The Joint EARLINET General Assembly and EARLICOST Working Group and Management Committee Live Meeting took place from 8 to 11 September 2026 at the Penteli premises of the National Observatory of Athens, Greece. Bringing together 138 participants from 26 countries, both in person and online, the meeting marked a milestone for both communities: four days of scientific exchange, collaboration, and community building at the heart of European atmospheric lidar research.

A community comes together

The opening day provided an opportunity to present the Action’s progress and activities across its four Working Groups, while strengthening connections between the EARLICOST and EARLINET communities. The day also included the EARLINET General Assembly, bringing together members of the network to discuss its ongoing activities and priorities. The programme concluded with a visit to the NOA Penteli atmospheric instrumentation site, where participants had a closer look at the observational infrastructure supporting atmospheric research in Greece.

Over the following days, the programme moved from science and research collaboration to industry engagement, dissemination, exploitation, and priorities for the next year of EARLICOST. Day 2 opened with four plenary talks, followed by a dedicated session featuring EARLICOST grantees and their three-minute flash talks, a morning focused on new research, shared expertise, and the experiences made possible through EARLICOST support.

Day 3 brought the research and industry communities together, creating space to explore shared needs, potential synergies, and opportunities for future collaboration. Communication and outreach were also part of the conversation: how can EARLICOST science be made more visible, accessible, and useful beyond the immediate research community? 

The day concluded with dedicated Working Group sessions, turning discussions into ideas and priorities for the next stages of the Action.

Looking ahead to Year 2

The final day brought the four Working Groups back together to reflect on progress during the Action’s first year and define their vision and priorities for Year 2. The Management Committee meeting broadened the discussion, covering lessons learned, the Action’s current state, grant activities, opportunities, and the network’s future coordination.

As EARLICOST Chair Dr. Eleni Marinou reflected during the meeting:

“As the EARLICOST community comes together in Athens for the EARLINET GA & EARLICOST WG & MC Live Meeting, these four days are dedicated to science, collaboration, and shaping the next steps of the Action.”

A growing and inclusive community

The meeting was also a remarkable example of the inclusivity that EARLICOST advocates for: Working Group members were able to bring their families along and remain fully engaged throughout the event, demonstrating that advancing a research career and caring for family need not be a choice.

The highlights from the meeting extended well beyond the conference room. A dedicated EARLICOST Meeting Highlights social media series captured some of the stories from the week, including the participation of Dust-DN (Doctoral Network on Atmospheric Dust) researchers, and the contributions of Working Group 1 leader Dr. Francisco Navas-Guzmán and researcher Arlett Díaz-Zurita, who also found time to visit the Acropolis between sessions.

The discussions throughout these four days reinforced what lies at the heart of EARLICOST: a growing community connecting expertise and people across Europe and beyond to advance atmospheric research. The first year has built the foundations. Now the community looks ahead to what comes next.