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Options Magazine, Winter 2022: Building trust in science for a sustainable future
2022 has been a year of celebration for IIASA, providing us with not only an opportunity to look back on the institute’s achievements over the past 50 years, but also to look to the future and all that IIASA has to offer on the path to a healthier planet and a more sustainable future for all.
In this issue of Options, we look back on the various celebratory activities IIASA organized with its member organizations throughout the year to recognize the strong global ties it has built over the years, and to explore new opportunities to strengthen partnerships and collaborations with the global scientific community. Our cover feature highlights the institute’s role as a trust-builder, and how the IIASA Strategy 2021–2030 and research support and contribute to the aims and objectives of building trust in science. While IIASA is an international institution committed to fostering scientific cooperation across the globe, its history is tightly linked to Austria, who has been generously hosting the institute since its founding in 1972. As we approach the end of our 50th anniversary year, we therefore take a closer look at the research activities undertaken by IIASA and Austrian researchers to help the country achieve real change and continue on the path toward sustainability.
Magazine articles
Building trust in science for a sustainable future
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: Science-informed policy is crucial to solving the interconnected and complex global to local problems society faces today. There is, however, one essential element that is critical to the success of such an ambitious endeavor: trust in the scientific information provided.
In pursuit of resilience at 1.5°C
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: How would your community cope if floods or wildfires raced through it? With a 1.5°C rise in global temperature drawing nearer, such crises become more likely, but it is hard to gauge how prepared communities are. Does everyone have savings in place? Could schools remain open? Do people know the flood drill?
Celebrating 50 years of global collaboration
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: IIASA organized a series of celebratory activities with its member organizations throughout 2022 to celebrate 50 years of groundbreaking systems analysis research and opportunities to strengthen partnerships and collaborations with the global scientific community.
IIASA and Austria: supporting Austria into a sustainable future
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: IIASA researchers have been working closely with all levels of Austrian society including scientific institutions, policymakers, and the public to help the country move towards a more sustainable and just future.
The value of inclusivity
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: Juliana Arbelaez Gaviria joined IIASA in 2020 to work on the Global Biosphere Management Model (GLOBIOM) for the Czech Republic. She is currently a researcher in the Integrated Biosphere Futures Research Group of the IIASA Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program.
Bridging the gap between science and policy
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: Leila Niamir is a computational economist and climate researcher driven by a passion for global change.
Enhancing global resilience
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: Michael Freiberger is a mathematical economist who uses dynamic modeling to tackle risk related problems.
Where are they now: Olga Danylo
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: IIASA alumna Olga Danylo was part of the development team of Restor, a global hub for over 120,000 nature restoration and conservation projects all over the world, and is currently the organization’s Technical Product Manager.
Bringing together the global systems analysis network
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: IIASA Connect presents a great opportunity for the system analysis community to engage and connect with colleagues around the world.
Standardizing migration data in Europe
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: Researchers illustrated the discrepancies in migration flow statistics across Europe to help standardize data and better understand migration patterns.
Collaborating for better research and management of wildland fires in Europe
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: In a collaborative effort, researchers, practitioners, and managers created an overview of current wildland fire patterns and challenges across Europe.
Analyzing urban metabolism in Beijing
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: A new comprehensive study on the urban metabolism of Beijing clarifies the impact of buildings, infrastructure, and goods on the city and its residents.
Improving water-energy access in Central Asia
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: To help mitigate the water crisis in Central Asia, researchers devised a carbon-neutral and reliable regional strategy by building seasonal pumped storage plants in major rivers.
Improving energy efficiency in Latin America’s dairy sector
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: A new study provides ways to combine efficient energy solutions with comprehensive waste management to make the Latin American dairy sector more sustainable.
Protecting against phosphorus runoff in the Lake Erie watershed
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: Nutrient runoff from croplands is threatening the integrity of natural waters. Researchers devised sustainable management practices to protect against phosphorous overload in Lake Erie.
Optimizing crop management practices in Senegal
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: A study on the sustainability of rice production pinpoints methods to improve rice management and thereby food security in Senegal.
Linking health status and clean cooking practices in South Africa
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: Transitioning to clean cooking services in South Africa can reduce existing health inequalities by improving the health of socially disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
Charting fair pathways to climate neutrality
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: Equitably sharing the costs of mitigation is vital to ensure a just transition to a net-zero world. By calculating the impact of national policies on global emissions and exploring different effort-sharing schemes, the ENGAGE Project is at the forefront of developing feasible solutions.