Opening Conference

The first PEN conference aimed to begin discussions between network members and to set up four working groups, one for each of the four network themes. One of the aims of the conference was to attract members of the climatology, palaeoclimatology, modelling, stats/maths communities and related fields. Major challenges in each of the networks four themes were identified, and by facilitating discussion between the communities, pathways to overcoming these challenges were created.

Keynote speakers

Headline Speaker

Gabi Hegerl of the University of Edinburgh kindly agreed to start the conference off with the headline speech.Headline Speaker:

Prof. Gabi Hegerl
(University of Edinburgh)

Statistics

Since the all of the network themes will use statistical methods, a keynote talk covered the use of statistics in paleo-climate research:

Dr. Andrew Parnell
(University College Dublin)

Data

This theme considers aspects of the quantification of error and uncertainty of palaeo-climate data. Keynote speakers:

Prof. Tim Herbert
(Brown University)
Prof. Keith Bennett
(Queen's University Belfast)

Models

This theme considers aspects of quantification of uncertainty in complex models. Keynote speakers:

Prof. Dan Lunt
(University of Bristol)
Prof. Paul Valdes
(University of Bristol)

Data-Model Comparison

This theme encompasses the quantification of uncertainty in complex models. Keynote speaker:

Prof. Jonty C. Rougier
(University of Bristol)

Forecasts

This theme synthesises the results from the first three themes in order to assess and ultimately improve the ability of climate models to forecast climate change. Keynote speaker:

Prof. Mat Collins
(University of Exeter)

Working Groups

Working groups, one focused on each network theme, were set up during the conference; substantial funding will be made available for each of these working groups. For more information visit the working group specific pages by clicking the links below. The facilitators listed have been replaced by the working group leaders.

Data

The full name of this working group is quantification of error and uncertainty of data. Facilitators:

Caroline Lear
Ulrich Salzmann

Models

The full name of this working group is quantification of uncertainty in complex models. Facilitators:

Bette Otto-Bliesner
Anna von der Heydt

Data-Model Comparison

The full name of this working group is methodologies which enable robust model-data comparison. Facilitators:

Manfred Mudelsee
Louise Sime

Forecasts

The full name of this working group is Forecasting and future climate projections. Facilitators:

James Annan
Tim Lenton

Conference Schedule

Please find the conference timetable at this link.

Early Career Researchers

We strongly encourage early career researchers to participate in our network and to attend our conferences. To make this possible, the conference fee for every PhD student presenting a talk/poster at the conference was waived. We also offered travel support for early career researchers.

Contact

Please send any comments/questions to the network coordinator to Edward Yorke. This conference is organised for the Past Earth Network by the organising committee: