Pre-Conference Modelling Seminar
"Hands-on MODFLOW 6 and FloPy for Coastal Aquifer Modelling
— Taught by the Developers"
As part of SWIM 2027, the Organising Committee will host a dedicated three-day pre-conference modelling seminar immediately before the main meeting. This is a rare opportunity to learn MODFLOW 6 and its Python interface FloPy directly from the core developers and a leading practitioner in variable-density groundwater modelling.
The seminar covers the full workflow — from theory and code architecture through hands-on model building to real-world coastal aquifer case studies — with a focus on salt water intrusion, submarine groundwater discharge and island freshwater sustainability. Each instructor will also share perspectives on how AI tools are beginning to reshape groundwater modelling practice.
Instructors
-
Christian D. Langevin
S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc., United States
Lead developer of MODFLOW 6 and co-developer of SEAWAT -
Joseph D. Hughes
INTERA Inc., United States
Core developer of MODFLOW 6 and major contributor to FloPy -
Vincent Post
Edinsi Groundwater, Netherlands
Co-author of FloPy and of the textbook Coastal Hydrogeology; leading expert in variable-density flow and salt water intrusion
Teaching Assistants
-
Masahiro Takahashi
Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., Japan -
Naoki Kohara
Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., Japan -
Chris Leong
Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Japan -
Yasuhiro Tawara
Geosphere Environmental Technology Corp., Japan -
Yosuke Sawano
Geosphere Environmental Technology Corp., Japan -
Satoshi Tajima
University of Neuchâtel, Centre d'Hydrogéologie et de Géothermie (CHYN), Switzerland
Programme
The three instructors are shaping the programme together. The detailed schedule, hands-on materials and software requirements will be announced here once it is settled.
Format
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Lectures | Theory and code architecture explained by the developers themselves |
| Hands-on sessions | Building and running coastal SWI models with MODFLOW 6 and FloPy, from scratch |
| Case study clinic | Participants may bring their own datasets and problems for group discussion |
| Panel discussion | The future of groundwater modelling — classical tools, AI, and their integration |
Date & Venue
Date
2–4 June 2027 (dates provisional)
Three days, immediately before SWIM 2027
Venue
University of the Ryukyus
50th Anniversary Memorial Hall
Nishihara, Okinawa
Language
English
Registration
Separate registration required.
Fees will be announced in autumn 2026.
Details on the Registration page.
Who should attend?
- Graduate students and early-career researchers who want a solid grounding in MODFLOW 6 and FloPy for coastal aquifer problems
- Practitioners already using MODFLOW / SEAWAT who want to upgrade to MODFLOW 6 and learn FloPy-based workflows
- Hydrogeologists and engineers working on salt water intrusion, SGD, or island water resources
- Anyone planning to build a new coastal-aquifer model and wanting to learn directly from the developers
Stay Informed
To receive updates about the pre-seminar (programme, speakers, hands-on materials, registration opening) please email info@swim2027-okinawa.org with the subject "Pre-Seminar mailing list".