On December 4, 2024, the VNU University of Science (VNU-HUS) organized a series of lectures on the topics: "Forecasting Drought and Heatwaves Using Physical-Based and Data-Driven Methods" and "Compound Drought and Heatwaves". These lectures were part of academic exchange activities under the Partnership for Higher Education Reform (PHER) project, coordinated by VNU-HUS, USAID, and Indiana University.
Enhancing Drought and Heatwave Forecasting Skills Using AI with Experts from KIT
The seminar featured the participation of Prof. Dr. Andreas H. Fink from the Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, along with leading climate scientists. In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngac An Bang, Vice Rector of VNU-HUS, expressed his pleasure in welcoming both international and Vietnamese experts. He emphasized the university’s full support for collaboration projects between the Faculty of Meteorology, Hydrology, and Oceanography and KIT—not only in meteorology and climate but also in related fields such as physics and artificial intelligence.
During the seminar, Prof. Dr. Andreas H. Fink presented his research on drought and heatwave forecasting using two approaches: physical-based (traditional) methods and data-driven models (leveraging artificial intelligence). He highlighted that Vietnam, being in a tropical and subtropical region with frequent convective weather and thunderstorms, poses challenges for classical forecasting models. Therefore, the application of AI and data modeling has become a growing trend to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts.
Prof. Fink expressed his belief that combining traditional methods with AI techniques would yield better results and support forecasting agencies and researchers in issuing early warnings to reduce disaster risks.
Prof. Dr. Phan Van Tan, Head of the strong research group on Regional Climate Modeling and Climate Change, shared about the long-standing collaboration with Prof. Fink's research group at KIT since 2012. The two groups have conducted many valuable studies and published jointly in international journals. Prof. Tan emphasized that applying AI in meteorology not only brings breakthroughs in forecasting but also opens new research opportunities.
The seminar attracted a large number of researchers, experts, and students in the field of meteorology, fostering vibrant academic discussions and knowledge exchange. It provided new insights and methods, helping improve the forecasting skills of the scientific community. Moreover, the event opened further opportunities for deeper collaboration between VNU-HUS and KIT, especially in the application of advanced technologies to meteorological research and disaster risk reduction in Vietnam.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngac An Bang and representatives of the university and the Faculty of Meteorology, Hydrology, and Oceanography presented commemorative gifts to Prof. Dr. Andreas H. Fink.
About KIT
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) was established in 2009 through the merger of the University of Karlsruhe and the Karlsruhe Research Center. KIT offers a dynamic and diverse academic environment with over 23,000 students. Its areas of study include: Engineering; Physics; Quantum and Particle Physics; Chemistry; Organic Chemistry; Materials Science; Environmental Science; Biology; Computer Science; Liberal Arts; and Social Sciences.