Interview of the month: Slovak Meteorological Society

Interview with the President of the Slovak Meteorological Society (SMS), Paulina Valova:

EMS LC: If you were to describe your society in one sentence, what would you say?

SMS: Our society, after a quiet period, is increasing its activity like a mythical phoenix.

EMS LC: When was SMS founded?

SMS: 1997

EMS LC: What are the objectives of SMS?

SMS: To revive the activity of SMS and to gain new members, including members from the private sector and also amateur meteorologists for membership (for that the bylaws of SMS have to be changed)

EMS LC: Can you explain the structure of your membership?

SMS: Our members include meteorologists, climatologists, specialists and students of meteorology, climatology, hydrology, remote sensing and related subjects, instrument engineers

EMS LC: What are SMS’s recent achievements?

SMS: We are co-organisers of the Young Professionals Competition for Meteorology, Climatology, Hydrology, Air Quality and Water Management (together with the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute in Bratislava) which is held annually in November. This year was the 18th year of the competition and we had 12 participants.

EMS LC: Where do you see the greatest challenges?

Member: To encourage young people to join the society.

EMS LC: Which activities are you planning for the coming months?

SMS: SMS will be a co-organiser of the 19th SIRWEC-2018 Conference http://www.sirwec2018.sk/index.html which will be held in May 2018 in Smolenice, Slovakia.

EMS LC: Are you collaborating with other EMS Members?

SMS: We had some collaboration a few years ago with the Czech Meteorological Society. Now it is very, very calm, but we want to resume it again in a few months.

EMS LC: What do you expect from the EMS? In what ways can it help you to develop your activities?

SMS: Firstly, EMS provides information about the activities of other societies which will inspire us for our next activity. EMS will also provide contact with other EMS members. Maybe we can get support through recommendations for our activities (members meetings, professional meetings….).

EMS LC: Thank you very much for the interview!