Among the rolling hills of the Hudson River Valley, a small delegation from had the pleasure of participating in the Launch Convening of Schmidt Sciences’ Virtual Institute for the Carbon Cycle (VICC).

This inaugural gathering marked the beginning of a multi-year effort to advance carbon cycle science and inform long-term climate action. It brought together VICC staff and advisors alongside representatives from four funded projects: , Congo-FLEX, COCO2 and CLARiTy. was represented by Guido Grosse, Jens Strauss, and Josefine Lenz (AWI), Katey Walter Anthony and Vladimir Romanovsky (UAF), and Moritz Langer (VU), reflecting the project’s international and collaborative nature.

The convening opened with an orientation outlining the VICC program’s vision, strategic context, and operational framework. Each project presented its scientific motivations, objectives, and planned activities, creating space to identify synergies and opportunities for coordination across the portfolio. Discussions also addressed key knowledge gaps and explored avenues for maximizing collective impact. Dedicated breakout sessions enabled more focused exchanges; used this time to connect virtually with its broader team and align on next steps.

Beyond the formal program, shared experiences like informal fireside chats, a lively food truck dinner and s’mores, helped foster a strong sense of community among participants. These moments of connection laid the groundwork for future collaboration within the VICC network.

See also AWI's press release on the launch of the project.