EARLICOST participated in the 32nd International Laser Radar Conference (ILRC32), held from 5 -10 July 2026 in Hiroshima, Japan. Organized by the Laser Radar Society of Japan (LRSJ) under the auspices of the International Coordination Group on Laser Atmospheric Studies (ICLAS), ILRC32 brought together the international lidar community to exchange the latest advances in atmospheric remote sensing and Earth observation.

The conference featured cutting-edge research on lidar studies of clouds, aerosols, and their interactions; advances in lidar techniques and methodologies; ground-based lidars and networking; coherent and incoherent wind lidar technologies; greenhouse and trace gas monitoring; lidar observations in the stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere; signal processing and AI/ML techniques for lidar data analysis; and model validation and data assimilation using lidar observations.

Supporting the next generation of atmospheric lidar scientists

Through its Young Researcher and Innovator (YRI) Conference Grant, EARLICOST supported the participation of several early-career researchers at ILRC32, enabling them to present their work, engage with the international lidar community, and build connections that extend well beyond the conference itself.

Avinash Yadav (PhD, University of Hertfordshire, UK) presented a poster on “Chemical Characterisation of Atmospheric Dust with Spectroscopic Lidar” — work that presents the first atmospheric detection of mineral-specific Raman signatures from Saharan dust using the LITES lidar facility at the University of Hertfordshire. The poster was awarded the Best Poster Prize at ILRC32.

“Winning the Best Poster Award was a great honour and a validation of the significance of my work.” — Avinash Yadav

Anastasia Pantazi (PhD, IAASARS/NOA, Greece) presented research on “Assessing Aerosol and Cloud Geometrical Features and Types over the Mediterranean: Insights from CALIPSO, CLOUDSAT and EarthCARE Missions”, demonstrating how EARLICOST is pioneering the combination of data from different satellite missions.

“This was my first time participating in ILRC. EARLICOST, so far, has helped me create a collaborative network of researchers with similar scientific interests.” — Anastasia Pantazi

Maria Poutli (PhD, Eratosthenes CoE/CUT, Cyprus) presented “Long-range smoke transport from North America: Optical characterization of smoke layers over the Eastern Mediterranean by means of PollyXT lidar”, focusing on wildfire smoke events detected by the PollyXT Raman lidar in Limassol, Cyprus, during 2020–2025.

“The most valuable part of attending was the opportunity to explore the diverse applications of lidar technology, learn about new methodologies and research approaches.” — Maria Poutli

Víctor Manuel Naval Hernández (PhD, University of Granada, Spain) presented “Towards Operational Monitoring of Tropospheric Water Vapour with the Dual-Field Raman Lidar ALHAMBRA”, aiming to obtain an improved characterisation of the distribution of water vapour in the atmosphere with high vertical and temporal resolution.

“I had the opportunity not only to attend the ILRC but also to visit an incredible country like Japan. The trip also gave me the opportunity to build new friendships and open the door to future collaborations.” — Víctor Manuel Naval Hernández

Dr. Marco Di Paolantonio (Post-doc, ISMAR-CNR, Italy) presented “Preliminary results from the Lidar-based Atmospheric Measurement at Pianosa (LAMP) field campaign”, focusing on the characterisation of marine-influenced atmospheric conditions in the Central Mediterranean using the MARCO Raman lidar system.

“Spending time together, during coffee breaks, poster sessions, or even outside the official conference schedule, allows you to build connections that simply cannot be created through email exchanges alone.” — Dr. Marco Di Paolantonio

Athina Savva (PhD, Eratosthenes CoE/CUT, Cyprus) presented research on “Assessing the Impact of Volume Depolarization Ratio on GRASP Aerosol Retrievals: A comparative study using PollyXT Raman Lidar and Sun-photometer Data in Limassol, Cyprus.”

“As this was my first time attending ILRC, it was an excellent introduction to the international lidar research community.” — Athina Savva

Christodoulos Biskas (PhD, AUTh, Greece) delivered an oral presentation at the conference.

“EARLICOST, through ILRC32, has really helped me connect with other scientists, exchange ideas, discuss research topics, and shape my own thinking.” — Christodoulos Biskas

Giovanni Giuliano (Post-doc, ISMAR-CNR, Italy) also presented at the conference, with a particular focus on engaging with the fluorescence lidar research community.

“The most rewarding aspect of the conference was engaging with fluorescence lidar researchers to discuss current challenges, emerging developments and future research directions.” — Giovanni Giuliano

Beyond the science

ILRC32 was not only a scientific milestone — it was also an opportunity to experience Japan. Participants visited the iconic Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, explored the city of Hiroshima, and found time to build the kinds of friendships that conferences at their best make possible.

By supporting young researchers and innovators, EARLICOST contributes to the development of the next generation of atmospheric lidar experts, ensuring that early-career scientists can engage with the global research community and carry the field forward.

Learn more about EARLICOST grants: https://earlicost.eu/what-we-fund/