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Tree-Quest is a citizen science mobile tool that enables users to measure aboveground biomass related attributes (tree diameter, height and species) and estimate carbon stored in trees while contributing data for forest and urban tree mapping, supporting research on biomass and carbon storage. Engaged citizens can measure nearby trees in their local surroundings, such as parks and along the streets in urban areas, integrating science into their daily routines. This helps generate valuable ground-based observations on trees in urban environments that can be used for satellite-based carbon assessment. 

As part of the 35th Meeting of the International Resource Panel (IRP), held in Berlin from 8-12 June 2026, CircEUlar and its sister project CIRCOMOD contributed to a dedicated side event for IRP Steering Committee members focused on the role of circular economy measures in greenhouse gas emission mitigation.

A delegation from South Africa's National Research Foundation (NRF) visited IIASA to exchange knowledge on systems approaches to disruptive change, innovation, and evidence-informed decision-making. The visit reflects the longstanding collaboration between IIASA and South Africa.

What can millions of online conversations tell us about climate action? A new dashboard developed at IIASA uses AI to analyze social media discussions on food, mobility, and home energy choices, helping researchers track the social norms, barriers, and motivations that shape low-carbon lifestyles. By complementing traditional surveys with large-scale social media data, the LOW-AI project offers a new perspective on how climate-relevant behaviors are discussed and adopted in everyday life.

Under the leadership of IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, the Science and Timber Construction Alliance (SITCA) was officially launched today. The initiative aims to transform the construction sector into a driver of climate protection through sustainable forest management and modern timber construction.

The ENFORCE project consortium will meet at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in the city of Barcelona to review the second year of the project and to develop an action plan for 2027. 

This third IIASA Gender Equality Report concludes the Gender Equality Plan (2023–2025) and aligns with the IIASA Strategy 2021–2030. It tracks progress on gender representation, workforce movement, addressing the gender pay gap, gender mainstreaming in science, work–life balance, and measures against gender-based violence.    

On 26 June 2026, the Austrian IIASA Committee gathered at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna for its 100th session – an afternoon focused on systems, science diplomacy, and the question of how to fit an entire world into a model.

Anastasia Aldelina Lijadi, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director General and Gender Equality and DEI Officer, highlights the IIASA Interaction Festival 2026 Open Mic Session, where research, creativity, and community came together.  

This third session of the AI4SoilHealth Cross-Policy Soil Dialogues – following earlier dialogues on nature restoration and the Common Agricultural Policy – brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to examine how improved soil monitoring, AI-powered indicators, and field-tested methodologies can connect climate policy objectives with implementation on the ground.

The Raiffa Academy, anchored at IIASA, is the hub of a global network of researchers, government officials, and decision analysts promoting the application of decision science and negotiation analysis methodologies in the development of solutions to complex, science-intensive policy challenges. In this personal reflection, Howard Raiffa's daughter, Judy Raiffa, shares the story of her father's transformative years at IIASA, the profound impact they had on his life's work, and the enduring vision he hoped would continue to shape the Institute's future.

Eight IIASA experts have been included in Carbon Brief’s latest ranking of the world’s 500 most highly cited climate scientists, while IIASA itself ranks among the world’s leading institutions for climate research, highlighting the Institute’s continued leadership in advancing climate and sustainability science.

The Government of Barbados and IIASA have signed a letter of intent, formally launching Barbados’ path toward membership in the Institute and establishing a new partnership to apply advanced systems analysis and global modeling to the design of a regenerative economy.

AFE Group researchers Dr. Christian Folberth and Dr. Pavel Kiparisov will present results from the ANFOS project at the workshop “Possible Effects of Nuclear War: An Austrian Perspective”, taking place on 29 June 2026 at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna.

IIASA, the Friends of IIASA, and the Austrian Academy of Sciences will host the inaugural Howard Raiffa Lecture, featuring Avril Haines, President-elect of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former United States Director of National Intelligence. The lecture is part of the launch of the Howard Raiffa Academy, a joint initiative of IIASA and the Friends of IIASA.