NERC/NCEO/DARC Training course on data assimilation and its interface with machine learning 2025

9-13th June 2025, University of Reading, UK

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Join us to explore the theory and practical applications of Data Assimilation, a vital key to analysing and predicting the Earth system and a cornerstone in the exploitation of Machine Learning to tackle environmental challenges.

Within this course, you will learn how Data Assimilation (DA) offers practical methods, underpinned by mathematical theory, to integrate numerical models and large observational datasets. This year, the course will be separated into two stages. The first stage (foundation course) will have an emphasis on applications and the well-informed use of reanalysis products. In the second stage (advanced course), we will allow more time to explore the mathematics of DA theory and algorithms and dive deeper into the relevant Machine Learning concepts. The two parts of the course can be taken consecutively or separately, depending on the student’s background and goals.

Timetable

The course will be held on the main Whiteknights campus of the University of Reading (campus map). Throughout the week, we will be in Room 1L61 of the  Brian Hoskins Building (aka Meteorology Building, BH/Met, building 58), Room 1L06 of the adjacent Agriculture Building (Ag, building 59) and Room 233 of the Harry Nursten building (building 47). Registration on Monday will be in foyer of BH.  Lunches will be in the lecture rooms unless specified otherwise (the “Eat at the Square” venue is building 7 and the “Park House” venue is building 8).

Handouts will not be provided, but slides can be downloaded via the on-line timetable below when they become available.

Data assimilation relies on mathematical and statistical knowledge (especially linear algebra and probability).  Participants are encouraged to read through our maths tutorial/revision notes and bring along any questions about these to the course.  There will be a special maths tutorial especially for this on Tuesday, 10th June at 4.15 pm.

Why not have a go at the course crossword?  Clues are here.

In the timetables below all times are in BST (GMT+1)

For further information please email Dr Alison Fowler, a.m.fowler@reading.ac.uk or Prof. Amos Lawless, a.s.lawless@reading.ac.uk.