Natural hazard ‘Space Weather’ under discussion

From October 27 to 31, hundreds of people come together for the 21th European Space Weather Week in Umeå, Sweden to discuss new findings in space weather, which falls in the category ‘Natural Hazard’. 

There is nothing, until it is there.

Space weather and space storms originate from the sun. Space weather describes in essence how a storm grows, moves through space, finally arrives at our doorstep and impacts the planet's magnetic shield and a layer of the atmosphere that is called the ionosphere. The impact on these two planetary systems, the magnetosphere and the ionosphere, become visible as navigation errors, communication failures and damage in power grids. Next to regular communication where a message is sent from person A to person B, communication involves also teleguided systems with vehicles on the ground or in the air receiving instructions on how to move or fly. The most known systems like these are drones.

Space weather is out there, whether we like it or not. The Arctic is an area that needs special attention. Because of the peculiar form of the earth’s magnetic shield, specific solar storms can more easily enter at the poles. It is there where the aurora enlights more often the night sky. 

It is therefore not that crazy, actually, to have Umeå as the setting for the European Space Weather Week.

The local organisation of the 21th European Space Weather Week is jointly done by Umeå University, the Belgian Space Weather Centre (STCE) and the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF). 

Even though the programme for ESWW2025 is fully packed, you may find time for some of these activities that are organised in Umeå during the week of the conference.

Kallbad

Each Wednesday and Friday morning, Umeå Kallbad organizes Morgondopp. You can join them to start your conference day in the most refreshing way – with a wild swim and a hot sauna! Participation is free and no booking is needed. All information is on the Umeå Kallbad website.

Höstljus Light Festival

During Höstljus, local artists and community organizations light up the November darkness with light installations and artworks throughout Umeå city center. Höstljus 2025 takes place from October 31 to November 23 and is free to enjoy for all conference participants. You can find a map of the installations here.

Photo: Umeå Kallbad / Visit Umeå

Time for culture 

• Guitars - The Museum is the result of two brothers' lifelong collection of guitars and other curiosities. For a long time, the collection of 100s of guitars was secret, even from the closest family. Today, the public can take part in this world-unique collection.
• Sweden's first women's history museum, with the mission to challenge the historiography that has excluded women and tell about the past in a way that makes room for voices other than those that have been heard the most so far.
• Bildmuseet is one of Sweden's foremost art galleries for international contemporary art, part of Umeå University and the public heart of Umeå Arts Campus.

Walk or run

• The Riverwalkway and the Lunda bridge
  Take the promenade along the Ume Rive to discover the surroundings around Umeå city centre, close to many of the hotels. Walk in a westerly direction and cross the river over the Lund Bridge. It takes you over to Bölesholmarna with an option to continue to the south side of the river. Then walk back towards the city center over Umeå’s Old Bridge, the beautiful wooden bridge. A total of about 4 km. 
• Bölesholmarna, a quiet oasis in the middle of the city, you find upstream from the old bridge over the river (Lunda bridge) in central Umeå. Managed as a recreational area with a swimming area (Umeå Kallbad), walking and cycling paths. Some has been left relatively untouched to create an oasis for birds and insects in the central parts of Umeå.

Local food and crafts

• Gårdshem, DuÅ and Gotthards Salutorg are examples of shops that sell carefully selected products. Here you will find home-grown vegetables, freshly baked bread, local delicacies and local producers of cheese, meat, jams and marmalades as well as imported quality products but also handicrafts, books and other gift items.
  
• Frukthörnan, Umeå's oldest fruit and chocolate shop with an irresistible assortment of goodies.
• Hemslöjen, the shop with gifts and utensils by selected craftsmen. Both established and a little less known. Woodwork, Sami handicrafts, woven, knitted, turned, silver and pewter. Yes, here you find it all.

Photo: Visit Umeå

Guidelines for Poster Presentations

Poster size: the poster boards have the dimensions 83x161 cm

There will be 2 poster sessions throughout the week:

Posters session I:

• Corresponding scientific sessions: CD2, CD4, CD5, CD3, SWR2, SWR4, SWR1, SWR5
• Display time (in person): Mon 14:45 - Tue 17:00
• Authors in attendance time: Monday 14:45-16:00, Tuesday 9:35-10:45, Tuesday 16:00-17:00 
• Display time (online): Thu 9:35 – Fri 11:30

Posters session II

• Corresponding scientific sessions: APL1, OPS, SWR3, CD6, CD9, CD8, CD7, APL2, P2, CD1
• Display time (in person):  Thu 9:35 – Fri 10:40
• Authors in attendance time: Thursday 9:35-10:45, Thursday 16:00-17:00, Friday 9:30-10:40
• Display time (online): Mon 14:45 - Tue 17:00

All poster presentations (In Person and Virtual) 

All posters are to be displayed on the ESWW2025 platform (https://esww.coeo.events/, not Indico). All participants presenting posters will receive instructions on how to upload their posters prior to the conference to the platform. The poster should be in ppt, png or jpg -format. All participant are strongly encourage to upload their poster online. 

In person presenters:

Posters will also be displayed and presented in the poster areas on portrait-layout poster boards with dimensions 83×161 cm. All poster presenters are to take down their posters after their designated display time has ended. All posters remaining after their designated display time will be treated as disposable waste.

Printing Poster: Please print your poster before coming to Umeå, otherwise it may end up being very expensive. If you still would like to print in town, we encourage you to make your own research and price comparison to find the best deal. Be aware that it can be up to 850 SEK (incl VAT).