Walk the Talk Field Conference and Community Consultation

Organiser and partners

  1. Nepal Geographical Society
  2. Himalayan Research Center
  3. Kathmandu Center for Research and Education
  4. Ministry of Tourism and Culture
  5. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation
  6. Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone
  7. Planetary Science Institute/NASA

Objectives

The main objective of the Walk the Talk conference is to provide a platform for scientists to share their research experiences with other scientists, as well as between scientists and local people. Researchers will also have the opportunity to verify, validate, or enhance their research findings through discussions with other experts participating in the conference, and also through discussions with individual key informants and groups of local people. Local people are likely to benefit from the discussions as well, e.g., through the preparation of development strategies based on their newly acquired, research-based information.

Scott Watson and Katie Miles will present research findings on glaciers in the Everest region of Nepal, including results from the EverDrill project (University of Leeds and Aberystwyth University).

An AGU100 Centennial grant supported hands-on outreach activities including the development of a Projected Augmented Relief Model and thermal imaging activity.

Read a blog about the conference here

 

Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2015

From 30 June - 5 July 2015, researchers from across the UK joined forces to present our ‘Vanishing Glaciers of Everest’ exhibit at the prestigious Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in London. The team from Sheffield, Aberystwyth, Leeds, Northumbria, and Hertfordshire universities presented the exhibit to over 14,000 visitors, including school groups from across the country, and were assisted by Everest Summiter Mollie Hughes during the final weekend.

From the Royal Society:
“The Summer Science Exhibition is an annual display of the most exciting cutting-edge science and technology in the UK. This week-long festival features 22 exhibits from the forefront of innovation. You can meet the scientists, try some of the hands-on activities or attend some inspiring talks and events.”

The exhibit focused on the response of Everest’s glaciers to climate change, including the Khumbu Glacier, which is the highest in the world and is home to Everest Base Camp.  The glaciers in the region are rapidly thinning and while the driving processes are still not yet fully understood, the implications for changing meltwater generation and seasonality will have far reaching implications. The glaciers represent the “water towers” for much of Asia, feeding rivers that support 1.3 billion people in countries such as Bangladesh, China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan. Part of the team will continue the field research this coming October on the Khumbu Glacier.

 

Phil Porter and Neil Glasser drew the crowds...

 

 

...whilst Mollie Hughes inspired the visitors with her ascent of Everest:

Everest summiter @MollieJHughes inspiring visitors @royalsociety for our last day of @EverestRSSSE #summerscience pic.twitter.com/VktaYkDEXd

 

We dressed up smart for the VIP evening soirees and made the most of the exquisite food selection:

Ready for our first soirée @royalsociety #summerscience pic.twitter.com/76gVHxnUIs

 

 

Duncan Quincey spoke to Geographical Magazine about our research...

 

 

...and we met journalist ...

 

...and MP Paul Blomfield:

 

 

Our melting ice was a hit in the scorching London heat...

 

 

 

...but if you couldn't make it you can still watch an overview of our research...

 

...or listen to Neil Glasser's appearance on BBC Wales:

 

 

 

 

 


Email: scott@rockyglaciers.org
 
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