The 2025 American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting hosted the 4th Symposium on Community Modeling and Innovation (4CMI) in early January in New Orleans. The Symposium brought together top minds in Earth sciences for an energetic exchange of ideas and was a hub for groundbreaking discussions on the future of forecasting.
One standout session focused on the Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC) and the Unified Forecast System (UFS). Key presentations included insights from NOAA’s Weather Program Office (WPO) scientists John Ten Hoeve and Maoyi Huang; an update on the EPIC contract from Keven Blackman; and a look at EPIC’s past, present, and future from Neil Jacobs. Hendrik Tolman provided an in-depth review of the UFS, sparking great discussions with leaders from the Weather Enterprise.
The symposium also featured sessions dedicated to innovative programs, such as the Consortium for Advanced Data Assimilation Research and Education (CADRE), emphasizing the event’s collaborative spirit. CADRE brings innovative data assimilation research to improve weather forecasting. Another session showcased WPO’s innovation projects, which have created an opportunity to accelerate community contributions to NOAA’s operational weather forecasting models.
Strong engagement, thought-provoking discussions, and a growing emphasis on community-driven innovation again made the CMI Symposium a key gathering for shaping the future of Earth system modeling.
This story was written by Dr. Jose-Henrique Alves, EPIC Project Manager and co-chair of the 4th Symposium on Community Modeling and Innovation program at the 2025 AMS Annual Meeting.
