Theme: Hypothesis testing in experimental catchments

7th Symposium | 23rd April, 2016
 

Vienna Catchment Science Symposium 2016

© Peter Haas

A scientific hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon that can be tested, usually involving (a) falsifiability, i.e. counterexamples are logically possible, and (b) repeatability, i.e. they can be reproduced by other researchers.

The aim of this symposium is to discuss how the problem of water movement in research catchments can be framed in a way that allows the testing of hypotheses and, ideally, generalisation to other locations.

Programme

Time Sessions Location
08:30 Tea, coffee, pastries and greetings Foyer 3rd floor
08:45 Welcome and Introduction
Günter Blöschl, Vienna University of Technology, Austria		 Kuppelsaal
09:00 Observational evidence of catchment state transition
Christoph Hinz, Brandenburg Technical University of Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany		 Kuppelsaal
10:15 Tea and coffee Foyer 3rd floor
10:45 Hypothesis testing in the Hydrological Open Air Laboratory (HOAL)
Günter Blöschl, Vienna University of Technology, Austria		 Kuppelsaal
11:55 Short break  
12:00 Lessons learned on catchment sensitivity to climate and land use change through stepwise hypothesis testing
Laurent Pfister, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology		 Kuppelsaal
13:15 Lunch Foyer 3rd Floor
14:15 Small Group Discussion Sessions
Group 1: Falsifiability of hypotheses
Aim: to brainstorm the design of experiments in research catchments that allow efficient falsification of hypotheses regarding hydrological processes
Moderator: Christoph Hinz		 Kuppelsaal
  Group 2: Repeatability and generalisation of hypotheses
Aim: to brainstorm how to conduct experiments and monitoring that allow replication and generalisation of hypotheses to other locations
Moderator: Hannes Flühler		 Seminar room Kuppelsaal
16:00 Tea and coffee Foyer 3rd floor
16:30 Plenary: Exchange of group findings Kuppelsaal
18:00 Evening drinks reception followed by dinner Foyer 3rd floor