1. WCRP Open Science Conference 24-28 October 2011 Denver, Colorado, USA http://conference2011.wcrp-climate.org Promoting, Facilitating and Coordinating Climate Research in Service to Society

2. WCRP Open Science Conference The Conference will: Appraise current state of climate science (  IPCC AR5) Identify most urgent scientific issues and research challenges Ascertain how WCRP can best facilitate research and develop partnerships critical for progress Facilitate growth of future, diverse workforce Assembly of entire WCRP research community Will also engage other key international programs Exclusive opportunity for exchange and collaboration across diverse research communities (e.g., WCRP, WWRP, IGBP, IHDP, …) working to advance understanding and prediction of climate variability and change across scales 1,500 to 2,000 or more participants anticipated Strong effort to attract ECS and students http://conference2011.wcrp-climate.org

3. International Scientific Committee Jim Hurrell, Chair, NCAR, USA Ghassem Asrar, WCRP, Switzerland Sandrine Bony, LMD/IPSL, France Tony Busalacchi, ESSIC/U. Md, USA Christian Jakob, Monash U., Australia Rik Leemans, ESSP Chair, Netherlands Jerry Meehl, NCAR, USA Terry Nakajima, U. Tokyo, Japan Carlos Nobre, IGBP Chair, Brazil Ted Shepherd, Univ. Toronto, Canada Julia Slingo, MetOffice, UK Koni Steffen, Univ. Colorado, USA Kevin Trenberth, NCAR, USA Carolina Vera, Univ. Buenos Aires, Argentina Martin Visbeck, IFM-GEOMAR, Germany WCRP Open Science Conferencehttp://conference2011.wcrp-climate.org Local Organizing Committee David Legler, Chair, NOAA Peter Backland, NCAR Roberta Boscolo, WCRP Valery Detemmerman, WCRP Peter van Oevelen, IGPO Jill Reisdorf, UCAR-JOSS Cindy Schmidt, UCAR Cathy Stephens, USCPO Ghassem Asrar, WCRP Jim Hurrell, NCAR

4. WCRP Open Science Conference Registration is now open Early-bird registration until 30 June Regular registration until 24 October; on site after Discounted rates for students and Early Career Scientists (ECS) Nominal fee for spouse/guests (includes Receptions and Gala) http://conference2011.wcrp-climate.org Abstract submission now open Deadline: 30 April (31 March for those requesting travel support) or needing US Visas) Spread the word and encourage participation! Travel grants Based on financial need and scientific merit of abstract Priority will be given to: 1) Students: those pursuing their graduate studies (MSc, PhD) 2) ECS: post-graduates and researchers (degree in 2005 or later) 3) Scientists from emerging and developing economies Grantees must attend the entire conference Includes waiver of abstract and registration fees

5. WCRP Open Science Conference http://conference2011.wcrp-climate.org Scientific Programme MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday 7:30-8:30Registration Breakfast Breakfast 8:30-10:00Plenary 10:00-10:30Coffee 10:30-12:00PlenaryPoster Session Plenary 12:00-13:30Lunch & Poster Session Lunch End of Conference 13:30-15:30Parallel Sessions 15:30-16:00Coffee 16:00-18:00Parallel Sessions

6. Daily Conference Themes: Emphasizing the integrative aspects of WCRP Monday: Climate Research in Service to Society Monday: The Climate System Components and their Interactions Tuesday: Observation and Analysis of the Climate System Wednesday: Assessing and Improving Model and Predictive Capabilities Thursday: Climate Synthesis and Assessments Friday: Translating Scientific Understanding of Climate System into Climate Information for Decision Makers Friday: The Future of WCRP WCRP Open Science Conference http://conference2011.wcrp-climate.org

7. Plenary Sessions (selected talks): Climate Research in Service to Society: Collaborative climate science: A user’s perspective on need, communication and application David Behar (Water Utility Climate Alliance, USA) Building adaptive capacity to climate variability and change in developing countries Maria Carmen Lemos (Univ. Michigan, USA) Meeting user needs Bruce Hewitson (Univ. Cape Town, South Africa) WCRP Open Science Conference http://conference2011.wcrp-climate.org Climate System Components and Their Interactions Scientific grand challenges pertaining to interactions of the climate system components Martin Visbeck (IFM-GEOMAR, Germany) Towards monitoring and understanding aerosols-clouds-precipitation-climate interactions Daniel Rosenfeld (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) Biogeochemical, Human and Ecosystem Interactions with Climate Carlos Nobre (INPE, Brazil)

