and environmental chemistry. The Student Advisory Council (SAC) advocates for the diverse interests of young SETAC members offering guidance to peers and serving as a resounding voice for aspiring scientists in dialogues with the SETAC Europe Council.Founded and shaped by a rewarding liaison between SETAC Europe and its German Language Branch, the SAC now has a strong international representation, with its members being distributed all over Europe. With this publication, we want to build upon the relationship between the SETAC Europe students and the SETAC German Language Branch.The Young Environmental Scientists (YES) Meeting, which was first held as a regular conference 14 years ago, is a keystone event organized by the students of SETAC and the SAC. This year, in 2023, the 12th YES meeting took place in Landau in der Pfalz, Germany.Not only has it been the first European in-person YES Meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic, but with this year’s iteration, the YES meeting returned to its roots in Landau, where 2009 the very first YES meeting was hosted. From August 28th to September 1st, 107 participants from 37 countries and five continents had the opportunity to showcase their research in seven thematic sessions, engage in four workshops, listen to six expert/career talks, and two keynotes from established scientists. In reference to the meeting-motto science through crises, this comment pays special emphasis on topical program points in touching the ongoing multiple crises. We are convinced that sharing our experience from hosting this conference will underline the importance of continuing this unique meeting format and hopefully inspire future scientific events organized by students for students.