Alumni
The more you give, the more you get
Can we lift people out of energy poverty while simultaneously reducing carbon dioxide emissions? Camille Belmin tried to tackle this issue.
Crafting mines from satellite images
IIASA alumnus Victor Maus describes his latest research in which he and IIASA colleagues mapped more than 57,000 km² of mining areas around the globe using satellite images.
Modeling ancient history to inform the future
IIASA alumnus Marcus Thomson explains how what we have learnt about prehistoric farming cultures can be used to provide useful insights on human societal responses to climate change.
Give yourself a nudge and make smarter decisions
Ralph Keeney is a professor and consultant about decision-making. He describes his most recent book, Give Yourself a Nudge: Helping Smart People Make Smarter Personal and Business Decisions, and how it can impact you.
The Cercedilla Manifesto: Advocating for more environmentally and socially sustainable research meetings
Raquel Guimaraes and Debbora Leip argue that it is time for researchers to set an example by making research meetings more sustainable.
IIASA, East and West Germany, and the Cold War: Researching IIASA’s History
Liza Soutschek shares her journey in researching the institute’s history relating to the Cold War for her PhD dissertation.
Is India’s Ujjwala cooking gas program a success or failure?
Abhishek Kar shares his thoughts on the Indian government’s Ujjwala program, which aims to scale up household access to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for clean cooking.
Climate change or behavior change?
Leila Niamir describes how her research findings answer this important question and the model developed to support policymakers’ decision by exploring impacts of behavioral and social dynamics in the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient societies.
Creating a safe space to talk about gender equality in science
Luiza Toledo writes about how the IIASA Women in Science Club are creating a safe space to talk about and advance gender equality in science.
Introducing a framework for 21st century biological invasions
Bernd Lenzner discusses how understanding the role invasive species play in shaping global biodiversity and ecosystem services is crucial to a sustainable future.
Reflections on IIASA, systems analysis, and the IIASA community in the Netherlands
An interview with Leen Hordijk, who was previously a project leader, Council member, and director at IIASA.
Managing complexity in social systems: Leverage points for policy and strategy
Christoph Mandl discusses how his recent publication is rooted in the seminal works of 4 IIASA alumni.
Lessons from 50 years of model-based policy advocacy
An interview with IIASA alumnus Dennis Meadows during his recent visit to IIASA.
My postdoc experience at IIASA
IIASA alumna Nandita Saikia, looks back on the two years that she spent living in Austria while working as a postdoctoral researcher in the World Population Program.
Bringing some light into the dark
How can risk assessments considering uncertainties substantially contribute to better risk management and the prevention of economic impacts? YSSP alumnus Tobias Sieg explains.
Exploring urban-rural differences in health risks from extreme temperatures
IIASA alumna Kejia Hu discusses a recent study on how extreme temperatures affect the health risks experienced by urban and rural communities in China.
Closing funding gaps and building bridges with the IIASA network
IIASA Development Officer Marzena Adamczuk talks about the impact of the YSSP Fund and the power of the IIASA network.
Finding community at the AGU Fall Meeting
IIASA alumna Lu Liu talks about her experience at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Meeting 2018.
How culture affects perceptions of climate change related technology
IIASA alumnus Farid Karimi explains how public perception shapes the development of technologies related to climate change.
Science without policy is science, but policy without science is gambling
IIASA alumnus Géza Tóth shares his thoughts on bringing science and industry closer together.
Creativity: a change in thinking for a sustainable future
IIASA 2018 YSSP participant Laura Mononen looks at creativity from a systems perspective to build a more sustainable world.
The world needs IIASA: Pavel Kabat looks back
Pavel Kabat is chief scientist at the World Meteorological Organization and was director general of IIASA from February 2012 until September 2018
The legacy of systems analysis in South Africa: when young scientists become global leaders
Sepo Hachigonta, once a YSSP participant himself, shares the inspiration behind the recently released book “Systems Analysis for Complex Global Challenges,” the intellectual legacy of generations of IIASA and South African YSSP alums.
From YSSP to Antarctica: Reflections on a year of science and travel
In 2017, Cecile Godde participated in both the IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) and Homeward Bound, a scientific leadership program that culminated in a trip to Antarctica. Here, she writes about her experiences.
How to achieve scientific excellence
W. Brian Arthur from the Santa Fe Institute (SFI), and a former IIASA researcher, talks about increasing returns and the magic formula to get really great science.
Conversations in corridors: Attending the World Science Forum 2017
Nemi Vora reports back on discussing how international mentoring can help address worldwide inequalities.
