On 24 June 2024, the University of Montpellier hosted the CHARM-EU Summer School under the title Bridging Minds, Shaping Futures: Transdisciplinary in Research. Two members of the Chair actively contributed to the international event.
Judit Mádl-Szőnyi, head of the Chair, was invited as a keynote speaker and delivered a presentation titled From Groundwater Flow to Societal Climate Adaptation: A Transdisciplinary Journey. In her talk, she presented how research into groundwater flow led to the development of the NaBa-MAR (Nature-Based Managed Aquifer Recharge) approach—an innovative solution for climate adaptation that integrates natural water movement with managed aquifer recharge. The method is based on know-how developed at ELTE and offers a novel response to water management challenges posed by climate change.
Judit Mádl-Szőnyi during her presentation
(Source of image: University of Montpellier (CHARM-EU))
Following her presentation, Judit also participated in a panel discussion with international experts, where they explored the role of transdisciplinary approaches in sustainability and societal impact.
The interactive elements of the presentation were moderated by Ildikó Erhardt, who engaged the international audience through a series of Wooclap questions. These included:
- What is groundwater?
- What proportion of the Earth’s mobilisable freshwater is groundwater?
- In which direction does groundwater naturally flow?
- Does infiltrated water stay in place underground?
These questions helped participants better understand the role of groundwater in sustainable water management and climate resilience.
Ildikó Erhardt during the interactive session
(Source of image: University of Montpellier (CHARM-EU))
A highlight of the session was the screening of the NaBa-MAR educational film, developed with the support of the University Excellence Fund (EKA) Innovation Grant. The film presented the NaBa-MAR concept in a clear and accessible way, making complex hydrogeological processes understandable even for non-specialists. Presenting the film to a young, international audience was particularly valuable, as it raised awareness of groundwater’s importance and demonstrated how Hungarian-developed know-how can contribute to global climate adaptation strategies.
The CHARM-EU Summer School provided an excellent opportunity for ELTE researchers to showcase the societal relevance of their work through a transdisciplinary lens and to build international academic collaborations.