Young Professionals

During the 9th IAHR Europe Congress the following activities will be specially dedicated towards young professionals participating in the congress.

Young Professionals' Night

The Young Professionals’ Night is an informal and relaxed evening specially dedicated to young professionals. Join us for a boat ride under the midnight sun through Luleå's stunning archipelago! The event will include a barbecue at Sandön and great opportunities to meet your fellow young researchers and the YP network Scandinavia.

When: 18.00-22.00, Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Where: Luleå Archipelago Klubbviken, starting from the southern harbour

Young Professionals' Session: Academia, Industry and Policy: Navigating Career Paths as a Young Professional

When: 13.00 - 14.00, Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Where: Room Olga, Kulturenshus

Panelists:

Elena Pummer, Professor at Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

Emanuele Quaranta, Scientific Officer, European Commission Joint Research Center

Magnus Lövgren, Teamleader Asset Management, Vattenfall Vattenkraft AB

As part of the 9th IAHR Europe Congress, we are organizing a panel discussion titled “Academia, Industry & Policy: Navigating Career Paths as a Young Professional.” The session is designed for early-career professionals who are exploring their long-term career direction and seeking honest, practical insights from experienced leaders.

The discussion will focus on:

• Key differences between academia, industry and authorities (work structure, impact, career progression)
• Skills and mindsets that matter most in each environment
• Honest reflections on trade-offs and challenges
• Practical advice for young professionals making early career decisions

The format will include brief opening remarks from each panelist, followed by a moderated discussion and audience Q&A. Our goal is to create an engaging and candid conversation that provides real value to attendees.

Young Professional's Lunch - Collaboration in Hydro-Environmental research

When: 11.45 - 13.00, Thursday, June 11, 2026

Where: Restaurant, Kulturenshus

On the last conference day, you may join a lunch with your fellow young professionals. During the lunch we will have an interactive session focussing on strengthening collaboration within the field of hydro-environmental research. You can explore how to identify, build, and effectively use our academic and professional networks to unlock new opportunities for cooperation. Through small exercises, we will map existing connections, uncover shared research interests, and examine pathways for interdisciplinary collaboration across the water-related challenges of our time.

Let us learn more about our own network potential and shape ideas for fostering cooperation during a casual lunch with colleagues.