The Archimedes Center: advancing systems analysis in Israel

The Archimedes Center, named after the ancient Greek applied scientist, aims to promote science-based decision-making, enhance the resilience of natural and human systems, and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Core activities include research, policy support, and capacity development.

“The Archimedes Center welcomes researchers from various institutions, including academia and the public and private sectors,” says Vered Blass, an IIASA guest researcher who led the establishment of the center. “We provide opportunities for joint research groups, scholarships for Israeli researchers, organize events and conferences, and facilitate access to global models and processes led by various regional and international organizations.”

There are currently five main research groups at the center: 1. Energy and Climate, 2. Sustainable Resources Management, 3. Water and Technological Innovation, 4. Urban Complex Systems, and 5. Demography and Resilience. In the energy group, the center builds on existing research frameworks and integrated assessment models developed at IIASA – mainly the Model for Energy Supply Strategy Alternatives and their General Environmental Impact (MESSAGE).

Israel became a member of IIASA in 2017 through the Israeli Committee for IIASA, which consists of representatives from Israeli universities, government ministries, and the public. Current research collaborations include ongoing MESSAGE and transport projects, an adaptation of the Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS) model for Israel, and state-of-the-art hydrological models. New project proposals in the field of biodiversity, food systems, and advancing modeling of different social aspects are also being developed. Young Israeli researchers are engaged in the post-doctoral program at IIASA as well as in the institute’s Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP), and senior faculty members are currently spending their sabbatical at IIASA. 

“The Archimedes Center’s vision is to restructure systems within planetary boundaries. Our promise is to make informed, sustainable decisions based on three remits: developing relevant models, building an infrastructure of knowledge, and implementing change through collaboration to foster global sustainability and resilience, while educating the future generation of system thinkers,” Blass concludes.