Hungary will host the IAH World Congress in 2026

The most important international groundwater event of the IAH (International Association of Hydrogeologists) took place from 8 to 13 September 2024. The 51st IAH Congress returned to Europe after Wuhan and Cape Town. The event was organised by the Swiss Society of Hydrogeology (SSH) and the Centre for Hydrogeology and Geothermal Sciences (CHYN) of the University of Neuchâtel and hosted at the prestigious Davos Congress Centre in Davos, Switzerland.

The week-long event brought together 1100 participants to discuss and present current issues and research results in the science of hydrogeology. Renowned scientists shared their latest findings on groundwater, presented innovative solutions and discussed pressing societal challenges. Future challenges and opportunities were discussed in plenary sessions and roundtable discussions, underlining the growing global importance of the work of hydrogeologists.

The programme of the event included organised mid-week field trips, which offered a range of opportunities to understand hydrogeological issues in the Alpine environment. Evening events provided further networking opportunities for participants.

One of the highlights of the conference was the inauguration of Teodóra Szőcs as the new and first female President of the Association. Her presidency is also a great honour for the Hungarian hydrogeology profession.

At the event it was also decided that Hungary will host the IAH World Congress in 2026. The Hungarian National Section of the IAH, chaired by Anita Erőss, is the initiator of the decision to host the event. ELTE hydrogeologists will participate in the organisation of this major international event in cooperation with other universities and institutes.

The ELTE hydrogeological research group was represented at the conference by Judit Mádl-Szőnyi, Petra Baják, Anita Erőss, Katalin Hegedűs-Csondor, Márk Szijártó and Szilvia Simon, who presented their research results in presentations and posters. In addition, Judit Mádlné Szőnyi and Szilvia Simon were actively involved in the organisation and chairing of the section on groundwater flow systems. The Congress also hosted the annual meeting of the Regional Groundwater Flow Commission, which was successfully chaired by Judit Mádlné Szőnyi, President, and Szilvia Simon, Secretary.

Participation in the conference was supported by the National Multidisciplinary Laboratory on Climate Change RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00014 project, and  2023-1.2.2-HE_PARTNERSHIP-2023-00005 ClimEx-PE project. In addition, the participation in the conference was supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office PD-OTKA Excellence Program, Project No. 142660, the Papp Simon Foundation and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences through the Youth International Conference Participation Grant.

(Source: tothprofesszura.elte.hu)