Hosted biennially, the International Conference on Research Infrastructures is the major professional forum for the global research infrastructure community. ICRI 2024 will bring together policymakers, research institution leaders, facility operators, users and researchers, to discuss pressing topics of interest, trends and challenges facing research infrastructures around the world.
ICRI 2024 will be hosted in the city of Brisbane (Meanjin in Aboriginal language), the capital of the state of Queensland in Australia, traditionally owned by the Turrbal and Jagera People.
Sessions featuring ICOS representatives
Session 4: Improving critical ocean and Earth observations
Tuesday, 3rd December 2.00PM AEST | Breakout session
Dr Paula Mabee, Dr Yann-Hervé De Roeck, Dr Shelby Walker, Dr Emmanuel Salmon
This panel will highlight best practices in ocean and Earth observation research infrastructures, focusing on strategies to enhance cross-border coordination. Key topics include improving the integration of ocean and terrestrial observation systems, advancing sea level rise forecasting, and exploring the future of ocean and Earth monitoring technologies. The session will showcase innovative weather monitoring techniques, such as the deployment of Argo floats for ocean profiling, the use of autonomous vessels for data collection, and the implementation of emergency response systems for tsunamis. Join us to learn how these coordinated efforts are advancing our understanding of the Earth’s systems and informing global environmental management.
Session 11: Exploring global strategies: How RI will address climate challenges over the next 30 years
Wednesday, 4th December 9.15AM AEST | Plenary Session
Dr Michael SanClements, Patricia Nying’uro, Professor Sushil Kumar, Matías Troncoso-Villar, Dr Werner L. Kutsch
This panel will discuss how global Research Infrastructures (RIs) address climate challenges through monitoring, mitigation, support for decision-makers, and the implementation of global environmental accounting and auditing. A critical issue to explore is the delineation between research and operational monitoring and the respective roles of research agencies and meteorological services, focusing on best practices for inter-agency cooperation to bridge existing gaps.
Side Events
Decreasing the environmental impact of Research Infrastructures
Greening Future Research Infrastructure: Improving energy efficiency, decreasing environmental impact and supporting researchers
Monday 2 December, 9:00am – 12:00pm,
W Hotel Side Room
The key talks and discussions of this event will address different aspects of improving energy efficiency and decreasing the environmental impact of the Research Infrastructures, including technical solutions, standards and regulations compliance, adoption of best practices in digital infrastructure operations, and sustainability policy recommendations. The workshop will also discuss the role of research infrastructures to support research for climate action and adaptation by providing essential data and tools for generating scientific knowledge.
Dr. Werner L. Kutsch, ICOS Director General, will take part in the discussion and give a presentation on the greening of Research Infrastructures.
More info: Decreasing the environmental impact of Research Infrastructures – ICRI 2024
Leveraging Research Infrastructures for Addressing Climate Change Risks
From Local to Global: Collaborating Across Continents and RIs for Climate Resilience
Monday 2 December, 10:00 – 1:00pm
Studio 4, W Hotel Brisbane
Delivery format: Hybrid
Climate change poses a significant threat, demanding a coordinated global response. Research Infrastructures play a critical role by providing data and expertise to understand and address climate change-driven risks.
This session explores how RIs from various regions can be leveraged for comprehensive climate action strategies. The session is organised as part of the IRISCC project, where ICOS is a partner.
More info: Leveraging Research Infrastructures for Addressing Climate Change Risks – ICRI 2024
Empowering RIs for Global Impact: Digital Tools and Collaborative Solutions
Transform Your Research Infrastructure with Cutting-Edge Technologies
Monday 2 December, 2:00 – 5:00pm
Studio 3 at the W Hotel
Delivery format: Hybrid
Research Infrastructures (RIs) are at the forefront of scientific discovery, driving innovation and addressing global challenges. To maximise their potential, RIs must leverage advanced digital technologies and foster collaboration. This session will explore how digital tools can empower RIs to overcome challenges, optimise resources, and achieve greater impact. The session will include highlights from the ENVRI-Hub Next project where ICOS is a partner.
More info: Empowering RIs for Global Impact: Digital Tools and Collaborative Solutions – ICRI 2024
Global Ecosystem Research Infrastructure (GERI)
Thursday 5 December 1:30 – 5:00pm,
UQ Brisbane City (Room OM14)
The ‘Global Ecosystem Research Infrastructure’ (GERI) is an integrated network of six site-based research infrastructures around the world, that are analogous but independent, and have come together to better understanding ecosystems across global biomes. ICOS is a founding member of GERI. GERI activities go beyond that of their original design and are a large value add to the research communities and sponsors, alike. GERI focuses on establishing the pathways for network-to-network activities across continents and cultures, garnering community support, eliminating barriers for researchers to work together, and federating our data together. In this way, GERI prepares and provides these data to better understand environmental change at a global scale and supports the next decade of Earth system science research.