ASA Program aims to discover, develop, and deploy new, more effective, and efficient ways of infusing systems science into policy and decision making for sustainable development.

Despite numerous success stories, many policies and decisions that currently aim to deal with global change are not sufficiently informed by cutting-edge science. Among the major barriers that prevent the effective input of science into policy are perceived shortfalls in agility, realism, and relevance of the current generation of methods and models from the standpoint of end users. To address these barriers, ASA strives to advance agile, realistic, and relevant systems analytical tools and methods, and facilitate a shared understanding of the capabilities and limits of these tools and methods with end users. Consequently, ASA’s efforts span the full range, from advancing research methods and tools of systems analysis to innovating at the interface between policy- and decision making, as well as with society at large. 

ASA Program’s major objectives are:

  1. To innovate approaches and tools to analyze increasingly systemic, social-ecological risks and support decisions aimed at enhancing resilience and facilitating sustainability transitions and transformations.
  2. To further the capacity of agile, on-demand systems analysis underpinned by a suite of modeling frameworks of appropriate complexity.
  3. To mobilize multiple sources of data and the power of data science to diagnose and identify solutions to reduce vulnerabilities and risks. 
  4. To advance feasible and effective ways of engagement with policymakers, the private sector, and citizens. 
  5. To enhance trust and shared understanding of systems analysis methods and tools, in particular, through open science.

Models, tools, datasets

Overhead aerial view of city streets

Earth Observation & Citizen Science (Geo-Wiki)

Data from the Drivers of Tropical Forest Loss (2008 to 2019) Geo-Wiki Campaign

Projects

Camaliot

CAMALIOT

INQUIMUS conference 2022

Transformations within Reach (TwR-II)

Staff

Åke Brännström profile picture

Åke Brännström

Guest Senior Research Scholar (EM, CAT)

Alexey Davydov profile picture

Alexey Davydov

Guest Research Scholar (EM)

Pratik Patil profile picture

Pratik Patil

Researcher (ASA, CAT)

No image available

Nikolay Khabarov

Research Scholar (EM)

News

Young African woman with cellphone

15 March 2023

Helping young Africans innovate for climate resilience

Africa is the continent that will be most adversely affected by climate change. IIASA researchers are collaborating on Yoma OR – an ambitious project aimed at helping young people grow their digital skills as a first step on a journey from learning to earning using AI, blockchain, and crowdsourcing.
Glitter awards background

03 February 2023

Exceptional young scientists awarded

IIASA is proud to announce the winners of the 2022 Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) awards. The awards provide financial support for three exceptional young scientists to return to IIASA for an additional three months of research.
Ecology, green cities help the world with eco-friendly concept

25 January 2023

Driving inclusive and green urban transitions

A new Horizon Europe project led by IIASA called Urban ReLeaf leverages citizen science for public sector innovation.  

Focus

28 March 2023

The future of biodiversity monitoring in Europe

Increasing the policy impact and effectiveness of biodiversity monitoring in Europe: current state and gaps.
Globe on moss
Modern agricultural technology concepts superimposed on seedling

15 February 2023

From farm to space and back: adapting Austrian agriculture to climate change

Juan Carlos Laso Bayas and colleagues reflect on the outcomes of the SATFARM Services project, which set out to create models that demonstrate the potential of satellite data to track climate-smart agricultural practices and visualize indicators to track their success in a prototype web platform for Austrian farmers.

05 December 2022

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?
In pursuit of resilience at 1.5degC