To all our incredible IAHS members & HSJ readers: Wishing you all a fantastic & well-deserved summer break! Enjoy the sunshine, relax, & recharge. Thank you for being a part of our amazing IAHS & HSJ community!

Latin America is home to unique hydrological systems with some of the largest river basins in the world. The combination of diverse climates, biomes and ecosystems with rapidly growing human footprints caused by urbanization, population growth and land use changes, makes it necessary and urgent to explore hydrological knowledge at the interface of science, policy and practice in water resources. The Advances in Hydrological Sciences in Latin America Special Issue will shed light on the distinctive hydrological features of Latin America, especially the complex challenges and opportunities for sustainable water management in the region. This Special Issue is an outcome of the recent Unsolved Problems in Hydrology Latin America initiative, and it is aligned with our IAHS Science for Solutions Decade HELPING, as we welcome contributions that:

(1) investigate interactions of water resources across different spatial scales,

(2) provide holistic solutions for water security,

(3) engage with hydrological knowledge co-creation.

Special Issue contributions are sought that present, but are not limited to:

• Urban hydrology: Investigating the effects of urbanization on hydrological processes, stormwater management, groundwater issues and climate resilience in urban water systems.
• Hydrology of unique ecosystems: Studying interactions in tropical, high-altitude, arid and coastal ecosystems, including the impacts of deforestation and land-use changes.
• Cross-Border Water Challenges: Offering comparative analyses of water availability, quality and socio-economic impacts on water management across borders.
• Hydrological indices and their application: Evaluating various hydrological and ecological indices to assess drought, floods, water scarcity and ecosystem health.
• Scaling issues: Studies at the bridge between the local and regional scales that enhance understanding of the hydrological processes and changes occurring in the region.
• Water management tools to support development: Addressing challenges and innovations in water resource management and quality control.

Abstract deadline: 20 July 2024
Manuscript deadline: 31 December 2024

The winner of the 2024 IAHS Falkenmark Award for best PhD thesis has been announced as Dr Djim Diongue from Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal for his thesis entitled "Water partitioning in the sol-vegetation-atmosphere continuum in semi-arid regions: Applying mechanistic modelling and water stable isotopes in the Groundnut and Ferlo Bassin, Senegal". The award ceremony is scheduled to take place 4-7 November 2024 in Florianopolis, Brazil during the joint IAHS and the Brazilian Association of Water Resources (ABRHidro) conference. 

Congratulations!

The Falkenmark Award for best PhD thesis:

• Recognises outstanding contributions to hydrological understanding of water scarcity and water supply.
• Is granted every year, starting 2023 (nomination must be submitted no later than 31 December).
• Highlights the importance of capacity building and knowledge/data gathering in financially disadvantaged countries.

Eligible nominees:

• Grew up in a financially disadvantaged country.
• Performed the PhD work in one or more financially disadvantaged countries.
• Holds a PhD certificate, which is dated within the last 2 years.

The International Hydrology Prize is awarded annually by IAHS, with UNESCO and WMO, to two people who have made an outstanding contribution to hydrological science. IAHS is pleased to announce the recipients of the International Hydrology Prize (Dooge medal and Volker medal) for 2024.

The 2024 recipients of the IAHS-UNESCO-WMO International Hydrology Prize are:

• Dooge medal - in recognition of her outstanding and remarkable contributions in taking to new frontiers the hydrological understanding of extreme weather events for the betterment of our communities - Prof. Lena Merete Tallaksen, at the University of Oslo, Physical Geography and Hydrology Section, Department of Geosciences, in Norway. 

• Volker medal - in recognition of her steady and distinguished contribution in advancing the hydrological sciences across disciplines, in particular to the analysis and management of flood risks in dynamic human-water systems - Dr. Heidi Kreibich, at the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section Hydrology, in Germany.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place in Florianopolis, Brazil during the joint IAHS and the Brazilian Association of Water Resources (ABRHidro) conference from 4-7 November 2024. 

