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The Association for Forest Spatial Analysis Technologies (ForestSAT) will host its 2026 international conference in Gainesville, Florida, bringing together experts to share the latest advances in forestry, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and geospatial technologies. Dmitry Shchepashchenko (IIASA) plans to attend and deliver presentations at the conference. He also serves as a member of its Scientific Committee.

Starting on 15 January 2026 and running for two weeks, the traveling exhibition "Climate and Me" will be on display in Laxenburg, offering the public a chance to engage with new perspectives on climate action. The opening event features a keynote by IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, whose insights highlight the Institute’s leadership in shaping a sustainable future.

On Wednesday, 10 December, IIASA will host a class from the Vienna Sir Karl Popper school for a half-day workshop to explore systems thinking through the life cycle analysis of a chocolate bar.

IIASA will co-host a session with the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa under the title, People, planet, and possibility: systems science meets journalism for wellbeing, at the 2025 World Conference of Science Journalists in Pretoria, South Africa.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) methods are becoming increasingly important in both science and society. In climate science - where complex biophysical and societal processes interact across diverse temporal and spatial scales, and datasets are often large, heterogenous and incomplete - AI and ML methods offer new powerful solutions.

As a co-host, JoAnne Linnerooth-Bayer will share the latest project insights during this webinar co-organized by Risk KAN and NATURANCE.

IIASA is participating in Clean Air Week 2025, taking place from 24-28 November at the Sukosol Hotel in Bangkok. Throughout the week, IIASA researchers will contribute to discussions, present recent findings, and support the organization of key sessions focused on air quality and climate-related challenges in Asia.

Thinking about applying for the 2026 IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP)? Want to learn more about the program and how to prepare a strong application? Join our two-hour YSSP Masterclass for the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Member Organization (SSARMO). It will offer participants comprehensive information about the 2026 YSSP program, including application procedures, practical guidance for developing competitive research proposals, opportunities to engage with IIASA program representatives through breakout sessions, and insights from SSARMO YSSP alumni.  

From Environmental and Earth Observation to Policy: Integrated Monitoring for Biodiversity and Climate

Africa is taking a leading role in shaping global dialogues by empowering researchers, institutions, and policymakers to influence decision-making and co-develop evidence, based solutions to shared challenges. At the heart of this effort lies systems analysis, a powerful approach for understanding and addressing the complex interconnections between food, energy, water, and climate systems.

End to Begin, a multidisciplinary theater play by IIASA alumna Gloria Benedikt, which addresses the state and future of the planet and how humans live on it, is returning to the Odeon Theater in Vienna from 26-29 January 2026 for a series of public and school performances.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) methods are becoming increasingly important in both science and society. In climate science - where complex biophysical and societal processes interact across diverse temporal and spatial scales, and datasets are often large, heterogenous and incomplete - AI and ML methods offer new powerful solutions.

Thinking about applying for the 2026 IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP)? Want to learn more about the program and how to prepare a strong application?  Join our YSSP Application Webinar for Europe and Asia to find out what the program offers and how to make your proposal stand out.

On Friday, 14 November, the UNDERPIN team will participate in the Expert Meeting on Economic Losses from Weather- and Climate-Related Extremes, hosted by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The event brings together researchers, policymakers, and data providers to discuss advances in tracking and harmonizing evidence on the economic impacts of climate extremes across Europe. With recent years marking record-high losses from climate-related disasters, the meeting aims to explore how improved indicators, data interoperability, and methodological transparency can better inform adaptation strategies, disaster risk reduction, and resilience investments.

IIASA Deputy Director General Karen Lips participates in the 2025 Global Research Council (GRC) Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Meeting and Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) Academic Symposium, held under the theme “From Regional Dialogue to Global Impact.” This annual gathering brings together research funders, policymakers, and scholars from across Africa and beyond to strengthen regional leadership in global research governance and collaboration.

Guest Research Scholar Vahideh Shirvani from the Cooperation and Transformative Governance (CAT) Research Group will present her project at the Urban Infrastructure Risk and Resilience Webinar. 

IIASA joins thousands of scientists, educators, and policymakers at the premier Earth and space science conference 15-19 December in New Orleans, Louisiana, to explore groundbreaking research, connect with global experts, and shape the future of our planet.

This seminar aims to deepen collaboration between IIASA and Comenius University, building on the Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year, and strengthening engagement with the Institute's Slovak National Member Organization. Taking place while applications for the Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) are open, it offers students and faculty a timely opportunity to learn more about IIASA and explore pathways for involvement.

The emphasis of integrated disaster and risk research has shifted from topical analysis, such as dealing with disasters associated with natural hazards, technological accidents or environmental crises, to a comprehensive analysis of interconnected and mutually interactive risk sources and crises. This interaction has often been framed in the language of “polycrisis” indicating the potentially amplifying and cascading effects of each crisis from one domain to the next. At the same time, the literature on systemic risk also includes the effects of multiple, interacting risks on the functionality and survivability of entire systems such as climate stability, cybersecurity or energy production. New approaches such as foresight, integrated risk assessment, and adaptive management, are developed and applied to cope with this new challenge.

From 10 to 21 November 2025, Brazil will have the honor of hosting the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) where the world's experts come together to agree on the actions to address the climate crisis, helping vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.