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Despite the enormous significance of change and variability in the Asian monsoon system for human activities, an inadequate number of scientists in the Asia-Pacific region have an up-to-date knowledge of recent advances in monsoon science. To begin to fill this gap, the Advanced Institute on “The Asian Monsoon System: Prediction of Change and Variability” was conducted during 2-11 January 2008 at the East-West Center adjacent to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Twenty early career scientists from the Asia-Pacific region were selected through a competitive application and review process from an applicant pool of 98 applicants. Participants were from many APN member countries including, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam. Lecturers at the institute were prominent senior monsoon scientists from the Asia-Pacific region and APN countries, including USA, Japan, Korea, China and India. The young participants and lecturers interacted through a series of lectures, discussions and social activities that fostered research network development, knowledge and idea exchange, and ideas/proposals for future collaboration. Specific activities focused on:
· Review of latest advances in Monsoon science, especially in relation to variability and predictability of the Asian
monsoon, associated hydrological cycle and other key factors affecting monsoon system including GHG emissions and
aerosols
· Practical hands-on experience with accessing and use of a comprehensive data and information system related to
Asian monsoon based at the University of Hawaii
· Formation of sub-groups on inter-seasonal, intra-seasonal and longer term variability of the monsoon and
development of ideas/proposals for longer-term collaborative research
· Awareness of and involvement in international science programs of WCRP (CLIVAR, GEWEX)
The institute was very successful and the participant response has been uniformly favorable. As one participant wrote, "
…I had an opportunity to meet and share some ideas and works with young scientists from other countries especially from Asian countries (most of the time I met only scientists from the US or some developed countries). I believe that we as young scientists will be seeing and working with each other again in the future. And of course, I also learned a lot about Monsoon system from many experts from well known organizations who participated in the institute.”
The organizers expect the institute to have benefits into the future. A listserve has been set up for participants and lecturers to remain in contact (http://mail.atmos.washington.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/monsoon-inst) and to follow up on ideas and proposals developed during the institute. All available material from the institute is posted for download on this webiste. The institute was directed by Prof. Bin Wang of the Department of Meteorology and International Pacific Research Center (IPRC), and School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology University of Hawaii. The START secretariat and East West Center also provided organizational support.
Questions? Contact sstowe@agu.org. Include “Monsoon Institute” in the title of your email.
