Cho Lab at the Eastern Snow Conference 2025: Some Reflections
Date: 06/18/2025
This year, three members of the Cho Lab had the opportunity to attend the Eastern Snow Conference (ESC)—an annual gathering of snow scientists and researchers from across North America. For our lab members, Eastern Snow Conference was more than just a scientific meeting; it was a space to connect, present, and grow within a passionate and collaborative research community. Here are their reflections:-
Eunsaem Cho : A Research Family in the Snow Science Community
ESC was excellent for building Extremely Strong Connections with snow researchers.
Eunsaem appreciated the intimate scale of the conference, which created a warm, family-like environment among attendees. This atmosphere allowed him to feel like a true part of the broader science research community. His presentation was well-received and sparked several interesting questions. However, being scheduled last left limited time for deeper conversations and potential collaborations:
The conference felt too short—an extra day would have helped foster more meaningful discussions.
One standout memory was the early career happy hour, where casual networking over ice cream offered a fun break from formal sessions. He suggests future events could benefit from structured icebreakers to facilitate even stronger networking. Advice for future attendees: “Study the shared slides and posters beforehand. And most importantly—ask questions and engage actively. That’s where the real value lies.
Conference Slides:
Farhaan Cooverji: Fostering Community and Collaboration
What stood out most was how committed the senior members were to fostering a collaborative snow science community.
Farhaan described ESC as a uniquely welcoming space, especially for early-career researchers.
He presented a poster that drew valuable engagement. A key lesson? Always carry a notepad:
It’s handy for capturing feedback and connections in the moment.
A particularly memorable interaction came right at the start—Dr. Jacobs (Dr. Cho’s advisor) warmly offered to connect him with key members of the snow research community. He also recalled the conference banquet, where he shared a table with student researchers working on diverse snow projects across North America:
It was wonderful to share insights and connect personally.
Advice for future attendees: Consider presenting a poster—it encourages more direct engagement. And refine your presentation as the event progresses, learning from your early interactions.
Conference Poster:
Jipeng Liu: Finding a Home Among Snow Scientists
In other settings, my snow research often felt novel or niche. But at ESC, I felt completely at home.
For Jipeng, ESC was a transformative experience.
Presenting his poster led to a memorable moment—meeting researchers who had helped collect the very datasets he was working with. This made his work feel even more impactful and connected to the broader scientific effort.
Another highlight was reconnecting with the UNH group and meeting Dr. Jacobs:
Meeting my advisor’s advisor felt surreal. She was incredibly kind—and I could see the wisdom in her eyes. I also enjoyed connecting with other members of the UNH team, especially Adam and Jeremy, whom I hadn't seen in a long time.
Advice for future attendees:
Be confident. Talk to people. Conferences like ESC offer a rare and rewarding chance to exchange ideas and build lasting academic relationships.
Conference Poster:
Looking Ahead
From meaningful scientific exchanges to warm personal connections, the Eastern Snow Conference left a lasting impression on the Cho Lab attendees. As our research continues to grow, so too does our place in the broader snow science community. We look forward to more conferences, more conversations—and more snow.