Nominations for the annual Prize are made by National Committees to IAHS, National Committees to the UNESCO-IHP or National Hydrological Advisors to the WMO, and forwarded to the Secretary General of IAHS for consideration by the Nomination Committee. The Committee consists of the President and a Vice-President of IAHS and representatives of UNESCO and WMO.

As of 2014, two medals are awarded under the International Hydrology Prize: the Dooge medal and the Volker medal. Both medals are intended to distinguish outstanding achievements by hydrological scientists but with a different focus. The Dooge medal is aimed at fundamental contributions to the science of hydrology, whereas the Volker medal is aimed at outstanding applications of hydrological science for the benefit of society at large.

Our warmest congratulations go to both recipients.

Bridging the gap between water science and solutions - a joint conference. The IAHS and the Brazilian Association of Water Resources (ABRHidro) invite researchers to submit abstracts for presentation at a joint meeting on water resources systems and statistical hydrology, which combines three events:

• The 9th International Symposium on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
• The 14th International Workshop on Statistical Hydrology (STAHY)
• The 1st Brazilian Meeting on Statistical Hydrology (EBHE).

The meeting will take place in Florianópolis, Brazil, from 4-7 November 2024.

This joint meeting brings together the experts – academics and practitioners – and young scientists alike for vibrant scientific discussions and debates. We strongly suggest participants to think of how their contributions to the meeting relate to the Themes, Goals and Working Groups of the current IAHS Scientific Decade IAHS initiative for 2023-2033: Science for Solutions: Hydrology Engaging Local People IN one Global world (HELPING). Using the HELPING rationale as the background of our discussions will accelerate the development of activities that are already in place in many of the HELPING Working Groups.

Broadly speaking, we welcome contributions dealing with, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Integrated water resources management
• Characterization and prediction of hydrometeorological extremes
• Forecast and optimization of water resources systems
• Water resources in a connected world.

The conference is eligible for SYSTA funding (Sivapalan Young Scientists Travel Award). An abstract must already be submitted to be considered for the award. The deadline of 31 May is approaching quickly so get your submissions in soon.

Important dates:

• 31 May – Abstract submission deadline
• 31 May – SYSTA Travel Grant Application deadline
• 28 June – Notification of abstract acceptance
• 15 July – Early bird registration deadline
• 15 July – Registration deadline for presenting authors
• 28 October – Registration deadline for all participants
• 4-7 November – Conference dates.

We made a significant impact at EGU2024 this past April. Our presence was marked by fruitful engagements, successful sessions, and notable contributions.

Poster Sessions

Our poster sessions served as platforms for showcasing research and innovative methodologies. Attendees were impressed by the quality and relevance of the posters, sparking engaging conversations and knowledge exchange. The positive feedback received reaffirms our position at the forefront of research and development in hydrological sciences.

Digital Water Globe Representation

The Digital Water Globe received notable attention and recognition at EGU 2024. Attendees were captivated by the interactive demonstrations, illustrating the DWG's web-based software platform where IAHS members share Case studies, Personal profiles, IAHS references and links to data repositories that are linked to a geographical position on a global map as well as keywords for quick search using filter functions. 

IAHS HELPING Sessions

One of the standout achievements was the resounding success of our 12 IAHS HELPING sessions. These sessions not only facilitated insightful discussions but also fostered collaborative efforts towards addressing the water solutions in the Anthropocene. Attendees commended the depth of knowledge shared and the practical solutions proposed, underscoring our commitment to underpin solutions for the water crisis, leaving no catchment or hydrologist behind. 

Attendees also discussed and exchanged procedures for implementing the HELPING Working Groups, and experiences on how to best collaborate. We invite you to explore and join the list of suggested Themes and 25 HELPING Working Groups. We are thrilled to announce that the call for suggesting new Working Groups for the HELPING Scientific Decade has been reopened! This presents a unique opportunity to contribute and suggest new topics, if certain topics are missing or not yet included such as capacity development and training as a cross cutting group, and the introduction of AI. We look forward to receiving your valuable suggestions. Please sign up here. 

