Note: Thanks to Darrel Baumgardner, from Droplet Measurement
Technologies (DMT), who provided this report for HMEI.
The 15th International Conference on Clouds and Precipitation was
convened in Cancun, Mexico July 7-11th. More than 500 abstracts from 35
countries had been submitted (Fig. 1) on topics related to cloud
formation, precipitation development, severe storms, instrumentation,
the interaction of clouds and aerosols and a number of other weather
related themes (Fig. 2).
The meeting was sponsored by a number of research
institutions, international and domestic agencies and instrument
manufactures. HMEI and two of the HMEI members, Droplet Measurement
Technologies and Leosphere helped sponsor the meeting (Figs. 3-5).
Figure 3 (click to enlarge) |
Figure 4 (click to enlarge) |
Figure 5 (Click to enlarge) |
Figure 6 |
The meeting received accolades for its organization and some innovative
steps that were taken to encourage attendees to spend more time at the
posters. Traditionally the poster sessions are poorly attended because
of lack of time, placement of the posters away from the main meeting
area or limited time slots for different topics. In this meeting, the
posters were showcased by placing the posters in areas directly
adjoining the rooms with oral presentations, having all breakfasts,
coffee breaks and lunches in the poster areas where tables and chairs
had been set up, and allowing enough space so that poster
presentations were available during the entire period of the meeting
(Fig. 6).
There were many papers presented that were related to instrumentation
and measurements. One of the HMEI members who supported the conference,
DMT, presented a $300 award to the best student poster on new technology
for measuring cloud or aerosol properties.
Figure 7 |
As with all good meetings, one of the highlights was the banquet that
was held on Isla de Mujeres, an island near Cancun where participants
were taken by ferry and treated to dinner and a show on the beach.
By the end of the banquet, practically the entire group of participants
found themselves dancing to the Caribbean music on the stage with the
performers (Fig. 7).
Judging from the parting comments by participants at the end of the
meeting and in subsequent emails, the 15th ICCP was a complete success.
The HMEI members that had booths at the meeting also reported that they
were very successful in making new contacts and getting their message to
the community.
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