BURLINGTON, Vermont — More than 60 people gathered at the University of Vermont (UVM) for the 2024 CIROH All-Hands Meeting, a day packed with research and discussions on flood prediction and response. The event brought together UVM’s CIROH faculty, students, staff, and regional stakeholders to explore how research can drive operational improvements.
Research Highlights
The day opened with remarks from Beverley Wemple, UVM’s CIROH lead, and Kirk Dombrowski, UVM’s Vice President for Research. Six CIROH researchers then presented their work on topics including water forecasting, global water security, flood response, and environmental monitoring. These presentations provided a clear picture of the cutting-edge water research happening at UVM.
Networking with Partners
A networking session followed, allowing attendees to connect with researchers and invited stakeholders from agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Weather Service (NWS) Northeast River Forecast Center, and Vermont Emergency Management. This session was particularly valuable for post-doctoral researchers, who gained insights on how their projects could directly benefit these agencies.
One UVM post-doc noted, “The inclusion of stakeholders like the USGS and NWS made the networking more meaningful. It gave real-world purpose to our projects.”
Post-Doc Lightning Talks
Seventeen post-doctoral researchers delivered three-minute lightning talks, sharing their expertise in areas like flood mapping, risk communication, and floodplain dynamics. A poster session followed, providing time for deeper discussions on the research.
Expert Panel
The afternoon featured a panel discussion with John Bumgarner (USGS), Alison MacNeil (NWS), Jodi Ryder (USACE), and Max Kennedy (Vermont Emergency Management). These experts shared feedback on how CIROH’s research could support their agencies and offered guidance on future research priorities. Anne Jefferson, CIROH@UVM Principal Investigator, praised the panel’s contributions: “It added so much value to have the NOAA, USGS, USACE, and Vermont EM folks there.”
Agency staff were excited to see the researchers’ work and appreciated being included. Max Kennedy from Vermont Emergency Management saw great potential for collaboration, saying he wished he could have “brought his entire office” to witness the team’s progress.
Closing Remarks
Rebecca Ellis, from the office of U.S. Senator Peter Welch, wrapped up the event by emphasizing the importance of the research to Vermonters and urging attendees to continue their impactful work. “We’ve seen the difference your research has made for everyday Vermonters,” she said, leaving the group inspired by their role in shaping water policy and improving lives.
The meeting was a success, blending cutting-edge research with practical insights from key stakeholders, demonstrating the power of collaboration in advancing flood prediction and response.