The 2024 Highly Cited Researchers™ list by Clarivate celebrates individuals whose research has had a profound and wide-reaching impact. IIASA is proud to have its Director General, Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, as well as 10 additional exceptional researchers associated with the Institute recognized for their contributions in various fields.

A Highly Cited Researcher is an individual who has demonstrated significant and broad influence in their field(s) of research. This small fraction of the researcher population contributes disproportionately to extending the frontiers of knowledge and contributing to innovations that make the world healthier and more sustainable, while driving societal impact.

The rigorous evaluation and selection process draws on data from the Web of Science Core Collection™ citation index, together with qualitative analysis performed by experts at the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI)™ at Clarivate. This year’s list includes 6,636 individual researchers from institutions in 59 countries and regions. Each researcher selected has authored multiple Highly Cited Papers™ which rank in the top 1% by citations for their field(s) and publication year in the Web of Science Core Collection over the past decade.

“The Highly Cited Researchers list identifies and celebrates exceptional individual researchers whose significant and broad influence in their fields translates to impact in their research community. Their pioneering innovations contribute to a healthier, more sustainable and secure world. These researchers’ achievements strengthen the foundation of excellence and innovation that drives societal progress,” says David Pendlebury, Head of Research Analysis at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate.

The following IIASA researchers were selected for their extraordinary influence and performance in the fields of environment and ecology research, cross-field research, and social sciences:

  • Oliver Fricko, Research Scholar in the Integrated Assessment and Climate Change and Sustainable Service Systems research groups of the Energy, Climate, and Environment Program.
  • Petr Havlik, Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program Director.
  • Zbigniew Klimont, Pollution Management Research Group Leader in the Energy, Climate, and Environment Program.
  • Volker Krey, Integrated Assessment and Climate Change Research Group Leader in the Energy, Climate, and Environment Program.
  • Michael Obersteiner, Principal Research Scholar in the Exploratory Modeling of Human-natural Systems Research Group of the Advancing Systems Analysis Program.
  • Keywan Riahi, Energy, Climate, and Environment Program Director.
  • Yusuke Satoh, Water Security Research Group, IIASA Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program.
  • Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, IIASA Director General.

Riahi and Havlik are among only 216 researchers recognized in two fields of research this year (environment and ecology and social sciences).

Three researchers with IIASA listed as their secondary affiliation also made the list: 

  • Shinichiro Fujimori, Senior Guest Research Scholar in the Energy, Climate, and Environment Program primarily associated with Kyoto University, Japan.
  • Andreas Richter, a Senior Guest Research Scholar in the Advancing Systems Analysis Program primarily associated with the University of Vienna, Austria.
  • Joeri Rogelj, a Researcher in the Energy, Climate, and Environment Program primarily associated with Imperial College London, UK.

“It is an honor to be included on this list and I am proud to congratulate the IIASA colleagues recognized as 2024 Highly Cited Researchers™. Their contributions and dedication not only drive forward the boundaries of scientific knowledge, but also embody IIASA’s mission to provide scientific input to policy that contributes to a more sustainable world. This recognition underscores the impact of IIASA’s work in advancing research excellence and societal progress,” concludes IIASA Director General, Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber.

The full 2024 Highly Cited Researchers list is available online here.

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