Climate change has led to an increasing demand from society on the climate research community for process understanding, improved scenarios, reduced uncertainties, and more reliable data for mitigation and impact studies. To meet this demand, fundamental research on the physic and chemistry of the various components of the climate system (e.g. atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and cryosphere), and their mutual interactions is pivotal. This requires a new generation of researchers that have strong in-depth knowledge in their specific parts of the climate system, but at the same time are equipped with a broader knowledge to comprehend the overall picture in the coupled Earth System. Furthermore, the demand from society to be informed about changing climates can only be met when researchers are able to communicate with experts from other disciplines as well as with a layman person.
The Norwegian Research School on Changing Climates in the coupled Earth System (CHESS), which started in November 2015, is a direct response to this demand and comprises 13 national partners from Bergen, Oslo, Tromsø, and Svalbard. CHESS entails most of the major institutions in Norway that educate PhD students in the Earth System with relevance to changing climates.
This is the last year of CHESS and by the end of 2024, the school has 159 active PhD members, with 55% females; and over 100 senior scientists, with 33% females, as supervisors.
CHESS continues to coordinate a few activities during its last year of existence. A total of 5 intensive courses, workshops and winter school with different topics were organized or supported by CHESS: "Illustrations for Science" course had 14 participants; “Writing successful project proposals” workshop had 15 attendees; the “7th edition of e-Science course” involved 21 PhD and master students; “Science writing workshop with Dallas Murphy” had 13 participants; and the last activity the “H2O Winter school” had 12 participants.
The CHESS Final Annual Meeting in June was successfully concluded with over 70 invited guests, members, and alumni to celebrate the achievements of the school and to signify its closure. At the end of the meeting, the CHESS director outlined the vision and specific strategies for integrating the school’s legacy into the Norwegian Geophysical Society (NGS), ensuring the continuation of the network that has been meticulously built throughout the school’s existence.
The CHESS research school successfully established itself as a recognized international research training environment in Norway, specifically focused on understanding changing climates within the coupled Earth System. With an extensive portfolio of over 100 training activities, CHESS provided in-depth and interdisciplinary training to more than 360 PhD candidates. The diverse range of courses offered not only enhanced the academic competencies of students but also equipped them with essential skills to effectively engage in the critical discourse surrounding climate change.
One of the key outcomes of the CHESS research school was its ability to foster collaboration between national and international research communities. This was exemplified by the participation in various summer and winter schools, as well as the annual meetings where students presented their research projects. These presentations provided invaluable feedback from both peers and senior scientists, creating an environment conducive to learning and professional growth. The networking opportunities afforded by these gatherings led to the establishment of lasting professional relationships, which students can leverage as they advance in their careers.
The impact of CHESS on climate and environmental research in Norway was profound. By reducing fragmentation and promoting collaboration among research institutions, CHESS strengthened the research landscape. The partnerships formed with 10 national institutes enhanced opportunities for both PhD candidates and senior scientists to collaborate across disciplines, addressing the complex challenges associated with climate change in a more interdisciplinary approach. This is essential for developing comprehensive solutions to the pressing issues we face in the context of global climate change.
Moreover, CHESS played a pivotal role in shaping a new generation of researchers who possess a holistic understanding of the coupled Earth System. This understanding is crucial for future research endeavors and for informing effective policy making.
The establishment of a LinkedIn group for CHESS members further ensured ongoing communication and networking, fostering a sense of community that will have a lasting impact on the careers of both current and former students.
As CHESS drew to a close, the transfer of its legacy to the Norwegian Geophysical Society (NGS) marked an important step in ensuring that the achievements and established network continue to thrive. NGS, with its commitment to advancing geophysical research, is well-positioned to carry forward the impactful training and collaborative spirit that CHESS fostered. By providing key courses and an annual summer school, NGS will play a vital role in maintaining the professional development of early-career scientists and ensuring that the momentum built by CHESS is sustained for years to come.
The proposal for a Norwegian Research School on Changing Climates in the coupled Earth SyStem (CHESS) is a direct response to the 'Nasjonal forskerskole innen geofag med temaet "The Earth System"' call from the Norwegian Research Council. With 13 national partners from Bergen, Oslo, Tromsø, and Svalbard, CHESS entails most of the major institutions in Norway that educate PhD students in the Earth System with relevance to changing climates. In total, more than 170 PhD students and around 115 seniors scientist will be involved.
Climate change has led to an increasing demand from society on the climate research community for process understanding, improved scenarios, reduced uncertainties, and more reliable data for mitigation and impact studies. To meet this demand, fundamental research on the physics and chemistry of the various components of the climate system (e.g. atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and cryosphere), and their mutual interactions is pivotal. This requires a new generation of researchers that have strong in-depth knowledge in their specific parts of the climate system, but at the same time are equipped with a broader knowledge to comprehend the overall picture in the coupled Earth System. Furthermore, the demand from society to be informed about changing climates can only be met when researchers are able to communicate with experts from other disciplines as well as with a layman person.
In order to strengthen the national research training, the school will coordinate a wide range of activities, including (1) short, intensive courses with international expert lecturers; (2) Specialized workshops and summer schools; (3) Annual event exposing the students to the multidisciplinary challenges of climate change to societies and ecosystems; (4) Annual meeting for all members of CHESS; (5) Focus on network building and gender related issues.
