Programme
RCRC11 March 13 - 18, 2011
The RCRC11 conference will have a format similar to
a Gordon Research Conference. All participants are expected to contribute an
oral or poster presentation. However, the program is set up to allow for
extensive personal interaction and networking. The conference will start on
Sunday evening with an icebreaker and dinner. Further conference days will
feature morning scientific sessions including two keynote lectures and 8
contributed, shorter presentations. Ample time will be provided for individual
discussion and poster presentations in the afternoon. We aim to structure and
encourage the discussion in afternoon working groups on specific topics
mentioned above such as investigation and monitoring strategies as well as
hydro(geo)logical/ ecological/biogeochemical interactions. Evening sessions
consist of a thought-provoking keynote lecture followed by an open-end
discussion. Tuesday afternoon/evening, a public event will be held to inform
the general public of Ticino in lay terms of our research. This will include an
open lecture followed by a discussion. An excursion and a conference dinner on
Thursday will provide additional opportunity for personal interactions. On
Friday morning, the last keynote presentation will be followed by a
presentation of the working group outcomes which contains a panel discussion
reflecting the achievements of the conference.
Bringing together leading scientists from different scientific disciplines, the conference clearly hopes to stimulate scientific exchange and new collaborations among these fields. We envisage two aspects in particular that could profit greatly from such an exchange: (i) Development of combined hydro(geo)logical, ecological and biogeochemical methods to investigate river corridor restoration projects, and (ii) Adaptation of experimental and field studies such as to be better suited for model development and validation. Dedicated afternoon working groups are planned to stimulate intensive exchange on these aspects. On the applied side, one envisaged outcome of the conference is a common vision of an efficient approach to investigate and monitor restoration projects. This and other workshop outcomes are planned to be incorporated into the ongoing ecological and water quality monitoring programs of the Swiss, EU and North-American authorities, on many of which the conference organizers and participants act as consultants. In addition, we plan to publish a special issue on river corridor restoration with papers in a well-recognized scientific journal.