A Streams of Thought contribution by Giulio Paradiso.

The Italian Hydrology Days 2025, organized by the Italian Hydrological Society (SII, https://www.sii-ihs.it/), took place at the Polytechnic of Bari from September 8 to 10 under the title “Territorial climate challenges: scenarios, risks and adaptation strategies”, with a strong focus on drought, a theme that in recent years has become increasingly urgent at both national and international level.

Over three days of exchange and debate, the scientific community presented a wide range of contributions that spanned from fundamental research to applied solutions. Attention was devoted to extreme events, flood risk, groundwater management, environmental quality, droughts and water resources. Drought was, in particular, the main theme of the institutional round table during the second day of the Hydrology Days. As in previous years, the Italian section of the Young Hydrologic Society (YHS-IT) was invited to share the perspective of young Italian hydrologists, a viewpoint shaped during a dedicated meeting held on September 8, which brought together many early-career researchers from across Italian universities in an interactive discussion.

Represented by Andrea Galletti, Senior Researcher at Eurac Research, YHS-IT brought the voice of the younger generation, emphasizing the urgency of addressing water scarcity through innovative, inclusive, and integrated approaches. Key priorities included improving the availability and accessibility of hydrological data, recognizing the complexity of the spatial, temporal, and institutional scales involved, and fostering true two-way communication between research, institutions, and local communities.

In addition, to conclude the activity of the conference, the YHS-IT enriched the program with a youth-focused initiative: the webinar “Launching an academic career” delivered by Jeffrey McDonnell, a University Distinguished Professor of Hydrology and Associate Director of the Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan, which provided practical advice and insights on building an international academic career and was followed by a lively discussion among participants.

These days of conference reaffirmed the cohesion, dynamism, and vitality of the Italian hydrological community, which is increasingly committed to addressing pressing challenges with a collaborative spirit, updated tools, and openness to dialogue with all stakeholders. Participants returned home fully aware of the difficulties ahead, but also with the certainty of belonging to a vibrant, forward-looking community, rich in ideas and determination to turn research into concrete solutions.

About the author

Giulio Paradiso received his M.Sc. degree in Land and Environmental Engineering in 2024 from Politecnico di Torino (Italy) after spending a period in Arizona, US, to develop his thesis about urban pluvial floods. He is now a PhD student in Water and Environmental Engineering. His research focuses on risk assessment of urban pluvial flood events through hydraulic and hydrodynamic modeling. The main goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of these events, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change, and to develop an innovative, practical methodology for evaluating and mitigating associated risks in urban contexts.

LinkedIn profile: www.linkedin.com/in/giulio-paradiso-239188255