Vienna Catchment Science Symposium 2024
Thema: Outrageous hypotheses in hydrology
11th Symposium | 20th April, 2024
© Miriam Bertola
One of the findings of the Unsolved Problems in Hydrology (UPH) initiative of IAHS, EGU-HS, AGU-HS and the IAH was the need for more discovery science and outrageous hypotheses in hydrology.
In 1926, geologist William Davis exhorted his fellow scientists thus: 'Our younger members may perhaps experience a feeling of disappointment, or even of discouragement at the unanimity with which the conclusions of an elder are received by a geological audience. But to make progress, violence must be done to many of our accepted principles'.
In this spirit, the aim of this symposium is to discuss new, controversial ideas about how the water cycle works to stimulate more high-risk/high-gain initiatives in hydrology.
Programme
| Time | Sessions | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 | Tea, coffee, pastries and greetings | 3rd Floor Foyer |
| 08:45 | Welcome and Introduction Günter Blöschl, Vienna University of Technology, Austria | Kuppelsaal |
| 09:00 | Outrageous hypothesis: Subsurface nitrogen legacies are real and delay water quality improvement Nandita Basu, University of Waterloo, Canada | Kuppelsaal |
| 10:20 | Tea and coffee | 3rd Floor Foyer |
| 11:10 | Outrageous hypothesis: More runoff with less rain Gil Mahé, IRD, HydroSciences Montpellier, France | Kuppelsaal |
| 12:30 | Lunch | 3rd Floor Foyer |
| 14:00 | Small group discussion sessions Group 1: A compilation of outrageous hypotheses in hydrology Aim: to brainstorm what processes and phenomena would lend themselves to novel hypotheses and what hypotheses should be addressed Moderator: Nandita Basu | Kuppelsaal |
| Group 2: Methods for testing outrageous hypotheses in hydrology Aim: to brainstorm the methods (data, models, frameworks) required to explore outrageous hypotheses at all scales, including regional scales Moderator: Ross Woods | 4th floor Seminar room Kuppel | |
| 16:00 | Tea and Coffee | 3rd Floor Foyer |
| 16:30 | Plenary: Exchange of group findings | Kuppelsaal |
| 17:00 | Evening drinks reception followed by dinner | 3rd Floor Foyer |