CLIMATE EXTREMES & SOCIETAL RISKS - FINAL EVENT: XAIDA & MYRIAD projects
Dates: 17-18 December 2025
Location: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands (Maps)
Format: hybrid on December 17th
Contact: d.coumou[at]vu.nl
Organisation Committee:
- Prof. Dr. Dim Coumou (Dim Coumou – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
- Prof. Dr. Philip Ward (Philip Ward – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
- Dr. Marleen Ruiter (Marleen de Ruiter – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
- Dr. Pascal Yiou (Pascal YIOU – LSCE-IPSL)
This event is organized by the European Horizon Projects XAIDA (Extreme Events: AI for Detection & Attribution) and MYRIAD.
DECEMBER 17th – PUBLIC EVENT
Location: VU Amsterdam, NU-building (Theater 3 + Eventspot)
Time: 4PM – 7.30PM (Check-in starts from 3.30PM)
As the impacts of climate change intensify, the connection between science, risk, and policy has never been more crucial. Join us for an open and insightful evening exploring the state of the climate, the latest science on extreme weather and risk, and what must be done now to shape resilient and evidence-based climate policy. The event will feature keynote presentations from:
- Prof. Dr. Robert Vautard, Chair of IPCC Working Group I (The Physical Science Basis)
- Prof. Dr. Bart van den Hurk, Chair of IPCC Working Group II (Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability)
- Jenty Kirsch-Wood, Head Global Risk Analysis and Reporting Section, UNDRR
- Tamara Happé, PhD candidate part of project XAIDA
- Sophie Buijs, PhD candidate part of project MYRIAD
Together, these presentations will illuminate the pathways from scientific understanding to effective climate action. Following the talks, there will be ample time for discussion with the audience — including invited journalists, policymakers, scientists and other stakeholders.
Traveling for this event? Click here to view our Accommodation Guide with hotels and places to stay near the event location
Discover latest insights on climate extremes from global experts to guide informed decision-making
Location: VU Amsterdam, Netherlands
Prof. Dr. Robert Vautard
Chair of IPCC Working Group I – Physical Science
Prof. Dr. Bart van den Hurk
Chair of IPCC Working Group II – Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability
Jenty Kirsch-Wood
Head of Global Risk Management and Reporting, UNDRR at United Nations
Tamara Happé
PhD candidate, part of XAIDA project. Tamara uses AI methods to understand changes in heatwaves
Sophie Buijs
PhD candidate, part of MYRIAD project. Sophie studies how societies recover after disasters have struck
Prof. Dr. Robert Vautard
Chair of IPCC Working Group I – Physical Science
Dr. Vautard is a senior climate scientist at the National Centre for Scientific Research at Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace in Paris. He is a lead author on IPCC’s 6th assessment report and published over 230 articles on extreme events and regional climate change. Currently, he leads Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Prof. Dr. Bart van den Hurk
Chair of IPCC Working Group II – Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability
Dr. Van den Hurk is Scientific Director at Deltares and Professor at VU University Amsterdam. He spent 23 years at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) focusing on climate change scenarios and extreme weather. He is a lead author on IPCC’s 6th assessment report and currently leads Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Jenty Kirsch-Wood
Head of Global Risk Management and Reporting, UNDRR at United Nations
Kirsch-Wood joined UNDRR (UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction) in 2022 was previously the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Kyrgyzstan and advised Viet Nam and Nepal on climate resilience. With over 20 years of experience in UN agencies and NGOs, she also served as the Disaster and Climate Change Policy Focal Point for the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Tamara Happé
PhD candidate, part of the XAIDA project
Tamara Happé is a PhD candidate at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at VU Amsterdam. Tamara specializes in the use of various AI methods to understand changes in European heatwaves. She furthermore analyses discrepancies of atmospheric circulation changes between climate models and observations. Next to research, Tamara is also involved in student supervision and teaching.
Sophie Buijs
PhD candidate, part of the MYRIAD project.
Sophie Buijs is a PhD candidate at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at VU Amsterdam. She studies post-disaster recovery from a multi-risk perspective, using methods like remote sensing, programming, and surveys. Her research covers recovery of economic activity and wetlands, disease outbreaks, and multi-hazard preparedness of SMEs.
December 18th – SCIENCE EVENT
Location: VU Amsterdam, NU-Building (Theater 4 + Eventspot)
Time: 08.30 AM – 1PM (13:00)
The following morning, around 50 scientists — a mix of senior and early-career researchers from XAIDA, MYRIAD, and beyond — will gather for a focused scientific workshop. The program opens with two hours of inspiring overview talks from keynote speakers including:
- 8:30-9:10: Impact Attribution (Paolo Scussolini, VU Amsterdam)
- 9:10-9:50: Artificial Intelligence and meteorology (Laure Raynaud, Météo France)
- 9:50-10:30: Other emerging frontiers in climate risk research (Judith Claassen, MYRIAD)
Bart van den Hurk, Robert Vautard, and Jenty Kirsch-Wood will reflect on the discussions in real time, offering insights from an IPCC as well disaster risk reduction perspective. The morning concludes with poster sessions (10.30-13.00) and informal networking, providing space for collaboration and idea exchange among scientists across disciplines.
Traveling for this event? Click here to view our Accommodation Guide with hotels and places to stay near the event location.