Montana State University to Host Conference to Talk About Frozen Water

Every once in a while, you come across a news story that just makes you stop and go "Wait, what?".  This was one of those for me.

In the summer of 2027, Montana State University will be hosting an international conference on "the physics and chemistry of ice".  Yes, really.

Is an "ice conference" a real thing?

When I saw that headline, my first reaction was along the lines, "There's an international conference to talk about ice?  As in frozen water?  Is this a prank?"

I'll admit here and now, the extent of my knowledge of the physics and chemistry of ice basically amounts to "it's cold, really slippery, and made of frozen water".

However, once I actually read further than the headline of the article, it turns out that there's actually a lot of science related to ice and this conference is something of a big deal, at least if you're an ice researcher.  It's held every four years, and rotates between the U.S., Europe, and Japan.

What gets discussed at an ice conference?

I wanted to know that too, so I went digging for information on the previous conference, which was held in 2023 in Sapporo, Japan.  Some of the topics actually sound interesting, if likely discussed at levels WAY over my head, like the mechanical, optical, and electrical conductive or insulating properties of ice.

Obviously, the topics for the conference to be held at MSU haven't been set in stone yet.  Some of the possible topics, given as examples by the organizer, MSU Professor Kevin Hammonds, are things like research into ice's crystalline structure, how ice grows, and climate and planetary science.

So mark your calendars for Summer 2027, because it looks like MSU is going to be having a cool time, if you'll pardon the pun.