Written by Ally Jacoby

When I first heard the Gordon Research Conference on Catchment Science described as ‘hydrology summer camp’, I was immediately sold on going. I attended for the first time in 2023, and it ended up being one of the most inspiring and energizing experiences of graduate school so far! Larger conferences such as the annual meetings of the AGU or EGU are great, with the exciting hustle-and-bustle of hundreds of scientists, but I found that the smaller size and unique structure of the GRS and GRC provided a more specialized learning and networking experience. I enjoyed it so much that I volunteered to co-chair the 2025 Seminar, along with Martin Skerlep (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences), another early-career hydrologist and 2023 attendee. Below, you can read about my personal experience as a PhD student attending the GRS and GRC, and at the end you will find a guide for first-time attendees, which I hope will help you navigate the conference and make the most of your experience!

Hosted every other year, the Catchment Science GRS and GRC gather an interdisciplinary group of water-related scientists in Andover, New Hampshire for a week of high-quality presentations on the latest, cutting-edge research and emerging grand challenges facing water resources management and catchment sciences. Typical GRS attendance is around 60 participants and is limited to early-career scientists (graduate students and postdocs), while the GRC typically hosts 100–150 participants and is open to all career stages.

The GRS always takes place the weekend preceding the GRC, and my experience in 2023 kicked off with an inspiring keynote presentation from Dr Karletta Chief (University of Arizona), discussing the nexus of food, energy, and water challenges facing the Navajo nation. All other GRS presentations (excluding the keynote and mentorship panel; more info about that in the guide) are by early-career researchers, which is a great opportunity for students to gain presentation experience in a supportive environment! I presented a poster and had valuable conversations with students from all over the world, who provided unique perspectives and could relate to the challenges I encountered in my research.

On Sunday evening, the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) officially began with the full group of participants and a keynote presentation from Dr. Li Li (Pennsylvania State University) on the complex interactions between structural characteristics of catchments and external environmental stressors. All GRC talks are given by invited speakers, who are asked to share unpublished work in longer format talks. The well-structured format of the GRC fostered meaningful connections among colleagues at all career stages, allowing me to quickly feel comfortable sharing my research, networking, and actively participating in large-format discussions with scientists of diverse backgrounds and experiences. The conference is designed to encourage active engagement, so everyone attends the same sessions, “lives” on campus, and shares meals together. The daily schedule also includes fun afternoon excursions—such as hiking, swimming, soccer matches, and even horseback riding—offering a brain break and a chance to connect on a more personal level. I found that these activities provided a relaxed setting that can lay the foundation for potential long-term contacts and collaborations. The shared meals and activities also create ample opportunities to meet and converse with almost all attendees over the course of the week. Through both formal and informal interactions, I was able to receive feedback from accomplished scientists whose work I had closely followed throughout my first two years of graduate school, which was invaluable to my growth as a researcher.

I highly recommend the GRS and GRC to everyone looking to expand their professional circles and learn about the latest innovations in catchment sciences! The 2025 GRS, “Navigating Emerging Catchment Stressors Under Global Change”, will take place June 21-22. The GRS keynote will feature Dr. Ryan Emanuel (Duke University), with his talk entitled “Environmental Justice for Environmental Science: The Challenges and Rewards of Community-Centered Research in a Time of Global Change”. Apply by March 16th to be considered for a GRS talk! Final applications for GRS attendance and poster presentations are due by May 24. The associated 2025 GRC, “Creating Synthesis out of Complexity in Catchment Science” will take place June 22-27, and GRC applications are due May 24.

2025 GRC chairs: Dr. Hilary K. McMillan (San Diego State University), Dr. Ingo Heidbüchel (UAS Koblenz), Dr. Catalina Segura (Oregon State University), Dr. Ilja HJ van Meerveld (Universiät Zürich).

2025 GRS chairs: Martin Skerlep (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences), Ally Jacoby (University of Minnesota).

First-Time Attendee Guide

2025 Graduate Research Seminar (GRS) Overview:

The GRS is a two-day seminar held at Proctor Academy (Andover, New Hampshire) on June 21-22, the Saturday and Sunday preceding the Catchment Science Gordon Research Conference (GRC). It features:

• 1 invited keynote talk
• 10 research presentations (given by graduate students and postdocs/early-career researchers)
• Poster sessions
• A mentorship panel (Q&A with experienced scientists)

The GRS is open to graduate students, postdocs, and early-career scientists. All attendees of the GRS must present a talk or a poster.

A select number of graduate student/postdoc speakers from the GRS will be chosen (through an audience vote) to also present their talks at the GRC.

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2025 Catchment Science GRC Overview:

The GRC takes place Sunday through Friday following the GRS at Proctor Academy. It features:

• 1 long-format invited keynote talk
• 20 invited research talks
• Poster sessions
• Power Hour (a discussion on barriers to career advancement and strategies to address these challenges)

The GRC is open to graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and government and industry professionals

All attendees must present a poster (the same poster may be used for both the GRS and GRC).

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Presentation & Photography Policy:

The GRS/GRC maintains a strict no-photos policy for all posters and presentations. This allows attendees to discuss work-in-progress and pre-published findings in a confidential setting.

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Registration & Costs:

GRS (Saturday–Sunday)

• Cost: $260–$275 (shared vs. single room)
• Includes: Food and lodging for GRS

GRC (Sunday–Friday)

• Cost: $900 (in addition to GRS registration)
• Includes: Food and lodging for GRC

Note: Those who attend both the GRS and GRC must apply and register for both meetings separately.

Additional Costs

• Purchase of bus transportation to the conference site is available upon online registration. This is the most convenient way to reach the venue from Boston.

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Conference Experience & Activities:

• Single-session format: All talks take place in the same conference room, so you don’t have to choose between sessions.
• Mentorship panel: A Q&A session with experienced scientists. The 2025 GRS panel will feature three faculty members whose work extends beyond academia.
• Afternoon activities: Open time for outdoor recreation (including activities such as hiking and swimming) and informal networking with fellow attendees, faculty, and industry professionals.