There was plenty of lively discussion when OptimESM researchers met for the project’s 2024 general assembly in March. Around 50 project members and international collaborators gathered in Bologna, Italy, with a further 50 odd joining online.
This was a chance to take stock, 15 months in to the project, of progress in the various work packages, and to hear about emerging results from some of our early career researchers (ECRs) and others.
The programme also featured a discussion on scenarios for earth system modelling with invited experts representing the IPCC and CMIP, and debate about how to schedule OptimESM activities so as to dovetail effectively with the timelines for the 2nd Global Stocktake and AR7 and achieve the most impact from the OptimESM results.
A career development lunch was held for our ECRs, where each was paired with more experienced researchers for a chance to pick their brains informally about career planning, working life – or anything else they chose – over a bite to eat.
Later in the week we held an outreach event in the beautiful Biblioteca Dario Nobili. Members of the interested public were invited to imagine a future society which had adapted well to a changed climate. Participants ranged in age from young students to those with much more life experience, and their varied perspectives led to some stimulating discussions.
Many thanks to our hosts CINECA and CNR, who looked after us so well in Bologna and who worked hard to oversee the faultless technical arrangements.
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