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Training videos and webinars

Submitted by Ananda Rohn on
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As part of its dissemination and knowledge transfer activities, the OPTAIN project organised two public webinars, both available on the official OPTAIN website. These webinars were designed to present the conceptual foundations, modelling framework and analytical results of the project to a broad audience including researchers, policy-makers, advisors and stakeholders.

Importantly, the webinars focused on the scientific and methodological dimensions of the project, particularly predictive modelling and optimisation approaches, and did not involve training on physical deployment or field monitoring of Natural Small Water Retention Measures (NSWRM).

 

First OPTAIN Webinar – Natural Small Water Retention Measures

The first OPTAIN webinar, entitled
“First OPTAIN Webinar about Natural Small Water Retention Measures”,
introduced the core concepts underpinning the project.

This session provided:

  • An overview of NSWRM principles and classifications

  • Explanation of their hydrological and nutrient retention functions

  • Presentation of the OPTAIN case study regions

  • Introduction to the project’s analytical objectives

The webinar clarified how NSWRM can contribute to improving:

  • Water retention efficiency

  • Nutrient retention efficiency

  • Agricultural system resilience under climate variability

Rather than presenting real-world installations, the session explained how NSWRM are represented and parameterised within the project’s modelling environments.

This webinar therefore serves as a conceptual entry point for understanding the analytical framework developed in OPTAIN.

 

Second OPTAIN Webinar – Modelling Water and Nutrient Retention in Agricultural Catchments

The second webinar, entitled
“Second OPTAIN Webinar about Modelling Water and Nutrient Retention in Agricultural Catchments”,
focused specifically on the project’s modelling and optimisation methodology.

This session presented:

  • The structure of the process-based modelling framework

  • Application of SWAT+ and SWAP models

  • Field-scale and catchment-scale simulations

  • Integration of climate data into modelling workflows

  • The multi-objective optimisation protocol

  • Identification and interpretation of Pareto-optimal portfolios

Particular emphasis was placed on how modelling outputs are translated into performance indicators, including:

  • Water retention efficiency

  • Nutrient retention efficiency

  • Agricultural productivity metrics

  • Cost-related indicators

The webinar explained how optimisation algorithms explore combinations and spatial allocation of NSWRM, revealing trade-offs between competing objectives.

This second session provides a structured explanation of the scientific backbone of OPTAIN and supports deeper understanding of the modelling results presented throughout the Learning Environment.

Benefits_training_videos_and_webinars

 

By providing training videos and webinars, the OPTAIN project ensures that stakeholders have access to high-quality, practical training resources. These tools are crucial for building the capacity of stakeholders to implement and maintain NSWRM effectively, contributing to the project's goals of sustainable water and nutrient management.