The Asia-Oceania Geoscience Society (AOGS), one of the leading geoscience conferences, holds annual conventions, providing a unique opportunity to share scientific knowledge. HydroAI laboratory students had a great opportunity to be part of The AOGS 2024 annual meeting, held from June 23 to 28 in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do, South Korea, that brought together researchers and professionals from around the world.
For students, the session "Transforming Hydrology by Integrating Remote Sensing, Modeling, and Data Sciences" was especially valuable as it focused on the transformative role of remote sensing and modeling in hydrologic science, addressing challenges such as data uncertainties, model limitations, and inequitable data availability. Chaired by Professor Hyunglok Kim from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and Eunsang Cho from Texas State University, the session featured distinguished speakers such as John Bolten from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Venkataraman Lakshmi from the University of Virginia, and Zong-Liang Yang from the University of Texas.
Also, a highlight was the NASA Hyperwall Science Stories exhibit, where NASA experts presented their cutting-edge research, where HydroAI members had a unique opportunity to interact with NASA scientists, ask questions and participate in informative discussions.
Besides that, a special moment at the conference was the recognition of HydroAI Laboratory student, Ms. Aigerim Bolatbekkyzy(undergraduate-master combined student), in the prestigious Best Student Poster Competition (BSPC). Her research, titled “Comparative Analysis of the 2021-2022 Droughts in Kazakhstan, South Korea, and the USA Using Remote Sensing and Reanalysis Data”, co-authored with Dr. Nguyen Hoang Hai and supervised by Professor Hyunglok Kim, earned the Best Poster in Hydrological Sciences (HS) award. The study applied advanced satellite data analysis techniques to assess drought events across diverse climates, providing critical insights into drought dynamics. Aigerim Bolatbekkyzy shared, “The conference was an invaluable experience for me, as it was my first time attending such a prestigious event. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Hai and Professor Kim for their collaborative support and mentorship, which made this opportunity possible. It was an honor to share our work, receive constructive feedback, and engage with researchers. I hope to continue growing as a researcher and further contribute to the field”.
The conference provided HydroAI students with the chance to broaden their knowledge, network with experts in the field, and showcase their research on a global platform.