8. WCRP Open Science Conference http://conference2011.wcrp-climate.org Plenary Sessions (selected talks): Observation and Analysis of the Climate System Challenges of a sustained climate observing system Kevin Trenberth (NCAR, USA) The global hydrological cycle Peter Gleick (Pacific Institute, USA) The ocean observing system Susan Wijffels (CSIRO, Australia) Assessing and Improving Model and Predictive Capabilities From regional weather to global climate: Challenges and progress in improving models Christian Jakob (Monash Univ., Australia) Challenges and progress in sub-seasonal to decadal prediction on regional scales Adam Scaife (UKMO, United Kingdom) Long-term climate change: Forcing, response and climate sensitivity Sandrine Bony (LMD/IPSL, France)

9. WCRP Open Science Conference http://conference2011.wcrp-climate.org Plenary Sessions (selected talks): Climate Synthesis and Assessments Atmospheric composition, mitigation policies and irreversible change Susan Solomon (NOAA, USA) Cryosphere and sea level variability and change Koni Steffen (CIRES/Univ. Colorado, USA) Attribution of weather and climate extreme events Peter Stott (UKMO, United Kingdom) Future Challenges Grand Challenges: The role of WCRP Panel Discussion (Chairs of Plenary Sessions) The Future of WCRP Tony Busalacchi (Univ. Maryland, USA)

10. Parallel Science Sessions: Invited and contributed presentations ~50 conveners from across WCRP and partner programmes WCRP Open Science Conference http://conference2011.wcrp-climate.org MONDAY Prediction from Sub-seasonal to Multi-decadal Time Scales Detecting, Understanding and Predicting Extreme Climate Events Ocean Dynamics and Sea Level: Variability and Change TUESDAY Climate System Observations, Reprocessing, Reanalysis and Climate Data Records Variability and Predictability of Regional Climate and Monsoons Understanding Atmospheric Processes in Climate: Clouds, Aerosols and Dynamics WEDNESDAY How Reliable are the CMIP5 Climate Models? How Climate Change Impacts Climate Variability Radiative Forcing of Climate and Chemistry-Climate Interactions THURSDAY Land Cover and Land Use Changes: Impacts on Hydroclimate, Ecosystems and Society Cryosphere and Climate Understanding Anthropogenic Climate Change in Terms of Feedbacks and Processes

11. Poster Sessions: A major feature of the conference 51 sessions and ~200 leading scientists serving as conveners WCRP Open Science Conference http://conference2011.wcrp-climate.org Example Sessions: Atmospheric Composition and Forcings Clouds, Aerosols and Climate From Global Observations to Integrated Climate Information Hydrological Cycle in Cold Regions Using Paleoclimate Observations to Improve Earth System Predictions Coupled Data Assimilation using Earth System Models Reprocessed Datasets and Climate Data Records Interactions and Predictions at the Interface of Weather and Climate Quantifying and Characterizing Uncertainty Understanding Climate Feedbacks Sea Level Variability and Change Water Resources and the Hydrological Cycle over Land Geoengineering to Counteract Global Warming? Posters on Integration of Climate Science, Information and Capacity Building in: Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia

12. Other Events and Features Students: Sponsored breakfasts with leading scientists Awards for best posters Specific activities to engage K-12 educators and participants Program still evolving – see web site WCRP Open Science Conference http://conference2011.wcrp-climate.org Early Career Scientists: NCAR ASP Workshop  40-50 participants, at least half from developing countries  Focus on regional climate issues and establishing collaborations Special session on career opportunities and issues Icebreaker and Gala Social Networking Keep up with OSC developments on Facebook, Twitter, and E-Newsletters Media Outreach Major international outlets will participate – special briefings with scientists, etc. Green Event Commitment to minimize environmental impacts of the conference

13. WCRP Open Science Conference: SponsorsSilver Platinum Bronze Gold

14. Venue: Denver Sheraton 24-28 October 2011 www.wcrp-climate.org/conference2011 WCRP Open Science Conference