On April 27, 2025, Judit Mádl-Szőnyi, Chair of the Regional Groundwater Flow Committee (RGFC-IAH), and Xiao-Wei Jiang, Co-Chair for the Asia, met in Budapest for a morning brunch. The meeting covered several important topics.
Among the main topics discussed were the latest publications by Judit and Xiao-Wei’s research teams. They delved into the details of some new research findings. Additionally, the upcoming IAH 2026 conference, which will be held in Budapest, was discussed, including the invitation for Xiao-Wei delivering a keynote presentation.
The meeting also aimed to strengthen future cooperation between the two significant Tóthian hydrogeology groups at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest and China University of Geosciences (Beijing, China). They decided to enhance the RGFC-IAH and groundwater theory development by combining the concept with widely used modern methods, particularly for significant topics.
A key focus of the meeting was the involvement of new and young researchers (PhD and postdoc students) in the RGFC to ensure the committee’s long-term sustainability. Finally, they discussed the ClimEx-PE project, a transdisciplinary initiative aimed at mitigating the impact of extreme hydrological events through managed aquifer recharge and public engagement. Xiao-Wei saw great potential in the project and is considering implementing a similar initiative.
This meeting was a significant step in strengthening international hydrogeological cooperation and preparing for future joint research efforts.