IIASA Insights

IIASA Insights is an informal outlet for IIASA researchers and the wider IIASA global network to share their research, insights, and perspectives. It does not necessarily represent the official views or position of the institute.

03 September 2025

IIASA Summer School for Systems Modeling 2025: raising a new generation of promising scientists and leaders

A new cohort of students successfully completed IIASA’s second Summer School for Systems Modeling. Held on 7-18 July 2025, the program brought together 28 participants from 15 countries. The two-week course convened bachelor, master’s, and PhD students, as well as post-doctoral researchers and experienced systems scientists, all seeking to deepen their understanding of IIASA models – their application, development, and optimization.

Capacity development Summer schools

Participants during the EQU session at the 2025 IIASA Interaction Festival

08 August 2025

Uncovering views on environmental justice and the value of nature

The IIASA Interaction Festival is an opportunity for the IIASA community to learn from each other. IIASA researchers Xiran Dong, Veronika Schick, and Elliott Woodhouse share their experiences and insights from the session they presented at the most recent installment of this annual event.

Population and Just Societies (POPJUS) Equity and Justice (EQU) Applied Justice Taxonomy and Assessment Framework (AJUST) YSSP

A world map overlaid with gold and white lines representing global networks, with highlighted cities symbolizing interconnectedness. AI generated

25 July 2025

Science diplomacy in the polycrisis

IIASA researcher Pratik Patil reflects on how researchers and research institutes like IIASA can respond more effectively to the emerging Polycrisis with transformative approaches and frameworks to facilitate public understanding and policy.

Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA) Systemic Risk and Resilience (SYRR)

Digital compass with futuristic design, technology background, navigation concept

14 July 2025

Powerful science needs a clear purpose

Drawing on personal reflections and real-world examples, IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program participant, Avijit Pandit, explores the question of how scientists can ensure that their influence remains anchored in purpose rather than in power, and provides a quick guide for sustainability and systems scientists to navigate today’s science landscape.

Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR) YSSP

Comuna 13 Neighborhood in Medellin Colombia South America.

27 May 2025

EGU 2025: How can science-informed resilience-building address the polycrisis?

After an unseasonably hot early May in Vienna, the European Geoscience Union (EGU) General Assembly concluded, having gathered more than 19,000 scientists, practitioners, and policymakers from around the globe. Themes of vulnerability, compounding risk, and systemic transformation took centre stage, reinforcing the need for grounded, science-informed resilience-building. Alliance colleagues from the Z Zurich Foundation, IIASA, and Concern Worldwide share their reflections on this year’s General Assembly.

Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA) Systemic Risk and Resilience (SYRR)

A desolate landscape with a road running to a city in the distance

16 May 2025

The looming shadow of nuclear winter

A team of scientists led by IIASA researcher Christian Folberth is contributing to international nuclear winter research through the ANFOS project, which aims to provide a comprehensive picture of how a nuclear conflict could alter crop growth, cause supply chain disruptions, and consequently affect global food security.

Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR) Agriculture, Forestry, and Ecosystem Services (AFE)

Network of North Africa with blue illuminated connections

14 March 2025

Fostering a culture of evidence-based policymaking in North Africa

In a world where sustainable development and climate change solutions demand urgent action, ensuring that policies are informed by solid evidence is essential. The North Africa Applied Systems Analysis Centre (NAASAC) in Egypt has made this its mission, aiming to build a systemic culture of applied systems analysis for evidence-based policy development.

Network Capacity development Egypt

Sprinkler irrigation in an orchard - Trentino Alto Adige Italy.

13 February 2025

New water withdrawal projections for Europe suggest more people will live in water-stressed areas

As water demand continues to rise across Europe, new analysis reveals that more people than previously estimated will face water stress in the coming decades. IIASA researchers working on the EU-Horizon ACCREU project highlight the urgent need for informed adaptation strategies.

Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR) Water Security (WAT) Integrated Biosphere Futures (IBF) Community Water Model (CWatM)

Hands working together on a jigsaw puzzle

16 January 2025

Strengthening transdisciplinary research and knowledge co-production at IIASA

Transdisciplinary research and knowledge co-production are transforming the way IIASA addresses complex societal challenges. Susanne Hanger-Kopp reports on behalf of the participants of an IIASA-wide workshop that highlighted the potential of and hurdles to these approaches.

Population and Just Societies (POPJUS) Equity and Justice (EQU)

Subscribe