TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology, or CIROH, will join thousands of Earth and space scientists, educators and policymakers at the American Geophysical Union, or AGU, Meeting 2025, taking place December 15–19 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year’s theme, “Where Science Connects Us,” celebrates the global collaborations and shared purpose that drive discovery and resilience in the face of a changing planet.
At AGU24, CIROH showcased breakthroughs across four research themes: 1) advancing water prediction systems, 2) community water modeling, 3) hydroinformatics and 4) forecast design and decision support. Through innovative presentations and engaging posters, CIROH researchers demonstrated how their work is transforming NOAA’s water prediction capabilities and empowering communities to make more informed water management decisions.
Connecting Science and Society
CIROH’s work exemplifies the spirit of AGU25’s theme. By linking hydrologic science, data innovation and social science, CIROH strengthens the bridge between research and operations, ensuring that scientific advances reach the communities who depend on them most.
At AGU25, CIROH teams will spotlight:
- Next-generation modeling frameworks that merge AI and physics-based approaches to improve the speed and accuracy of water forecasts;
- Advances in cloud and high-performance computing, accelerating the transition of research models into operational environments;
- User-centered forecast design that integrates social and behavioral insights to enhance communication and decision support; and
- New educational and workforce initiatives that prepare the next generation of water scientists, data engineers and forecasters.
From Collaboration to Connection
CIROH’s participation at AGU25 underscores its leadership in fostering national and international collaboration in hydrologic science. Through its partnerships, CIROH helps integrate new technologies, expand community engagement and strengthen the nation’s resilience to floods, droughts and other water-related hazards. To build on that momentum, the Alabama Water Institute and CIROH will feature an expanded booth at AGU25, creating more space for dialogue, demonstrations and partnership-building across the water science community.
“AGU is an incredible opportunity for AWI to connect with the scientific community and showcase our commitment to water research and education,” said Lanna Nations, director of research education and outreach programs for CIROH and the AWI. “This year, we’re elevating the experience with a larger 20×20′ booth featuring our popular Wheel of Water, an interactive trivia game covering flooding, drought, ecology, water security, water quality, conservation, U.S. rivers and careers in water. Adding to the excitement, alumni from AWI’s summer programs will join us to highlight FLOW Academy, Water Prediction Innovators Summer Institute and our Research Experience for Undergraduates, making our presence more dynamic, educational and engaging than ever before.”
Looking Ahead
As AGU25 nears, CIROH is turning water science into action, bridging research and operations to deliver insights that protect communities and ecosystems. Through advanced modeling, operational integration and clear forecast communication, CIROH’s mission is focused on advancing the nation’s capacity for accurate, reliable and actionable water prediction.
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.