Where are they now?
Lauren Hale, Young Scientist Summer Program 1996 alumna, on her current research and on working with IIASA again.
Interview: Living in the age of adaptation
Adil Najam on the need for adaptation and our failure to mitigate enough or in time
What is driving Pakistan’s water crisis?
Pakistan is facing serious water scarcity problems: what’s driving the issue and what can be done?
Interview: A look back at the Young Scientists Summer Program
An interview with former IIASA director Roger Levien, who first conceived of a program at IIASA for young scientists.
Interview: An empirical view of resilience and sustainability
An alumnus of the YSSP aims to make a positive impact on humanity and sustainable development.
Making the most of the IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program
Applying for the YSSP? A participant tells of her experience and gives tips for how to get the most out of a summer at IIASA.
A world on the move
How does the money that migrants send home contribute to sustainable development?
Boosting resilience for African cities
A participant in the 2016 YSSP describes realistic approaches to urban planning and governance on the continent.
Interview: Plants and their fungi to slow down climate change
YSSP participant César Terrer talks about his research on climate change and the CO2 fertilization effect
How coordination can boost the resilience of complex supply chains
With global supply chains, local disasters or man-made accidents can propagate from one place to another, and generate significant impact. How can this be prevented?
Climate change, bioenergy, and ozone in the EU
Ozone pollution is intertwined with air pollution and climate change. So what impact will EU policies on climate and clean air have on future ozone levels?
Interview: Can nature bounce back?
An interview with Rockefeller University Program for the Human Environment Director Jesse Ausubel—an alumnus of IIASA’s Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP)—on his optimistic view for the future of our planet.
The city resilient – some systems thinking
By Bruce Beck, Imperial College London and Michael Thompson, IIASA Risk, Policy and Vulnerability (RPV) Program. What do Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in London, the now glorious heritage of Islington’s housing stock, and the cable-car system in Kathmandu for getting...
Interview: Coal, natural gas, and clean air for China
In an interview, IIASA 2014 Mikhalevich Award Winner Jun Liu, a participant in the 2014 Young Scientists Summer Program, talks about her research on air pollution in China.
William Nordhaus: A new model for climate treaties
At a lecture for IIASA staff, economist Bill Nordhaus explained his idea of “climate clubs” as a new model for international agreements on climate mitigation.
Interview: From systems analysis to remote sensing
Eric F. Wood is a hydrologist at Princeton University, well-known for his work in hydrology, climate, and meteorology, and an IIASA alumnus. In this interview he talks about the next challenges in water research.
Alumni memories: nuclear reactors and energy models
Alan McDonald, IIASA Alumnus and member of the IIASA Alumni Advisory Board writes about his time at IIASA in the early 1970s and his research on nuclear reactors and energy systems.
Interview: Women, education, and leadership in Africa
Lanoi Maloiy is a PhD student at the University of South Australia in Adelaide, and a participant in the recently completed 2013-14 Southern African Young Scientists Summer Program (SA-YSSP), which IIASA co-organizes with the South African National Research Foundation...
A continuing transformation
By Aviott John, IIASA alumnus Anyone who has seen before and after photos of Schloss Laxenburg—the home of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)—knows what an incredible physical transformation the building went through between 1972 and 1981...
IIASA Employee Number 1
By Martha Wohlwendt IIASA's Alumni Association is hosting its first Alumni Day on April 29, 2014, and we are inviting alumni to send their memories and photos of their time at IIASA. Our first post comes from Martha Wohlwendt, IIASA’s first employee, Executive...
Interview: The problems with phosphorus
In a new commentary (subscription required) in Nature Geoscience, IIASA researchers Michael Obersteiner, Marijn van der Velde, and colleagues write about the problems facing the world’s food supply as we exhaust our supplies of phosphorus. Projections show that...
What does the IPCC report mean for climate policy?
By Anthony Patt, ETH Zurich and IIASA (From ETH-Klimablog) The first of three working group reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was made public last Friday. Previous reports served as guidepost for climate policy development. And yet some...
Interview: REDD+ in Cambodia
Pheakkdey Nguon, participant in IIASA's 2012 Young Scientists Summer Program, and IIASA Annual Fund recipient, has won an IPCC reserach fellowship to fund his research on REDD+ in Cambodia. In this interview he discusses his research plans, the award, and his...
The Southern African YSSP: My experience
By Valentina Prado, PhD student at Arizona State University, SA-YSSP participant 2012-2013 @ValentinaASU I am a PhD student in Sustainable Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU). I was born in Cali, Colombia, and when I was in high school, my family immigrated...