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Alabama Water Institute

CIROH 2025 Science Meeting: Research-to-Operations Breakthroughs and Outstanding Achievements

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – CIROH hosted its fourth annual Science Meeting September 15–18 at the Bryant Conference Center on The University of Alabama campus. The event brought together more than 220 researchers, federal partners and collaborators to share advances in water science, strengthen partnerships and accelerate the transition of research into operations.

The four-day meeting featured 134 oral presentations, 45 posters, three keynote addresses and 25 total hours of sessions and discussions. Attendees also connected during more than five hours of dedicated networking, reinforcing CIROH’s role as a hub for the nation’s water research to operations community.

Keynote speakers included Allison Allen, director of the National Weather Service’s Analyze, Forecast and Support Office; Fernando Salas, director of the Geo-Intelligence Division at NOAA’s Office of Water Prediction; and Jim Nelson, professor of civil and construction engineering at Brigham Young University, who addressed topics spanning advances in flood prediction and public safety, artificial intelligence and data-driven modeling, hydroinformatics and operational forecasting and strategies for drought resilience.

Keynote: Allison Allen
Keynote: Fernando Salas
Keynote: Jim Nelson
Researchers and partners presented their work at the 2025 CIROH Science Meeting, highlighting advances across forecasting, hydrologic modeling, data science and real-world applications.

Celebrating Research Excellence

Thomas Graziano Research to Operations Award Presentation

Several recognitions highlighted the achievements of CIROH’s research community:

  • Thomas Graziano Research to Operations Award: Named in honor of the Office of Water Prediction’s former director, this year’s award went to Dr. Sagy Cohen and the Surface Dynamics Modeling Lab for contributions to operational flood prediction. Recognized projects included FIMserv (Baruah et al., 2025) and the Spatial River Join and Improved Slope Database for Operational Flood Inundation Mapping (Chen et al., 2025).
  • Best in 5 Competition: New this year, the Best in 5 competition gave teams a chance to briefly showcase their tools and innovations, with the audience voting live for their favorite. Arpita Patel and team earned top honors for the “NextGen in a Box (NGIAB) Ecosystem” demo, which highlighted the power of containerized hydrologic modeling to support community-driven research.
  • Community Contribution Awards: CIROH celebrated additional contributions from around the consortium. Three individuals were recognized for their exceptional impact:
    • Andy Wood received the Most Connections recognition for fostering collaboration across 15 institutions actively engaged in his CIROH projects.
    • David Tarboton earned the Most Educational Aides distinction for producing a range of teaching and learning resources associated with his research.
    • Martyn Clark was recognized for Most Publications, leading the consortium with 28 unique publications reported across his CIROH projects.
CIROH recognizes researchers and partners for outstanding contributions and achievements in advancing water science and operations.
CIROH recognizes researchers and partners for outstanding contributions and achievements in advancing water science and operations.
CIROH recognizes researchers and partners for outstanding contributions and achievements in advancing water science and operations.
CIROH recognizes researchers and partners for outstanding contributions and achievements in advancing water science and operations.
CIROH recognizes researchers and partners for outstanding contributions and achievements in advancing water science and operations.
CIROH recognizes researchers and partners for outstanding contributions and achievements in advancing water science and operations.
CIROH recognizes researchers and partners for outstanding contributions and achievements in advancing water science and operations.
CIROH recognizes researchers and partners for outstanding contributions and achievements in advancing water science and operations.
This CIROH Science Meeting celebrated excellence in research, collaboration and innovation, demonstrating the value of recognizing quality work that drives progress in water prediction and community resilience.

Connecting Researchers and Practitioners

A central theme of the meeting was bridging the gap between science and practice. Federal partner town halls provided direct conversations between CIROH researchers and agencies including NOAA’s Office of Water Prediction, the National Integrated Drought Information System, the National Ocean Service and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Science Meeting 2025 – Town Hall

CIROH’s leadership emphasized the institute’s role as a conduit for research to operations (R2O), ensuring that cutting-edge science translates into real-world applications for water managers, emergency responders and communities across the nation.

