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The objective of the WAT Group is to provide the scientific foundation needed for addressing the quest for water security across scales and to help bridge science-policy-practice gaps related to water management by leading global efforts on integrated assessment of water resources and exploring transformation pathways towards a water secure future.
Water plays a central role in all human activities and needs to be managed efficiently and sustainably. The WAT Group pushes the boundary of transdisciplinary water science enabled by the institute’s recognized expertise in systems science approaches, to provide the scientific knowledge needed to address the quest for water security. The group aims to lead global efforts on integrated assessment of water supply and demand and identify solutions options that improve water scarcity, ameliorate water quality, and enhance resilience to extreme events, while at the same time engaging with key stakeholders at different levels to translate science into policy.
The group’s research has informed the development of various widely used models, which will continually be refined and extended to enable application and analysis at policy-relevant spatial scales. The group contributes to several IIASA research themes including biodiversity and ecosystem services, production and consumption, technology and innovation, and governance and institutions, by providing the water resources research expertise required for the development of a systemic approach to resolving sustainability issues.
Models, tools, datasets
Community Water Model (CWatM)
Global Hydro-economic Model (ECHO)
Global Agro-Ecological Zones (GAEZ)
Soil and Water Assessment Tool at IIASA (SWAT+)
Projects
Sustainable water quality management supporting Uganda’s development ambitions (SWAQ-Uganda)
Advancing WFaS East Africa: Scaling out resilient water and agricultural systems (scaleWAYS)
SOS Water- Establishing a Safe Operating Space (SOS) for the global water resources system (SOS Water)
The World Bank ECA Regional Water Security Initiative: Development of an Assessment and Preparation of Diagnostic Reports
Staff
Emilio Politti
Research Scholar (WAT)
Mikhail Smilovic
Guest Research Scholar (WAT)
Jenan Irshaid
Guest Researcher (WAT)
Dor Fridman
Research Scholar (WAT)
News
21 February 2025
Vietnamese Ambassador and IIASA discuss strengthening research collaboration
On 14 February 2025, IIASA welcomed H.E. Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang, Permanent Representative of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the International Organizations in Vienna, to explore advancing research cooperation between IIASA and Vietnam.
12 December 2024
Charting the course for water security in Europe and Central Asia
IIASA researchers contributed to a new World Bank report titled, A Blueprint for Resilience: Charting the Course for Water Security in Europe and Central Asia. This comprehensive publication provides a methodological framework, in-depth analysis, and actionable recommendations to strengthen water security in countries and regions, and build resilience in the face of climate change, rising water demands, and growing geopolitical tensions.
19 November 2024
IIASA researchers recognized on Clarivate’s 2024 Highly Cited Researchers™ List
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.
Events
FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy and online
Launch of Global Agro-Ecological Zoning V5 and signing of MoU with FAO
Focus
13 February 2025
New water withdrawal projections for Europe suggest more people will live in water-stressed areas
As water demand continues to rise across Europe, new analysis reveals that more people than previously estimated will face water stress in the coming decades. IIASA researchers working on the EU-Horizon ACCREU project highlight the urgent need for informed adaptation strategies.
17 July 2024
Biodiversity lessons from nature
IIASA researchers Silvia Artuso and Juliette Martin reflect on a recent workshop presented at the Institute as part of the IIASA School Engagement Initiative, during which they introduced students to systems analysis and took them on an adventure to explore the amazing biodiversity of Laxenburg park.
Publications
Joseph, J., Tramberend, S. , Kabi, F., Fischer, G., & Kahil, T. (2025). Sustainable intensification of fodder crop production can mitigate feed shortage and seasonality in East Africa. Environmental Development 54 e101158. 10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101158. Su, H., Foster, T., Hogeboom, R.J., Luna-Gonzalez, D.V., Mialyk, O., Willaarts, B. , Wang, Y., & Krol, M.S. (2025). Nutrient production, water consumption, and stresses of large-scale versus small-scale agriculture: A global comparative analysis based on a gridded crop model. Global Food Security 45 e100844. 10.1016/j.gfs.2025.100844. Li, J., Zhang, X., Kahil, T. , Chen, D., Wang, G., Xu, S., Zhang, Y., & Chen, Y. (2025). From regional imbalances to latecomer advantage: Phosphorus pollution and economic development in the Yangtze economic belt. Ecological Indicators 173 e113423. 10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113423. Wilson, H., Raasakka, N., Spyrakos, E., Millar, D., Neely, M.B., Salyani, A., Pawar, S., Chernov, I., Ague, S.K.de L., Aguilar Vega, X., Akinsemolu, A., Baltodano Martinez, A., Cillero Castro, C., Del Valle, M., Fadlelseed, M., Ferral, A., Hassen, J.M., Jiang, D., Mubambi, T.K., La Fuente, S., Lateef, L.O., Lobo, F.de L., Marty, J., Nkwasa, A. , Obuya, J.A., Ogashawara, I., Reusen, I., Rogers, A., Schmidt, S.I., Sharma, K., Simis, S.G.H., Wang, S., Warner, S., & Tyler, A. (2025). Unlocking the global benefits of Earth Observation to address the SDG 6 in situ water quality monitoring gap. Frontiers in Remote Sensing 6 10.3389/frsen.2025.1549286. Zhao, F., Nie, N., Liu, Y., Yi, C., Guillaumot, L. , Wada, Y., Burek, P. , Smilovic, M. , Frieler, K., Buechner, M., Schewe, J., & Gosling, S.N. (2025). Benefits of Calibrating a Global Hydrological Model for Regional Analyses of Flood and Drought Projections: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Basin. Water Resources Research 61 (3) e2024WR037153. 10.1029/2024WR037153.