data assimilation technique for one-dimensional snow models applied to point-scale stations<\/a>. In Oslo, I began working on a two-dimensional version, applied to entire catchments, but still designed for operational use, meaning it requires fewer computational resources. The aim is to build a distributed framework to estimate snow in a realistic way, combining station-based and satellite observations. <\/p>\n\nEven during my stay in Oslo, I continued working with data from the Italian Alps, with the goal of developing a modelling approach that is theoretically sound but applicable in concrete, complex contexts such as those found in the Mediterranean region. This allowed me to maintain scientific consistency while enriching my perspective through international experience. <\/p>\n\n
I delved deeper into statistical and machine learning methods, using models like Gaussian Processes<\/strong><\/em>, which lie somewhere between statistics and AI\u2014often described as infinite neural networks. These models allow spatial interpolation of variables I previously modelled only at specific points. It\u2019s a way to build something more scalable, while preserving scientific rigor and applicability. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
So, not just neural networks?<\/h3>\n\n Exactly. My goal is not to replace physical models, but to complement them. Traditional models are based on physical equations: we assume known relationships among variables and build on them. But when those relationships are unknown or too complex to formulate, artificial intelligence can step in. In particular, I use AI to emulate the statistical component of data assimilation\u2014creating an emulator capable of reproducing corrections from the physical model, but with lower computational cost and faster execution. <\/p>\n\n
So it\u2019s not just a matter of performance. It\u2019s about bridging physics and statistics, preserving theoretical control while enabling application in operational environments with limited resources. <\/p>\n\n
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You\u2019ve also worked with satellite data? <\/h3>\n\n Yes, and I\u2019ve learned a lot from it. In Oslo I deepened my knowledge of satellite data, both for data assimilation and for machine learning. The goal is to move from point-based station data to a distributed and temporally continuous observation system. That helped me better understand the links between modelling, observation, and forecasting. <\/p>\n\n
My ambition is to create a framework that can be applied across the full range of Italian and Mediterranean mountain chains. But to do that, you need a solid foundation and a vision that integrates theory, data, and application. These six months were dedicated to finding that balance. <\/p>\n\n
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From a personal point of view, what has this experience given you? <\/h3>\n\n Much more than I expected. I chose Oslo as a personal challenge\u2014one that went well beyond the scientific. It meant immersing myself in a place far from where I grew up, used to the brightness and openness of the Mediterranean, between Liguria and Sicily. I wanted to see how I would adapt in a landscape that, at least on the surface, didn\u2019t seem to reflect me. It was a conscious, almost symbolic choice: to push myself out of my comfort zone, into a space where even my way of doing research would change. And that\u2019s exactly what happened. <\/p>\n\n
A concrete example? I had never practiced winter sports, and suddenly I found myself skiing and ice skating on a frozen lake. For me, it was symbolic. I thought: if I can stay upright on this ice, maybe I can build a model too. And I did. I learned to take risks, to trust my own abilities. To take my first steps alone, even in research. <\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n\n
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What struck you about the way research is done in Norway? <\/h3>\n\n Two things. First, the relationship with snow is different. In Italy, snow is a scarce and increasingly critical resource. We study it to manage water availability, to assess risk\u2014we\u2019re already in an emergency context. In Norway, snow is also studied for recreational reasons, tourism and sports. That changes the approach, and made me realise how much context shapes the meaning of research. <\/p>\n\n
Second, the balance between work and personal time. In Italy, we often stay glued to the screen well into the evening. In Norway, it\u2019s normal to take a break\u2014to enjoy the sunlight, for example. It doesn\u2019t mean working less; it means slowing down in order to think better. I\u2019ve learned that even empty time can be part of the creative process. <\/p>\n\n
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How are you feeling now that you’re about to return to Italy? <\/h3>\n\n I\u2019m very satisfied with these six months. I used to think, \u201clife is better outside Italy.\u201d But now I know I want to come back. I want to live in a place that reflects who I am\u2014my rhythm, my character, my way of relating to others. I\u2019m sad to leave behind the friendships and academic routine in Oslo, but I feel this is the right moment to return and bring home what I\u2019ve learned\u2014and the person I\u2019ve become. <\/p>\n\n
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What would you say to someone considering a PhD? <\/h3>\n\n That if there\u2019s a field worth investing in, it\u2019s environmental science applied to natural hazards. Because the impacts are already visible\u2014we experience them every day. These are no longer future scenarios: this is our present. <\/p>\n\n
And I\u2019d say that young people have a voice. My experience abroad taught me that a few years in the field doesn\u2019t mean you lack experience. It just means you have a different perspective. The more you progress, the broader your view becomes. But even a smaller perspective can be just as valid, precise, and valuable. <\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n\n
Finally: what role do you think young people play in science today? <\/h3>\n\n We are a generation of transition. We remember how things used to be, and we are witnessing how they\u2019re changing. I\u2019ve been lucky enough to look at a snow-covered mountain and recognise in that view something I\u2019ve known all my life. But I also know that view might not last\u2014at least not like that. We may have fewer resources, but we have more energy, more courage, more will to imagine solutions. And that\u2019s exactly why science\u2014as I see it\u2014must be based on this feeling of possibility. <\/p>\n\n
<\/div>\n\n
Far from her mountains and her sea, between Norway\u2019s icy landscapes and the lines of code that simulate snow dynamics, Giulia Blandini faced a challenge that was both personal and scientific. A PhD candidate in snow hydrology at CIMA Research Foundation and the University of Genoa, Giulia focuses her research on the use of artificial […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":14645,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[124],"tags":[88],"class_list":["post-14652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hydrology-and-hydraulics","tag-snow"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14652","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14652"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14652\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14653,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14652\/revisions\/14653"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Snow](\"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_20250312_171946-1024x768.avif\" "\\"\\"")
<\/figure>\n\n![\"End-of-experience](\"https:\/\/www.cimafoundation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Giulia-Blandini-Oslo-PhD-Dottorato-1024x576.avif\" "\\"\\"")
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