EMS 2017

I just returned from Dublin, Ireland: the site of the 2017 Annual Conference of the European Meteorological Society. It was a great week, bringing together researchers, forecasters, communicators, and policy makers from around the world. Throughout, the locals were incredibly welcoming, and I am extremely grateful for their hospitality and all the efforts of the organizing committee.

The Helix building at the Dublin City University, host venue of EMS 2017. Out front is one of the meteorological buoys used for observations at sea.

The Guinness Storehouse, where I learned to pour the perfect pint!

I was fortunate to have a presentation on Friday where I was able to share some of my research into the observational forecasting of fog events. It wasn't the best time slot as many had already left for home, but it was great to get the experience speaking to an international audience at a major conference. Interestingly, by the time it came for me to speak, all the nerves were gone! There were some things I know I forgot to say (and the time seemed to fly by!), but overall I am quite pleased with how it went. See here for a PDF of my slides.

One of the main focuses of the week was communicating science to the public. Personally, I think good communication is one of the least developed tools we employ as scientists. We are practiced in writing journal articles and giving presentations to colleagues who are also "experts", but when it comes to speaking with the public, training is limited and the results are often quite poor. How do we improve this? I am not sure, but acknowledging the need for better public outreach in such a setting at the EMS is already a big step. It would also be great, though, to have further formal training instead of having to learn as we go.

Dublin as a host city was great and I enjoyed the time I was able to spend exploring the city. Highlights include the Irish museum of immigration (EPIC), Trinity College, the Guinness Storehouse, the nearby village Howth, and the "Merchant's Arch" pub/restaurant. I am keen to go back to Ireland and next time see more of the country!

~ Jonathan

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