The Living Land: New Frontiers in Earth System Science
August 18-22, 2025 in Harnack Haus, Berlin
Workshop Objective
Recent years have seen a surge of new questions at the intersection of land processes and Earth system science. From fast-changing surface-atmosphere interactions to the slow dynamics of soil carbon and vegetation, the role of land in shaping planetary futures is under renewed scientific scrutiny.
This workshop brings together diverse perspectives – from hydrology to biogeochemistry, from new data streams to machine learning – to track emerging scientific trends and redefine the big questions. As we synthesize knowledge across scales and disciplines, we aim to chart a bold vision for understanding and modelling land’s role in the Earth system.
Focus of the Workshop
1. Hot-off-the-press research on the key themes within MC3 4 Earth:
- Where is the anthropogenic carbon going?
- Earth system feedbacks through soil carbon and vegetation dynamics
- Local to Global Carbon-Water Dynamics
- Trends in Surface Atmosphere-Land Hydrology
- Biogeophysical Coupling between Land and Atmosphere
2. Fostering Collaborative Research within MC3 4 Earth and collaborators
- Interdisciplinary Dialogue: Brainstorm actionable research projects together that leverage new data streams & technologies
- Big-Picture Scientific Discussions: Create a cohesive vision & mission for MC3 4 Earth that lead to impactful outcomes
- Hands-On Practicals: Explore the CliMA modeling framework and get started on real-world challenges