This school covers the entire chain of hydrological model development, providing guidance to aspects such as field observations, processes understanding, perceptual model development, computer implementation (using numerical methods), model calibration and hypothesis testing.

We show how the model development process translates into a learning experience, and how it can be reinforced by a dialogue between modeler and experimentalist.

The expected outcomes are:

• Learn how to build a simple conceptual hydrological model, including conceptual design, numerical implementation, and computer implementation.
• Learn how to calibrate a hydrological model, being cognizant of differences between possible calibration strategies.
• Learn how field knowledge can be used to read the landscape and understand hydrological processes (e.g., inference of dominant processes in different geologies).
• Gain an appreciation of how experimental knowledge is useful in the modeling process, including the formulation of “perceptual” models and diagnostic appraisal of model “realism”.

Hydrologists and environmental practitioners come from very diverse academic and practical backgrounds, and often do not have strong modelling backgrounds. Moreover, the knowledge required for model development is interdisciplinary, and it is difficult to acquire. The high-quality training offered by this school is in high demand by environmental researchers and practitioners.