The Macaulay Institute, the premier land use research institute in the UK, will next week co-host an international hydrological science workshop. Held in conjunction with the University of Aberdeen, the workshop titled “From Catchment Scale Process Conceptualisation to Predictive Capability” runs from 15-18 May at the Craigendarroch Hotel, Royal Deeside. 32 international hydrological specialists will attend the invitation-only event, which will feature key-note speeches from three world-renowned experts.

The workshop aims to address the gap between traditional scientific studies that analyse complex environmental behaviour at relatively small spatial scales, and the realities of water management which require understanding of generalised behaviour over much larger catchment areas. A mix of field-based experimental hydrologists and mathematical modellers will together consider appropriate methods for progression of the science towards achieving this goal.

The Macaulay Institute’s Dr Sarah Dunn will co-convene the workshop, along with Professor Chris Soulsby and Dr Doerthe Tetzlaff of the University of Aberdeen’s School of Geosciences. Dr Dunn says: “A number of specialists from across the globe will meet in Ballater to discuss and challenge the scientific principles that underpin the effectiveness of water resource management, and the responses of catchments to climate and land use changes. Each attending scientist is involved in cutting edge research on the subject, so the workshop will be rich in experience.

“We are also privileged to have three world-renowned scientists delivering key-note speeches. In his talk, “A new vision for catchment hydrology: Moving beyond heterogeneity and process complexity”, Professor Jeff McDonnell of Oregon State University, USA, is expected to call for the development of radical new theories in hydrology to explore the organising principles that might underlie the variability and complexity of catchments. Professor Stefan Uhlenbrook, UNESCO-IHE Institute of Water Education, The Netherlands, will deliver a speech on “Catchment characteristics, scale and process conceptualisation”, while Professor Colin Neal, Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, UK, will present his talk “Data in a heterogeneous world”.

“As well as the key-note speeches, the workshop will feature a mix of presentations and focused group discussion sessions based around pre-determined themes. By the end of the workshop we hope to have a clearer vision of how catchment science needs to progress to achieve future goals for effective water management.”

The Macaulay Institute is the premier land use research institute in the UK. Two hundred and seventy staff are based at the Macaulay Institute at Craigiebuckler in Aberdeen. The Macaulay Institute aims to be an international leader in research on the use of rural land resources for the benefit of people and the environment and is involved in research across the globe; from Scotland to Chile and China. More about the Macaulay Institute can be found at www.macaulay.ac.uk

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