Recap of the 5th Edition of “Apéro de l’Hydro”

Last week, the beautiful city of Toulouse hosted the 5th edition of “Apéro de l’Hydro”. The annual afterwork event presented by BWI delved deep into the world of hydrology. The event, which took place at the B612-Centre d’innovation, brought together distinguished professionals and enthusiasts to examine the most recent developments and promote thought-provoking dialogues regarding this important topic.

Jeremy Fain, BWI’s CEO kicked off the Apéro de l’Hydro with an opening speech. He welcomed the attendees to an evening full of ample networking opportunities. Sophie Champagne, Manager of DISTRICT by Aerospace Valley, then introduced Aerospace Valley’s accelerator located at B612. She highlighted the critical role that the innovation center plays in advancing the industry.

Keynote speeches from the Apéro de l’Hydro

The keynote speakers then took their turns to deliver interesting insights in the world of hydrology:

• Dr. Emna Ayari – Postdoctoral Researcher at CESBIO
  Using SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) and optical remote sensing data, Dr. Ayari captured the attention of the audience with her presentation on surface soil moisture retrieval over continental semi-arid regions. Her knowledge of remote sensing technologies has provided countless insights for tracking and comprehending the dynamics of soil moisture, which is crucial for efficient management of water resources in arid areas.
• Dr. Jérôme Benveniste – Former Senior Advisor at the European Space Agency
  Dr. Benveniste presented about the observation of terrestrial coastal areas from space by drawing on his vast knowledge and experience. He emphasized the vital connections between land and sea in his talk on freshwater flux to the oceanic coastal zone. The value of satellite observations in understanding and lessening the effects of coastal hydrological processes was discussed too. 
• Dr. Mohamad Hamze – Product Owner at BWI
  Dr. Hamze’s presentation focused on how to incorporate factors from remote sensing into crop models for irrigation monitoring at the plot level. In his pitch, he emphasized the critical role that technology plays in maximizing the use of agricultural water while providing creative ways to improve crop output and water efficiency.

The participants were actively involved in the discussions while exchanging ideas, and making new connections in the hydrology and aerospace community. You can check out some of the pictures from the event below!