Spotlight on a Young Researcher: Margot Beniche from Barcelona Supercomputing Center
Meet Margot, a postdoctoral researcher at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, in the Climate Variability and Change team. At I4C, she analyses decadal simulations of the European climate.
What do you do on Impetus4Change? Is it the first project you’ve worked on?
I recently joined the Impetus4Change project (WP2), which is my first project. I analyse existing decadal climate simulations from the DCPP–CMIP6 exercise for several models. My work focuses on how well models reproduce observed decadal trends in European winter precipitation, and on whether model biases in large-scale climate variability modes can explain the mismatches. The aim is to help modelling centres identify which processes need to be better represented to improve near-term precipitation predictions.
What is the most interesting thing you learned so far working on Impetus4Change?
As a new member of the project, I was able to attend the UPCLIV 2025 workshop, organised by Impetus4Change and partner projects. I was impressed by the size and diversity of the community working on these scientific and societal challenges. The event was a strong reminder that climate research is, and must remain, closely connected to real societal needs. I was also struck by the range of new techniques based on artificial intelligence and machine learning that are being developed to improve climate forecasts.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What are you working on?
I hope to continue working in climate research. During my PhD, I analysed model outputs to examine how climate change may modify the impact of ENSO on the North American climate. I would now like to be involved in running climate sensitivity simulations, as they provide a robust means of distinguishing between causes and effects, for example the impact of global warming on climate, or of investigating how specific mechanisms may affect forecast predictability.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Growing up near Lake Geneva and the Alps, I wanted to be a fisherman or a geologist so that I could spend time outdoors enjoying nature!
Who is your science idol? Someone you wish you could have a conversation with (from the past or contemporary).
I do not have a specific scientific role model, but I have always been fascinated by Alfred Wegener’s theory of continental drift, and by the way he combined climatic and geological observations with earlier studies to develop a coherent explanation that later contributed to the study of plate tectonics and the concept of Pangaea.
Which Impetus4Change research outcome/WP/expert (other than your own) are you most excited to learn about or collaborate with?
As someone new to the field of initialised predictions, I am looking forward to learning more about the scientific outputs of my work package (WP2). In particular, I am interested in the process-based constrained climate predictions developed by CERFACS and in the modelling work at NERSC, which aims to reduce mean-state biases and improve prediction skill, thereby delivering more reliable climate forecasts.
Have you read any interesting books/articles recently that really made you think?
It would be Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez. This book presents documented facts about how gender bias affects outcomes in industry, technology design, pharmaceuticals, and social systems. It shows that the underlying data collection has often overlooked women’s needs, leading to daily negative impacts on women’s health. I was completely unaware of the full consequences of this bias.
If Impetus4Change held a party, which song would you request from the DJ?
Probably Parallax by Jolynn J Chin. She’s an incredible artist who blends jazz, classical, and rock styles with her piano, such good vibes for a party!