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International scientific collaboration brings people together, but also carries hidden costs. Jack Vahnberg and Steffen Lohrey share their experiences living in short-term rentals in Vienna during the 2025 Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP). From wasted household items and energy inefficiency to the impact on urban structures and housing affordability, they explore how the realities of temporary stays can conflict with the very sustainability goals their research aims to promote.

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.

The final stakeholder workshop of the Austria Fire Futures (AFF) project gathered leading experts, policymakers, foresters, firefighters, and tourism representatives on October 28, 2025, at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Laxenburg to discuss Austria’s growing wildfire risks and the way forward toward climate resilience.  

IIASA has released its report from the European Forum Alpbach 2025, where it served as reporting partner for the Climate Track. Drawing from five insightful blogs, the report distills key ideas and reflections that emerged under the Forum’s overarching theme, “Recharge Europe.”

Co-organized by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and IIASA, this event marks the Austrian launch of the Human Development Report 2025 "A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI" with a keynote presentation by Yanchun Zhang, the UNDP Chief Statistician, followed by a dialogue session that will examine the transformative societal impact and implications for human agency stemming from the rapid development of artificial intelligence.

IIASA Deputy Director General, Karen Lips, represented the Institute at the 2025 European Regional Meeting of the Global Research Council (GRC), convened by Science Europe earlier this week. The meeting provided an important forum for engagement with global research-policy networks to advance themes of open science, artificial intelligence, fairness, and sustainable research systems.

IIASA Distinguished Emeritus Research Scholar and Sherpa for Asia, Wolfgang Lutz, has been awarded the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (Österreichisches Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst).

From 15 to 19 September 2025, IIASA hosted a Symposium on Human Capital for Sustainable Development – A Focus on Africa. Supported by the Yidan Prize project funds, the event brought together researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and PhD students from Africa and Europe to advance collaboration on education, demography, and sustainable development.

IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber will be the keynote speaker at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations' fifth webinar in a dynamic series focused on developing a resilient and sustainable forest-based bioeconomy. This session will explore how sustainable wood construction can serve as a nature-based solution to address multiple challenges - from the global housing crisis to climate change mitigation.

AFE group and its Wildfire climate impacts and adaptation model (FLAM) have drawn public attention in Austrian media by providing high-resolution insights into current and future wildfire hotspots.  

The Austria Fire Futures (AFF) Final Stakeholder Workshop brings together invited experts and practitioners, including forest owners, forest management, tourism organizations, local administrations, the respective federal ministries, relevant industry sectors, NGOs, science, and media, to discuss wildfire risks, updated ignition models, and new fire danger maps for Austria. The Final Stakeholder Meeting, organized by IIASA's AFE group, focuses on turning scientific insights into practical fire management and adaptation strategies.

Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the Governor of Lower Austria, visited IIASA last week to strengthen ties between the Institute and the Province of Lower Austria.

The IIASA Climate Champions initiative is entering its second year with the first workshop taking place on 7 October, focusing on climate change, climate resilience, and climate justice. More than 35 students from Vienna and Lower Austria will participate.

HOTHOUSE, realized in cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Foundation – Global Unit for Human Security (Vienna) and other partners, brings together artists, activists, practitioners, and thinkers from around the world to question the growing power of AI. IIASA guest researcher Camille Belmin will join the event as one of the discussants.

IIASA will host the first author meeting of the upcoming Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Spatial Planning and Connectivity Assessment in Laxenburg, Austria from 22-26 September. The meeting will bring together experts from around the world to begin work on the assessment, which will examine how spatial planning can integrate biodiversity and human wellbeing.

IIASA will host a class from the International Business College Hetzendorf next week. Around 25 students from the bilingual school will attend a half-day workshop to explore systems thinking through the life cycle analysis of a chocolate bar.

Celebrating 80 years, the European Forum Alpbach brings together young leaders, innovators, and experts from around the world to drive ideas for a strong and democratic Europe. This year's theme is "Recharging Europe" - IIASA is proud to join as a reporting partner to share insights on science, innovation, and climate action.

IIASA is participating in the 2025 summer camp as part of the Biedermannsdorf Feriensommer for children! On July 30, children aged 6 to 9 will visit IIASA to learn about the work of researchers and scientists, and to explore the biodiversity of Schlosspark Laxenburg.

IIASA is taking part in the Ferienspiel Camp 2025 within the Laxenburg Feriensommer for children! On 22 July children aged 6-9 will visit IIASA to learn about the work of researchers and scientists and explore the biodiversity of Schlosspark Laxenburg.

3 Day Capacity Building event held in Sofia, Bulgaria as part of the Danube Water Balance Project