Research, especially for early career scientists, starts with the spark of an idea and is then often challenged by empirical or methodological road bumps and conceptual seemingly dead ends. Challenges in earth science research exist in manifold ways, ranging from inaccessible field sites or data, unknown initial conditions of models, up and down scaling, extrapolation and substitution in space and time, unavailable or insufficient methods, to unknown processes and land forms. In this short course you can “pop-up” these challenges and ideas. We want to raise a constructive discussion, which aims at solving challenges, suggests new research approaches and methods, and encourages networks and possibilities for in-depth discussions amongst early career scientists at international conferences.

This new flavor of short course starts with “pop-ups” of a tangible idea, question or challenge in geomorphic research. In the pop-ups you outline your challenge in a 1-2 minute, 1-2 slides presentation, which you have suggested beforehand via Email to us (geomorph-problems@geographie.uni-bonn.de). The pop-ups are followed by chaired and facilitated discussions in topical groups by all participants of the short course to crowd solve the presented challenges and ideas. To share and spark discussions beyond the short course, summarizing statements of the discussions are made available in a blog post.

This short course lives by your input: i) by stating a research idea or challenge you would like to share, until February 26, 2018 and ii) by participating in the discussion during the short course. Please send a short statement of your idea or challenge related to geomorphic research, along with a motivation (3-4 sentences) to the following Email address: geomorph-problems@geographie.uni-bonn.de. We will choose a gripping and broad selection of topics from all submissions. The contributions within the short course are free of charge. If you want to discuss a specific problem, but rather stay anonymous, please let us know.
The short course is organized by European Young Geomorphologists especially for early career scientists. All of us being divers early career scientists we expect a non-hierarchic, respectful and constructive environment for the discussions.