This international symposium of May, 2012 presents a broad overview of the state-of-the-art in hydrologic discovery in honor of two legendary leaders of this process – Wilfried H. Brutsaert and Jean-Yves Parlange – upon the occasion of their retirements at Cornell University.

The occasion of these retirements provides an opportunity not only for leaders in the field to get together to honor these two men but also to inspire a younger generation of scientists. Consequently the symposium is not simply a celebration of two remarkable scientists, but rather an opportunity to revitalize the field of physical hydrology by recording: (a) the central function of intellectual collaboration and generosity in science, and (b) the essential interplay of process identification, quantification, and experimental exploration in discovery.

Herein is chronicled the evolution of the field of hydrology from an empirical study into one based upon first principles with the marriage of the experimental discovery with applied mathematics. Videos of twenty-five generously illustrated technical lectures are presented in open access format. These are grouped into organizing categories of A. Erosion, B. Boussinesq and Runoff Relationships, C. Instability and Fluid Mechanics, D. Atmospheric Radiation, E. Turbulence in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer, F. Evaporation, G. Infiltration, H. Hysteresis and Thermodynamics, and I. Open Channel Flow.

The oral presentation videos are provided as Streaming Videos, and as QuickTime files that are playable on Apple Devices or on computers using a QuickTime player (free downloads for Macintosh and Windows computers). Both high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) files are provided. We have provided a companion set of standard definition videos (to reduce downloading from 15+ minutes for HD to 5+ minutes for SD versions. However, on a multitasking computer you may continue working during the downloading, but must wait until an entire file has been downloaded before playing it. In addition, the slides used in the presentation are included as PDF files for the benefit of the serious student and to provide clarity in the mathematical expressions in the SD versions.