Search

In April, IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, visited Kazakhstan at the invitation of Yerlan Nyssanbayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, to participate in the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES 2026).

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) methods are becoming increasingly important in both science and society. In climate science - where complex biophysical and societal processes interact across diverse temporal and spatial scales, and datasets are often large, heterogenous and incomplete - AI and ML methods offer new powerful solutions.

How can education unlock Africa’s future? At the 2026 Yidan Prize Conference in Dakar, IIASA research will showcase new evidence on skills, human capital, and development pathways, including insights from the African Human Capital Data Sheet 2026.

A high-level delegation led by Senator Hon. Jonathan Reid, Barbados' Minister of Innovation, Industry, Science, and Technology, visited Schloss Laxenburg for a bilateral exchange with IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber on applied systems science and its potential to inform transformative policy. 

IIASA is pleased to announce that Susie Kitchens will join the Institute as Science Diplomacy Director and Head of Communications and External Relations in May 2026. In this senior leadership role, she will guide IIASA’s global engagement strategy, expand international partnerships, and enhance the Institute’s visibility and impact at the science-policy-society interface.

IIASA researchers Pallav Purohit and Zbigniew Klimont examined the urgent challenge of air pollution in South Asia and the opportunities to address it through science-based policy and regional cooperation. In the run-up to the recent International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum, they drew on recent research and real-world examples to highlight how integrated approaches to energy, climate, and air quality can deliver cleaner air, improved health, and more resilient economies for nearly one billion people.

BLOOM is an interdisciplinary One Health research project that aims to better understand and model the risk of zoonotic disease spillover (particularly Ebola Virus Disease) in Sierra Leone.

A new study published in Science argues that governments should adopt three integrated energy demand goals by 2035, warning that climate policy will fall short unless it focuses not only on how energy is produced, but also on how it is used.

Ahead of the recent International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum, IIASA researchers Benigna Boza-Kiss and Shonali Pachauri explored the often-overlooked role of the building sector in achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Drawing on IIASA research, they highlight the urgent need to transform how buildings are designed, renovated, and used, emphasizing demand-side solutions, policy reform, and systemic change to avoid locking in emissions for decades to come.

GAINS for policy support: The development and use of cost-effective strategies.

IIASA had the honor of welcoming H.E. Mr. Dong Baotong, Vice Minister of China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and Administrator of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA), to Schloss Laxenburg on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. The visit marked the first time a Vice Minister of MEE visited IIASA, highlighting the importance of science-based dialogue in addressing global environmental challenges.

Earlier this week, IIASA welcomed a delegation from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to Schloss Laxenburg for a high-level exchange on advancing collaboration at the intersection of science, policy, and emerging technologies.

Join us for an engaging event at the Natural History Museum in Vienna to explore how we can define environmental limits and inspire meaningful climate action. IIASA researchers will contribute insights through the Tree Quest citizen science initiative, showcasing innovative approaches to mapping forest carbon across Europe. The program combines scientific perspectives with interactive discussions on how especially young people can help shape a more sustainable future.

The 2nd Risk-KAN Symposium will be held on the 4th of May 2026 at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).