Engaging User Communities in Climate and Weather HPC Research through Social Media and Digital Networking: Insights from ESiWACE3

Effective and sustained communication is essential for engaging user and expert communities in high-resolution computational (HPC) climate and weather research, given the scientific complexity, rapidly evolving tools and diverse user needs involved. These challenges are particularly acute for Centres of Excellence (CoEs), whose focus on long-term service provision, capacity building and community support sets them apart from traditional European research projects. CoEs must therefore ensure they remain visible and relevant within diverse expert communities. Although these issues are frequently discussed in soil science, valuable insights can also be gained from related environmental domains. ESiWACE3 (Simulation of Weather and Climate in Europe) is a European Centre of Excellence that supports the Earth system modelling community by providing advanced high-performance computing services, training and expertise. This paper presents ESiWACE3 as a transferable case study, focusing on its use of social media and digital networking to facilitate communication, knowledge exchange and community development among expert users.

ESiWACE3 has developed a tailored communication, dissemination and engagement strategy for its community of practice, which includes Earth system modellers, high-performance computing experts, early-career scientists and technology providers. Social media, newsletters and dedicated web content are used to make complex technical developments visible and actionable for users. However, a key challenge is that many expert users do not routinely use social media for professional information exchange, even though these platforms are becoming increasingly important for visibility and discoverability across distributed communities. To address this, ESiWACE3 has adapted its communication approach to reflect audience behaviour. Professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn have proven particularly effective in reaching and retaining expert users.

In addition to regular updates, communication activities are closely integrated with project services and events, such as workshops, hackathons and training sessions. Social networking is used to amplify the impact of these activities and sustain engagement over time. Targeted campaigns and visual formats, such as short videos and infographics, have helped to highlight expertise, services, and collaboration opportunities, thereby strengthening the connections between users, service providers, and domain experts. For ESiWACE3, social networking is not a replacement for traditional scientific communication; rather, it is a complementary mechanism that ensures climate and weather experts in HPC are aware of the available services, training opportunities, and ongoing research. These experiences demonstrate how the strategic integration of social networking can increase the visibility and uptake of services within specialised environmental research communities, including soil science networks.