New Perspectives and Better Understanding - A PhD's Experience With Exchange Within Norway

My exchange at the UiO was an incredibly valuable experience, both scientifically and personally. As a PhD candidate at the University of Bergen (UiB) working on AI-based snow depth estimation and remote sensing, I chose the University of Oslo (UiO) for my exchange, because of its strong expertise in machine learning, physical modelling, and Earth observation applications related to snow and climate research.

At UiB, there are fewer researchers working directly on the intersection between AI and snow science, while at UiO there is a larger community connected to these topics from different perspectives. One of the main motivations for this exchange was therefore to discuss my work with researchers who approach similar problems from different scientific backgrounds. I believe that staying only within your own “box” can make it difficult to think outside of it, especially in interdisciplinary AI research, where community feedback and diverse perspectives are extremely important.

One particularly impactful aspect of the exchange was the opportunity to discuss the potential use of fieldwork datasets collected by researchers at UiO. These datasets may become valuable for future validation of my snow depth models, and we are currently discussing possible ways to process and integrate them into my research workflow.

In terms of methodologies and insights, I am bringing back many new perspectives on how AI models can be better integrated with physical modelling approaches in the future. The discussions helped me better understand how researchers from the physical modelling community view AI applications, including both the opportunities and limitations. I hope that combining these perspectives can help us contribute together to the broader snow research community.

Even a short stay in another research environment can help you think more openly and creatively about your work. - Yiyao Chen

The exchange also significantly expanded my professional network within the Norwegian AI and environmental science ecosystem. I had the opportunity to connect with researchers and fellow PhDs working on different applications of AI in snow and climate science, and these discussions opened my eyes to many future collaboration possibilities.

To other PhDs or early career researchers who may hesitate about taking time away from their home lab for an exchange: I would strongly encourage you to do it. Sometimes you really need fresh air and a different perspective to rethink your project and generate new ideas. Even a short stay in another research environment can help you think more openly and creatively about your work.

Looking back, the most significant breakthrough during my stay was probably realizing the many future collaboration opportunities that could emerge between AI-driven and physically based approaches. The exchange helped me better understand how physical modelling researchers think about snow processes and AI applications, and it also helped me reflect on how someone coming from an AI and machine learning background can better contribute to the snow science community in the future.