Cho Lab Prepares Students for the Future of Hydrology and Earth Science
Date: 08/19/2025
The Cho Lab participated in a two-week Summer Camp hosted from August 5 to August 15 by Texas State University in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy. The camp was designed to give high school students from Akins Early College High School hands-on exposure to scientific research and to inspire them to pursue careers in STEM fields.
As part of this program, the Cho Lab delivered interactive sessions that introduced students to the fundamentals of geospatial data analysis and hydrological modeling. Under the guidance of Dr. Eunsang Cho, research team members Jipeng Liu and Himmat Basnet worked closely with participants to connect classroom concepts to real-world applications, giving them the opportunity to practice research methods typically reserved for university-level studies.
Dr. Eunsang Cho began with an introduction to major concepts in hydrology and climatology, providing students with the foundation to understand water systems and their connection to climate change. Building on this base, Himmat and Jipeng moved the session into practical training on hydrological modeling and the use of Google Earth Engine for geospatial analysis. In the final stage, the students brought everything together through a comprehensive hydrological modeling exercise that used all the information learned to simulate potential flood events projected for 2040 to 2050 under both medium and severe climatic scenarios. This progression not only helped students connect theory with practice but also demonstrated the value of integrated modeling in preparing for climate-driven water management challenges.
The camp was met with enthusiasm from students, who expressed excitement about the skills they gained and the chance to work with real scientific data. For many, it was their first time engaging in research at such a practical level, and the experience helped them see the possibilities of pursuing higher education and careers in environmental science, hydrology, and geospatial technology.
The Cho Lab extends sincere thanks to Texas State University, the Department of Energy, and Akins High School for making the Summer Camp possible, as well as to all students and mentors who contributed to its success. We look forward to participating in future programs that bring hands-on research opportunities to young scholars and continue building pathways into STEM fields.
