Euro-FLOW summer school, Leeds, UK. 09-13 July, 2018

The project team and several invited speakers met for a week at the University of Leeds with a midweek excursion into the Yorkshire Dales. The week was expertly put together by Tiffany Hicks, and led by Lee Brown and Megan Klaar (UNIVLEEDS).

Day 1 and 2 were devoted to class room learning activities, with lectures on E-flows research in the UK (Megan Klaar/Lee Brown), WFD overview (Jan Brookes), Ethics of collaborative research projects (Lee Brown), media relations (Anna Martinez, Leeds), ecosystem services (Julia Martin-Ortega (Leeds)/Martin Volk (UFZ) and a computer learning practical on the prevention of invasive species spread (Alison Dunn, Leeds). Day 1 also saw the ESRs presenting a poster about their research to the rest of the group and other interested academics from water@leeds.

On day 3 the group headed to Nidderdale for a day led by Yorkshire Water staff (Ben Gillespie, Ben Aston, Mark Tinsdeall, Jo Baxter and Andrew Walker). The group learned about water management and invasive species such as Crassula and Himalayan Balsam, land management activities in the uplands, and the history/operations of Scar House reservoir

On day 4 the group took a rest from e-flows related learning for some team building activities. After abseiling into How Stean Gorge in fragrant wet suits, the group proceeded to scramble through the river, dive into plunge pools and slide down bedrock chutes!

Day 5 saw a return to Leeds, with the final morning given over to talks about e-flows science used by businesses. A series of talks were given by Irantzu Lexartza-Artza (ARUP), Mark Tinsdeall/Ben Gillespie (Yorkshire Water) and Hamish Moir (CBEC Ltd). After lunch the group visited the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 1 works before a leisurely ride back to the station on the Leeds water taxi.