In summary, our participation in EGU 2024 was marked by exemplary contributions, successful sessions, and effective representation. We look forward to building on this momentum.

IAHS and the Brazilian Association of Water Resources (ABRHidro) invite researchers to submit abstracts for presentation at a joint meeting on water resources systems and statistical hydrology, which combines three events:

The 9th International Symposium on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM),
The 14th International Workshop on Statistical Hydrology (STAHY),
The 1st Brazilian Meeting on Statistical Hydrology (EBHE).

The meeting will take place in Florianópolis, Brazil, from 4-7 November 2024.

This joint meeting brings together the experts – academics and practitioners – and young scientists alike for vibrant scientific discussions and debates. We strongly suggest participants to think of how their contributions to the meeting relate to the Themes, Goals and Working Groups of the current IAHS Scientific Decade IAHS initiative for 2023-2032: Science for Solutions: Hydrology Engaging Local People IN one Global world (HELPING). Using the HELPING rationale as the background of our discussions will possibly induce the start and accelerate the development of activities that are already in place in many of the HELPING Working Groups.

We welcome contributions dealing with the following topics (but not limited to):

• Integrated water resources management,
• Characterization and prediction of hydrometeorological extremes,
• Forecast and optimization of water resources systems,
• Water resources in a connected world.

The 9th IWRM will bring relevant contributions to the scientific community by making it possible to advance in finding solutions to the main water challenges faced by society. The 14th STAHY will focus on statistical methods for hydrological applications, a branch of hydrology with a long history and an exciting field of research. Last but not least, the 1st EBHE brings contributions to advance the maturity of the topic in Brazil by bridging research efforts from different existing groups.

The conference is eligible for SYSTA travel awards (Sivapalan Young Scientists Travel Award). An abstract must already be submitted to be considered for the award.

Important dates:

31 May – Abstract submission deadline.

31 May – SYSTA Travel Grant Application deadline.

Date coming soon – Early bird registration deadline.

Date coming soon – Registration deadline for presenting authors.

Date coming soon – Registration deadline for all participants.

4-7 Nov – Conference dates.

Full information can on the conference website https://www.abrhidro.org.br/iebhe/ 

Join the training session on Open Software taking place 13-17 May 2024 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. 

Interested participants are invited to apply for the course that aligns most closely to their area of interest. Apply here. There is no registration fee for this training, and a number of grants are available to support the attendance of selected participants, with priority given to participants from developing countries. View the agenda here.

As we gear up for EGU2024, we are thrilled to unveil our focus on HELPING and the Digital Water Globe (DWG). 

We invite you to join us in championing HELPING and the DWG's mission. Together, we can amplify our impact and drive meaningful change in the world. Brace yourself for a whirlwind of dynamic IAHS and DWG presentations, poster sessions, splinter meetings, and unparalleled networking opportunities. Here's a sneak peek at what we have in store:

SPM83
Near-term (annual to decadal) forecasts of water availability (IAHS-HELPING-Theme 2 WG) 
Convener: Kristian Förster
Mon, 15 Apr, 14:00–15:45 (CEST) Room 2.42

SPM33
IAHS - HELPING Co-Creating Water Knowledge Working Group Meeting 
Convener: Giulio Castelli | Co-conveners: Wouter Buytaert, Natalie Ceperley
Tue, 16 Apr, 14:00–15:45 (CEST) Room 2.61

SPM34
IAHS Drought in Mountain Regions Working Group 
Convener: Francesco Avanzi | Co-convener: Marit Van Tiel
Thu, 18 Apr, 12:45–13:45 (CEST) Room 2.42