Researchers and professionals share ideas and insights during breakout discussions.
Researchers and professionals share ideas and insights during breakout discussions.
Researchers and professionals share ideas and insights during breakout discussions.
Researchers and professionals share ideas and insights during breakout discussions.
Researchers and professionals share ideas and insights during breakout discussions.
Researchers and professionals share ideas and insights during breakout discussions.
Researchers and professionals share ideas and insights during breakout discussions.
Researchers and professionals share ideas and insights during breakout discussions.
Researchers, students and professionals connected over shared challenges and emerging innovations in water science.

Fostering the Next Generation

The meeting also spotlighted early-career researchers, offering opportunities to present posters, deliver lightning talks and engage with federal leaders. Networking sessions, mentoring opportunities and collaborative discussions helped build connections for future research and operational careers.

People in a conference hall gathered in front of research posters and engaged in discussion.
People in a conference hall gathered in front of research posters and engaged in discussion.
People in a conference hall gathered in front of research posters and engaged in discussion.
People in a conference hall gathered in front of research posters and engaged in discussion.
People in a conference hall gathered in front of research posters and engaged in discussion.
People in a conference hall gathered in front of research posters and engaged in discussion.
People in a conference hall gathered in front of research posters and engaged in discussion.
People in a conference hall gathered in front of research posters and engaged in discussion.
People in a conference hall gathered in front of research posters and engaged in discussion.
People in a conference hall gathered in front of research posters and engaged in discussion.
Poster sessions offer researchers the chance to share their work in a conversational setting—answering questions, exchanging ideas and exploring topics organically.

Exploring Tuscaloosa: WaterTown USA

Outside the conference halls, attendees explored Tuscaloosa and connected with the region’s identity as WaterTown USA, reinforcing the importance of place in advancing water science and community engagement.

Networking event attendees gathering for food, chatting and more, with guest appearance from Big Al.
Networking event attendees gathering for food, chatting and more, with guest appearance from Big Al.
Networking event attendees gathering for food, chatting and more, with guest appearance from Big Al.
Networking event attendees gathering for food, chatting and more, with guest appearance from Big Al.
Networking event attendees gathering for food, chatting and more, with guest appearance from Big Al.
Networking event attendees gathering for food, chatting and more, with guest appearance from Big Al.
Networking event attendees gathering for food, chatting and more, with guest appearance from Big Al.
Networking event attendees gathering for food, chatting and more, with guest appearance from Big Al.
The Science Meeting research networking event was held at the Sanctuary on 25th in Tuscaloosa, offering the chance to connect in-person and meet University of Alabama legend Big Al.

Looking Ahead

“The CIROH Science Meeting is where research meets practice, and I was thrilled with this year’s outcomes” said Dr. Steve Burian, CIROH executive director. “We celebrated CIROH’s successes advancing the science of operational hydrology and mobilizing research into operations and applications. This year’s event highlighted not only the depth of our scientific advances but also our collective commitment to ensuring our advances directly serve communities.”

CIROH looks forward to building on the collaborations and insights generated at the 2025 meeting as it continues its mission to advance water prediction, resilience and decision support nationwide.

About CIROH

The Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) is a NOAA Cooperative Institute hosted at The University of Alabama and supported by the National Weather Service. As a unique national consortium with 28 partner institutions, CIROH unites academic, government and private sector partners to co-produce research that enhances operational water prediction capabilities and informs critical decision-making for issues like floods, droughts and water quality. Through its interdisciplinary research, educational initiatives and outreach programs, CIROH advances NOAA’s water prediction services with new techniques such as artificial intelligence and remote sensing, equips the next generation of water-resource professionals with essential skills and fosters public and stakeholder engagement to support federal agency and private sector needs. CIROH transforms scientific innovations into practical solutions and operational tools that boosts the delivery of actionable water intelligence, increases effectiveness of water resources management, promotes community resilience and informs decision-makers across the United States.

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