The 2018 GEWEX Open Science Conference was structured around the topic of challenges confronting our ability to understand and predict changes in climate extremes and the availability of freshwater under the complex factors of natural variability, forced climate change due to human activities, and human management practices. 360 scientists hailing from over 40 countries gathered in Canmore, Canada to discuss and present on issues ranging from mountain and high latitude hydrology to atmospheric and land modeling and observations. The 26 sessions reflected a diversity of topics, including climate extremes and extreme weather, with high resolution modeling remaining a popular theme.

We’d like to thank our sponsors for making the Conference possible, and for generously providing the grants allowing students, early career researchers, and scientists from developing nations to attend the event.

 

POSTER UPLOAD

If you would like to have your poster presentation featured on the Conference website, please upload it using the form at the bottom of the poster information page. The file must be smaller than 1 MB and should be a JPEG or PDF. Posters will be linked to their titles listed  on the poster program page.

PRESENTATIONS ONLINE

Oral presentations given during the plenary and parallel sessions will be made available on the  program page in the coming weeks. Check back at the program page for updates.

EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER AND STUDENT PRESENTATION COMPETITION

Congratulations to the five winners of the Early Career Researcher (ECR) and student presentation competition, who took home prizes for the top oral and poster presentations. Thanks to our session co-chairs and judges, who volunteered to evaluate over 120 ECR and student presenters.

Winners pictured above with GEWEX Scientific Steering Group Co-Chairs Sonia Seneviratne and Graeme Stephens: (top row) Andreas Prein, NCAR; Julian Giles, Centro de Investigaciones del Mar y la Atmosfera; (bottom row) Mia Gross, UNSW; Liyun Yang, Nanjing University. Winner not pictured: Emily Slinskey, Portland State University.

EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER WORKSHOP

For three days prior to the Conference, the Young Earth System Scientists (YESS) community and the Young Hydrologic Society (YHS) held a Joint YESS-YHS Early Career Researcher (ECR) workshop, “Towards Regional Information to Improve our Understanding on Weather and Climate Extreme Events.” The 40-person workshop brought together ECRs from across the globe for an in-depth interdisciplinary discussion about enhancing the creation of usable regional information on different spatial and temporal scales. A highlight of the event was a trip to the very frosty Fortress Snow and Climate Observatory in nearby Kananaskis Provincial Park, where participants visited a weather station.

One of the major outcomes of the workshop will be a white paper outlining an ECR perspective on the challenges and ways forward for regional weather, water, and climate information. A short report and video from the workshop will be available soon – stay tuned and keep an eye on the YESS website for further developments: http://www.yess-community.org/.

 

Original article published in Gewex, May 18, 2018, (link)