1. Introduction
Canadian hydrological research is built on a strong legacy and has seen
a steady progression over recent decades (Woo, 2019). Canada is a leader
in cold regions hydrology and its varied landscapes have led to
developments in our understanding of hydrological processes across
forest, prairie, mountain, and wetland environments. Today’s early
career researchers (ECRs), including graduate students, postdoctoral
researchers, and junior faculty, will shape the future of hydrological
research in Canada. ECRs play an important role in advancing Canadian
hydrological sciences as they make up a large portion of conference
presentations and publications.
The strong presence of students and other ECRs in the science community
led the Canadian Young Hydrologic Society (CYHS) to organize a three-day
workshop from July 4 – 6, 2019, in Montreal, QC. Thirty-three hydrology
ECRs (within five years of their last degree, including graduate
students) from across Canada discussed current and future challenges as
well as emerging opportunities in Canadian hydrology. Each day, the
workshop was comprised of small (6-10 people) peer-moderated group
discussions followed by plenary discussions. These conversations formed
the basis for this perspective paper. We outline three challenges faced
by Canadian hydrology ECRs: (1) data management, (2) multidisciplinary
methods and (3) scientific engagement with society. These scientific
challenges have underlying institutional and cultural factors, which may
exacerbate existing technical challenges or barriers. In other words,
non-scientific aspects of graduate education and collaboration
significantly impact scientific outcomes. We propose institutional and
cultural shifts that can address inherent obstacles in Canadian
hydrological research and can help us to propel the discipline forward
in the coming decades.