Events

Workshops/Training Programs 

Himalayan Freshwaters Workshop #2: Assessing the Services and Vulnerability of Freshwater Ecosystems in the Himalayas at ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal

A one-day workshop on Himalayan Freshwater was held at the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (#ICIMOD) on May 21, 2024. This workshop was part of a series of annual workshops, the first workshop was held in India in 2023, and the third workshop is planned to be held in Bhutan in 2025. The central theme of the workshop was assessing the services and vulnerability of freshwater ecosystems in the Himalayas. The workshop was organized by Nepal Engineering College (nec) in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Roorkee). 

• Date: May 21, 2024 (Tuesday)

• Venue: ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal

• Funded by: APN funded REFRESH project

Indo-Italy FLOSET Project Workshop

About the event: The workshop is part of the Indo-Italy collaborative project, a joint effort between IIT Roorkee in India and CNR-IRPI in Italy, focused on 'Probabilistic FLOods and SEdiment Transport forecasting in the Himalayas during extreme events (FLOSET)'. This project aims to enhance our understanding of Himalayan hydrology during extreme events and sediment transport dynamics through robust, science-based approaches. The workshop offers an interactive platform for project collaborators and participants to delve into recent advancements in rainfall-runoff modeling, predictive uncertainty estimation, probabilistic flood forecasting and Earth Observation. It will serve as a forum for engagi discussions and knowledge exchange on these critical topics. 

Date: 29th Feb 2024

Funded by: Department of Science and Technology (DST) 

Training Program on Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for Dams

About the event: Dams are crucial in water resource management, energy generation, and infrastructure development. However, the benefits come with inherent risks, and the potential for emergencies, particularly flooding incidents, poses significant challenges to dam safety. Implementing robust Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) is paramount to address this. This short-term training program has been designed to recognise the critical need to enhance the skills and knowledge of dam safety and emergency management professionals. This four-day program aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of dam safety, flood risk management, flood inundation mapping, and developing and implementing effective Emergency Action Plans.

The objectives of the program are:

• To provide participants with an understanding of dam safety principles and the diverse types of emergencies associated with dams.

• To equip participants with hands-on skills in flood inundation mapping using tools like HEC-RAS, emphasising the importance of remote sensing and GIS.

• To guide participants through the step-by-step process of developing and implementing an effective EAP while familiarising them with key components.

• To analyse case studies to gain insights from both successful and unsuccessful EAPs, encouraging discussion and collaborative learning among participants.

• To encourage interactive group discussions among participants to facilitate sharing insights and experiences.

• Date: January 29 to February 1, 2024

• Venue: International Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED), Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

• Funded by: ICED, IIT Roorkee

STAtistical tools for Modelling Big data in Hydroclimatology (STAMBH)

Webpage of the event: https://iitr.ac.in/RS2G/STAMBH/index.html

About the event: Hydroclimatic research is paramount for comprehending the intricate interactions between climate and water resources, particularly amidst the escalating climate variability and change. The ramifications of hydroclimatic extremes like droughts, floods, and heatwaves extend far and wide, impacting ecosystems, agriculture, water availability, and human livelihoods. As societies strive to adapt and mitigate the consequences of these extremes, an urgent need exists to augment our understanding of hydroclimatic processes, develop effective analytical methods, and apply them to real-world scenarios. To address these imperatives, the workshop known as STAMBH was conducted to provide participants with a comprehensive platform to explore and delve into the various facets of hydroclimatic research. STAMBH comprises three verticals, namely Data, Methods, and Applications, each concentrating on pivotal components of hydroclimatic analysis.

• Date: 17th – 24th March, 2024

• Venue: Department of Hydrology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

• Funded by: Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Advanced Data-driven and Artificial Intelligence Tools in Water Resources (AI4Water)

Webpage of the event: https://iitr.ac.in/RS2G/AI4Water/index.html

About the event: AI4Water was a comprehensive training program that provided participants with a deep understanding of the latest data-driven and AI techniques and tools in the field of water resources. The program covered a wide range of topics, including hydrological modeling, water quality modeling, and the integration of these models into decision-making processes. Through a combination of lectures, hands-on exercises, and case studies, participants in this program gained the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use advanced data-driven and AI tools to assess the impact of various factors on water resources, such as climate change, population growth, and land use changes. The program was led by experienced water resources experts and included a mix of lectures, hands-on exercises, and case studies to provide participants with a well-rounded learning experience. Upon completion of the program, participants were able to confidently apply the advanced data-driven modeling techniques and tools covered in the program to their own work in the field of water resources. Participants in the AI4Water training program had the opportunity to network with other professionals in the field of water resources, sharing experiences and best practices.

• Date: 20-26 August 2023

• Venue: Department of Hydrology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

• Funded by: Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Emerging Space Technology Applications for Compound Extremes 2022 (STAC-X)

Webpage of the event: https://iitr.ac.in/RS2G/index.html

About the event: The planned training program "STAC-X 2022" from May 9 to May 20, 2022, focused on Emerging Space Technology Applications for Compound Extremes. It aimed at the emerging space technology and its applications to identify, monitor and create awareness on compound extremes. The overarching goal was to provide a holistic understanding of available space datasets utilization of traditional and contemporary algorithms to solve the real-world challenges of compound extremes. We promoted the optimum utilization of space technology, open-source algorithms, and software at the summer school and provided recommendations to enhance regional efforts towards disaster management and emergency response. We also tried to understand the historic perspective from the experts and how they see the future scenarios. The summer school was a platform where we heard opinions from all the domains involved in space technology and compound extremes, i.e. academicians, practitioners, scientists, policymakers and the younger generation entering this field. These discussions provided guidelines for future research in applying space products on compound extremes. The school was designed to provide theoretical and hands-on training to all the participants. The intention was to create an understanding of various space products available for earth science applications, evaluation and corrections, and application of these products on compound extremes using various software, models, and algorithms. Developing new skills for early career researchers through hands-on training brought a fresh perspective in the research domain, advancing science communication.

• Date: 9-20 May 2022

• Venue: Department of Hydrology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

• Funded by: ISRO's Disaster Management Support Program

EcoHydrology Symposium (EHS-2022)

About the event: The Department of Hydrology organized a two-day EcoHydrology Symposim (EHS) on 28th Feb - 1st Mar 2022 with support from Shastri Indo Canadian Institute (SICI). Two sessions (one keynote and one panel discussion) of about 2 hr 45 mins were conducted on each day with six keynote speakers and seven panelists from five countries (India, Australia, Canada, UK, and USA). The symposium was aimed to discuss recent advancements, accomplishments and challenges in understanding and implementing the ecohydrology concept to solve the current environmental issues. Prof. Ajit K. Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee, Dr. Prachi Kaul, Director, Shastri Institute and Prof. Brijesh K. Yadav, Head, Hydrology Department, inaugurated the symposium. The keynote speakers included Dr. Stephanie Kampf, Colorado State University, USA, Dr. Adam Wei, University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, Dr. Sandipan Mukherjee, G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE), Dr. Nandita Basu, University of Waterloo, Canada, Dr. Jagdish Krishnaswamy, Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), ATREE, and Dr. Himanshu Joshi, IIT Roorkee. More than 150 participants from different backgrounds such as hydrology, ecology, environmental sciences, ecohydrology, etc. registered and attended the the events. More details about the event are available on the website: www.ehs2022.info.