HS1.3.1  
HELPING science for solutions decade 
Co-sponsored by IAHS
Convener: Christina Anna Orieschnig | Co-conveners: Berit Arheimer, Moctar Dembélé, Salvatore Grimaldi, Fuqiang Tian
Orals  | Thu, 18 Apr, 14:00–15:45 (CEST) Room 2.31
Posters on site  | Attendance Wed, 17 Apr, 10:45–12:30 (CEST) | Display Wed, 17 Apr, 08:30–12:30 Hall A
Posters virtual  | Attendance Wed, 17 Apr, 14:00–15:45 (CEST) | Display Wed, 17 Apr, 08:30–18:00 vHall A

SPM129
IAHS Science for Solutions decade: HELPING 
Convener: Berit Arheimer | Co-conveners: Justin Sheffield, Ana Mijic, Adeyemi Oludapo Olusola
Fri, 19 Apr, 10:45–12:30 (CEST) Room 2.43

SPM128
IAHS Digital Water Globe 
Convener: Eduardo Mario Mendiondo | Co-convener: Berit Arheimer
Tue, 16 Apr, 08:30–10:15 (CEST) Room 2.97
Wed, 17 Apr, 19:00–20:00 (CEST) Room 2.83

EGU24-21088 | ECS | Orals | HS1.3.1 | Highlight 
On promoting education and community adaptation in Global South’s studies populating the Digital Water Globe: the DREAMS project for the HELPING Science Decade 
Denise Taffarello, Danielle Bressiani, Adelaide Nardocci, Susana Dias, Dirce Maria Lobo Marchioni, Suzana Gico Montenegro, Marcos Roberto Benso, Gabriel Marinho e Silva, Veber Afonso Figueiredo Costa, Nilo Nascimento, Wilson dos Santos Fernandes, Jose Antonio Marengo, Jamil Anache, and Eduardo Mario Mendiondo
Thu, 18 Apr, 14:55–15:05 (CEST) Room 2.31

SPM32
Drought in the Anthropocene research network meeting 
Convener: Marthe Wens
Tue, 16 Apr, 12:45–13:45 (CEST) Room 2.43

EGU24-4773 | ECS | Orals | HS1.3.1 | Highlight 
HELPING: Co-creating and communicating water solutions in a globally changing world 
Adeyemi Olusola, Giulio Castelli, and Natalie Ceperley
Thu, 18 Apr, 14:35–14:45 (CEST)  Room 2.31

EGU24-5911 | ECS | Orals | HS1.3.1 | Highlight 
REHYDRATE - an international HELPING working group to REtrieve historical HYDRologic dATa and Estimates    
Miriam Bertola and Paola Mazzoglio and the HELPING REHYDRATE Working Group
Thu, 18 Apr, 15:05–15:15 (CEST)   Room 2.31

EGU24-14824 | Posters on site | HS1.3.1 | Highlight 
Setting up the new Scientific Decade of IAHS: Science for Solutions with HELPING    
Berit Arheimer, Christophe Cudennec, Salvatore Grimaldi, and Günter Blöschl
Wed, 17 Apr, 10:45–12:30 (CEST) Hall A | A.2

EGU24-22254 | Orals | HS1.3.1 
Overview of the Theme 2 of IAHS HELPING: Holistic Solutions for Water Security    
Ana Mijic, Claudia Teutschbein, David Finger, Junguo Liu, Kristian Foerster, Marthe Wens, Nejc Bezak, Santosh Palmate, Shiv Nishad, and Stefan Krause
Thu, 18 Apr, 14:25–14:35 (CEST) Room 2.31

EGU24-19045 | Posters on site | HS1.3.1 | Highlight 
(Science) Communication is Key - Analysing and Adapting Outreach Approaches and Internal Workflows to Support HELPING as a Major International Scientific Initiative. Tarryn Payne and Christina Orieschnig
Wed, 17 Apr, 10:45–12:30 (CEST) Hall A | A.3

SPM136
Community Paper Workshop on (Science) Communication in HELPING 
Convener: Christina Orieschnig, Soham Adla, Tarryn Payne 
Fr: 19 Apr. 08:30-10:15 (CEST)Room 2.96