By Anna Schmidt
We are very much looking forward to the GLEON 2025 All Hands’ Meeting taking place in Lake Toba, Indonesia next week! The meeting will be taking place 17-21 February at the Taman Simalem Resort perched above Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Indonesia. We have an exciting week to look forward to, filled with engaging scientific discussions, cultural exposure, networking, student activities, and taking in the beauty of Lake Toba. The GLEON 2025 All Hands’ Meeting is hosted by BRIN (National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia) and Deltares with support from local institutions and communities.
Spectacular Lake Toba
Lake Toba is the largest lake in Southeast Asia (100 km long x 30 km wide) and one of the deepest lakes in the world (maximum depth of 505 meters). The lake occupies the caldera of the Toba supervolcano and contains an island in its center, Samosir Island, that is nearly the size of Singapore. Lake Toba is the site of a supervolcanic eruption that occurred ~74,000 years ago which was the largest-known explosive eruption on Earth in the past 25 million years. The eruption of the Toba Caldera had significant impacts on the global climate by bringing on a volcanic winter which decreased global temperatures between 3 and 5 °C. The eruption deposited a ~15 cm thick layer of ash over all of South Asia. Following the eruption, a caldera was formed which filled with water and created Lake Toba. Samosir Island in the center of the lake was formed by a resurgent dome caused by magma movement.
Situated on a 206-hectare estate overlooking the beautiful Lake Toba is Taman Simalem Resort, the venue for GLEON 2025 accommodations, meals, workshops, working group meetings, and all other events during the week. Taman Simalem Resort provides a multitude of activities and trekking opportunities (details to be shared at the meeting).
If this will be your first time traveling to Indonesia, check out this Lonely Planet article “15 things to know before you go to Indonesia.” Please refer to your country’s embassy website for specific advice and tips for travel to Indonesia including passport, visa and vaccination requirements. It is recommended to carry some local currency (Indonesian Rupiah) on hand as smaller vendors or transportation services may not accept credit cards.
Highlights of the week ahead
The GLEON 2025 Local Host Committee and Program Committee have been hard at work putting together an engaging schedule for the week ahead. Highlights include:
- Kicking off the week will be four GLEON Student Association (GSA)-organized pre-meeting workshops on Sunday (16 Feb) that will provide hands-on training in building aquatic ecosystem models in R, using “digital twins” of aquatic ecosystems, and managing lake ecosystems through community engagement and ecosystem restoration.
- On Monday (17 Feb) we will learn more about the local region and management in Lake Toba through a panel discussion and Freshwater Dialogue breakout discussions.
- On Tuesday (18 Feb) we begin the typical GLEON meeting agenda, starting with working group introductions before breaking out into working group meetings for the afternoon.
- The GSA-organized poster sessions will take place on Monday and Tuesday evenings, which are a great opportunity for students and others to share their research in a low-pressure environment.
- On Wednesday (19 Feb), working groups discussions will continue and there will be time in the afternoon for ad hoc meeting time following a student informational meeting and discussion on Indonesia lake management.
- Thursday (20 Feb) will be the last day of the official meeting program, where we will wrap up with working group report-backs and some free time for a guided trek or self-organized activities.
- Finally, Friday (21 Feb) wil be the optional excursion organized by the local host committee, where we will explore the beauty of the Lake Toba region and learn more about the local culture.
- More information can be found on the GLEON 2025 All Hands’ Meeting website.
FAQs
Are you new to GLEON and interested in learning more about the organization? Here are some frequently asked questions that might help guide you!
What is GLEON?
The Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON) is a grassroots network of people, lakes, and data. GLEON conducts international team science to advance our understanding of lakes and their benefits in a changing environment. GLEON is a space where projects and collaborations emerge and where team science plays a vital role. What makes GLEON unique is its strong focus on student involvement fostering a supportive environment where early-career researchers can lead projects, build international collaborations and contribute to freshwater science. . The GLEON Student Association developed a Beginner’s Guide to GLEON to help orient those who are new to the network or attending their first meeting.
What does a GLEON All Hands’ Meeting look like?
GLEON meetings are anything but traditional. There is a lively and interactive poster session, but GLEON meetings don’t just revolve around scientific sessions with lots of presentations. These meetings are filled with networking activities, ice-breakers, and most importantly, cool science discussions that often lead to student-led research projects with collaborators located all around the world . During the meeting, you will have the chance to know about the on-going or completed projects that were initiated during the previous GLEON meetings.
During the meeting there are breakout groups called “working groups”; these working groups are the heart of GLEON. Each working group focuses on a different topic of research (e.g., cyanobacteria, winter limnology). The purpose of working groups is to allow any member to form collaborations, propose new ideas, and lead projects. The Freshwater Dialogue session is organized for an unique opportunity for randomized, cross-disciplinary discussions on diverse freshwater-related topics. There aren’t any requirements to join a working group, and most importantly, no experience is needed – just enthusiasm and curiosity.
Will my research interests fit within GLEON?
The currently-active working groups within GLEON include:
- Climate & Lake Dynamics
- Community Science
- Cyanobacteria
- Freshwater Biological Interactions
- Lake Metabolism & Carbon Cycling
- Lake Modelling
- Remote Sensing
- Reservoirs & Lake Management
- Synthesis
- Winter Limnology
For a description of each working group click here. There is always an opportunity for you to hear about past and present ideas, pitch a new project idea within a working group, or form an ad hoc group. Ad hoc time is an opportunity to meet with others that would like to pursue a particular project or initiate dynamic exchanges on any emerging topics or collaborations. Many projects will emerge from working groups and each project leader/project champion will lead the team (e.g., arrange meeting times, send notes, keep momentum going).
What is the role of students within GLEON? How do I get involved?
GLEON is a student-focused network. The GLEON Student Association (GSA) is run by and for GLEON student members. The GSA is currently led by Lipa Nkwalale, Anna Schmidt, and Keerthana Suresh, and advised by Bas Ibelings. The GSA comprises 3 subcommittees (communications, poster, and workshop committees). These committees are active in different ways throughout the year and during All-Hands’ meetings, and are always looking for new people to join if you are interested! Events and activities planned by these committees are open to all students in GLEON, and are a great opportunity to meet new people, engage in new projects, and develop leadership skills! If you would like to get in touch with the GSA, please contact gsa.gleon@gmail.com.
About the author: Anna Schmidt is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biology and Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory at the University of Vermont (Vermont, USA) and works with Dr. Jason Stockwell on zooplankton ecology research. Anna is currently Co-Chair of the GLEON Student Association (GSA).
