Tethys Summit 2025: Connecting Earth Science Innovation

The Tethys Geoscience Foundation is proud to announce our inaugural Tethys Summit, a two-day event that focuses on innovation and collaboration in the geospatial sciences.In today’s rapidly evolving environmental landscape, bringing together the brightest minds in Earth science has never been more essential. As we face increasingly complex challenges the need for collaborative, accessible solutions continues to grow. Join us in Tampa, Florida this year to take part of our growing community of scientists, educators, students, and developers alike.

A Gathering of Researchers

July 14-15, 2025 | The Westshore Grand, Tampa, Florida

Tethys Summit brings together the dynamic, open-source communities behind the Tethys Platform and GEOGLOWS. This premiere conference creates a forum dedicated to sharing innovations and fostering collaboration centered around powerful tools for Earth science impact. Whether you’re developing applications, analyzing environmental data, teaching geoscience, or shaping science-driven policy, this is your opportunity to connect with leaders in open-source Earth science technology.

The summit will highlight cutting-edge work in interactive web applications via the Tethys Platform and global environmental modeling and data services through GEOGLOWS. Through technical talks, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities, participants will gain insights from core contributors while exploring new capabilities and forming valuable connections.

Empowering Earth Scientists

At the heart of Tethys Summit lies our commitment to empowering geoscientists to transform complex data into accessible solutions for environmental challenges. Attendees will discover how the Tethys Platform enables researchers to leverage Python-powered development tools while integrating familiar libraries like Plotly, Bokeh, Numpy, Pandas, and Dask.

The summit will showcase robust data integration capabilities connecting diverse sources such as THREDDS, GeoServer, PostgreSQL, CKAN, HydroShare, Google Earth Engine, and Microsoft’s AI for Earth. Sessions will also explore strategies for deploying scalable cloud analysis using Amazon AWS or Microsoft Azure, or maximizing your own compute capacity with HTCondor and Dask.

Featured Speakers

Meet some of the visionary leaders shaping the future of open-source Earth science tools:

Angelica Gutierrrez
Water advocate and advisor | Program director, GEOGLOWS | Lead hydrologist/scientist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
An experienced senior professional and Engineer with a strong interdisciplinary background in physical and social sciences. 

Nathan Swain
Chair of the Board of Directors, Tethys Geoscience Foundation
Creator of the Tethys Platform and advocate for open, accessible geospatial technology in the Earth sciences.

Michael Souffront
Director of Operations, GEOGLOWS
Expert in hydrologic modeling and global streamflow forecasting, contributing to innovative tools that make environmental insights available worldwide.

More exciting speakers will be announced soon—stay tuned!

Opportunities for Engagement

Tethys Summit offers multiple ways to participate and contribute to the community:

App Development Contest

The Tethys Platform App Development Contest challenges developers to create innovative web applications addressing real-world geoscience problems. Open to individuals and teams, this contest showcases how Tethys Platform can solve complex issues in water resources management, hydrology, climate science, and related disciplines.

Applications should be submitted by June 15, 2025, with winners announced during the summit. Participants are encouraged to think creatively while developing technically sophisticated yet user-friendly applications that leverage Tethys Platform’s tools.

Call for Talk Proposals

We’re now accepting proposals for talks! Whether you’ve created a cutting-edge application, benefited as a user, or have insights on best practices, we invite you to share your expertise. Topics of interest include applications built with Tethys Platform, open-source software development in geosciences, advances in geospatial web applications, user experiences, and best practices.

We are still accepting talk proposals. Each session will consist of a 15-minute presentation followed by 5 minutes for Q&A.

Travel Grant Program

To foster inclusivity and global collaboration, the Tethys Summit 2025 Travel Grant Program provides financial support to individuals who would otherwise face barriers to attending. Grants may cover transportation, lodging, meals, and registration fees for active members of the Tethys Platform and GEOGLOWS communities.

We still have a few spots left for the travel grant. They are being awarded to eligible applicants until all spots are filled. This program is funded by the National Science Foundation under POSE Phase II award #2303756.

Who Should Attend?

Tethys Summit welcomes participants from across the Earth science community, including:

• Software Developers & Data Scientists working with geospatial and Earth observation data
• Environmental Scientists, Geoscientists, and Modelers developing or applying analytical tools
• Educators, Researchers, & Students seeking innovative ways to teach and share Earth science research
• Policy Advisors, NGOs, and Institutions looking to harness technology for environmental understanding and decision support

You do not need to be a developer to participate. Tethys Summit is for anyone passionate about building and applying open tools to understand our planet.

Why Attend?

• Learn from Core Contributors: Hear directly from the developers behind Tethys Platform and GEOGLOWS
• Sharpen Your Skills: Join workshops spanning beginner to advanced levels, with real-world applications
• Showcase Your Work: Present your app, project, or research to a community of engaged peers
• Explore New Tools: Discover interactive technologies transforming how we analyze and communicate Earth data
• Build Lasting Connections: Collaborate with a global network of scientists, technologists, and change-makers

Join Us

Tethys Summit represents more than just a technical conference, it’s a celebration of collaborative problem-solving and accessible science for Earth systems. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, we aim to accelerate the development of tools that help communities address environmental challenges more effectively.

Registration is now open. We invite you to be part of this inaugural event and help shape the future of Earth science innovation. Together, we can build tools that transform data into action and create more resilient, sustainable communities worldwide.

For more information and to register, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn. We look forward to welcoming you to Tampa in July!