FINAL CALL - apply to join the GSA Nepal Penrose conference
Marin Clark
Dear Colleagues,
Join us in Nepal for the GSA Penrose conference on high mountain hydrogeology and hazards - the deadline is fast approaching on Feb 9.
We are thrilled to invite you to the GSA Penrose Conference, taking place from May 18–22, 2026, in the breathtaking mountains of Dhulikhel, Nepal.
For a long time, understanding the inner workings of hydrogeology our world’s high mountains remained a mystery. Today, understanding mountain bedrock groundwater is no longer just a curiosity—it is a critical frontier for predicting water security in a changing climate, mitigating landslide hazards, and understanding the global carbon cycle.
Why Join Us?
This conference aims to bring many different disciplines together to advance this critical scientific frontier. Whether you work on groundwater management, geochemistry, or disaster risk, this is a space to cross-pollinate ideas and set the scientific agenda for the next decade.
Key Themes Include:
Modeling water resources beyond snow and ice.
The role of extreme precipitation and groundwater in triggering landslides and floods.
Chemical weathering and carbon fluxes in high-relief terrain.
Social vulnerability and the human side of mountain hydrology.
Experience the Himalaya
Beyond the meeting rooms, we are offering an optional 1 or 2-day field trip (May 22–23) to the Melamchi River valley. You’ll see firsthand the impact of the devastating 2021 floods, visit major water supply projects, and—for the early risers—enjoy a sunrise climb of Ama Yangri Peak with stunning views of the High Himalaya.
Key Details
Location: Dhulikhel, Nepal (Transportation from Kathmandu provided).
Application Deadline: February 9, 2026.
Cost: Estimated at $500–$700 (includes lodging, meals, and ground transport) for the main conference. This amount is exclusive of airfare, lodging in Kathmandu (which is optional and will depend on your choice of travel timing), or participation in the optional post-conference field trip. We will provide estimates of field trip costs soon.
Financial Support: Thanks to GSA and the NSF, significant financial aid is available. This will be distributed on a needs basis, and might benefit early career researchers, emeriti/late career people, and attendees from low- to mid-income nations. A number of places have also been reserved for Nepali participants at reduced cost.
Financial support for attendance will be available. Ready to help us map the future of mountain hydrogeology?
Click Here for more information and to Apply via the GSA Portal
We look forward to seeing you in the mountains!
Warmly,
The Organizing Committee, Joshua West, Marin Clark, Niels Hovius, and Deepak Chamlagain
Marin K. Clark
Professor
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Michigan
2534 North University Building
1100 North University Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1005
p: +1 734 615 0484
f: +1 734 763 4690
marinkc@umich.edu
http://www.earth.lsa.umich.edu/~marinkc