IIASA

29/05/2026

Job Opportunity: Program and Project Officer – Citizen Science Global Partnership (CSGP)

As the founding host institution of CSGP, IIASA is pleased to share this exciting career opportunity on CSGP’s behalf.

📍 Location: Laxenburg, Austria (based at IIASA premises)
🕒 Employment: Full-time or part-time
📌 Please note: This is a CSGP position, not an IIASA appointment. The successful candidate will be employed by and report directly to CSGP.

CSGP is seeking a Program and Project Officer to support international projects, research, and network development at the forefront of citizen science.
This is an opportunity to work closely with a global community of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers advancing citizen science for sustainable development.

In this role, you will:
• Contribute to EU-funded projects on biodiversity and plastic pollution
• Work with partners across science, policy, and civil society worldwide
• Support research, project delivery, communications, and events
• Help grow a global network advancing citizen science for sustainable development
We're looking for someone with project management experience, strong organizational skills, professional German proficiency, and an interest in citizen science.

🔗 Learn more and apply: https://iiasa.ac.at/employment/external-job-opportunities

28/05/2026

IIASA recently welcomed Dame Julie Maxton, Executive Director of The Royal Society, to Schloss Laxenburg for discussions on science diplomacy, international cooperation, and strengthening collaboration between our institutions.

The Royal Society and IIASA share a long history dating back to 1972, when IIASA’s founding principles were signed at the Royal Society’s offices in London. The visit reaffirmed our shared commitment to advancing science-based solutions to global challenges through international collaboration.

Read more 👉 https://iiasa.ac.at/news/may-2026/iiasa-welcomes-royal-society-executive-director-dame-julie-maxton
UK Research and Innovation

27/05/2026

Can temporary carbon storage play a meaningful role in climate action?

A new study published in Nature and led by researchers from IIASA and international partners shows that while temporary carbon dioxide removal (CDR) cannot fully offset CO₂ emissions, it may help compensate for short-lived climate pollutants such as methane, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors like agriculture.

The research provides a physics-based framework for understanding where temporary carbon storage can support climate goals, while emphasizing that it should complement, rather than replace, direct emissions reductions.

“Not all greenhouse gases behave the same way, and not all carbon storage needs to be permanent to be genuinely useful,” says IIASA researcher Thomas Gasser. “Temporary CDR has real climate value, but only when it is matched to the right type of emissions.”

Read more 👉 https://iiasa.ac.at/news/may-2026/temporary-carbon-removal-could-help-support-climate-goals

Authors: Yue He, Keywan Riahi. Matthew GIDDEN, shilong piao, Tao Wang, Thomas Gasser

Peking University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Maryland

Persistent methane emissions from sectors such as agriculture and growing debates over the credibility of carbon offsets are creating new challenges for governments and companies pursuing net-zero commitments. New research suggests temporary carbon storage may have a scientifically valid role in hel...

27/05/2026

: The Horizon Europe CHOICE project recently showcased two interactive simulation tools making food-system and climate modeling more accessible to policymakers, stakeholders, and non-expert users. 🌍🌱

During the webinar, participants explored how dietary shifts, food waste reduction, behavioral change, and land-use decisions can shape sustainability outcomes using the FELiX ISE and FABLE ISE platforms.

From live demos to hands-on exercises, the session highlighted how interactive modeling can help turn complex data into actionable insights for sustainable food futures.

🎥 Webinar recording and tools are now available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF5aq92PBTU

22/05/2026

🌍 The IIASA project SPARCCLE is part of 2026!

Join us for the online webinar “Climate Risks and Biodiversity for European Resilience and a Nature-Positive Economy"
📅 9 June 2025
⏰ 10:30–12:00 CEST

Experts from the Horizon Europe projects SPARCCLE, CROSSEU, and ACCREU will explore how biodiversity loss and climate risks impact Europe’s economy, resilience, and future policymaking. The discussion will highlight the links between climate adaptation, nature-positive strategies, and financial stability.

The session will be moderated by Edward Byers, SPARCCLE lead coordinator.
Speakers include:
• Andrej Ceglar (European Central Bank)
• Zoi Vrontisi (E3Modelling, SPARCCLE project)
• Kirsten Halsnæs (Danmarks Tekniske Universitet - DTU, CROSSEU project)
• Gemma Ge**er (IIASA, ACCREU project)

More information and registration: https://iiasa.ac.at/events/jun-2026/eu-green-week-2026-climate-risks-and-biodiversity-for-european-resilience-and

20/05/2026

A recent Elsevier report titled, Austria as a Science and Technology Nation, which benchmarks the country’s scientific performance in an international context, has highlighted IIASA as one of Austria’s standout research institutions.

According to the report:

🌍 IIASA is Austria’s most internationally collaborative research institution, with 90.3% of its publications produced through international co-authorship
📘 49.5% of IIASA research is cited in policy documents – the highest share among Austria’s leading research institutions
📈 IIASA is also recognized among Austria’s top-performing institutions in scientific influence

“The findings of this report reflect IIASA’s founding mission: bringing together the best science from across borders to support decision-making on the world’s most pressing challenges,” notes IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber. “At a time of growing global complexity, international scientific cooperation and evidence-based policy are more important than ever.”

Read more 👉 https://iiasa.ac.at/news/may-2026/new-elsevier-report-on-austrias-science-system-highlights-iiasas-global-impact

Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften

18/05/2026

❓What does it really take to fully phase out fossil fuels by 2050?

💡A lot more electricity. A new international study finds that a full fossil fuel phase-out by mid-century would require global electricity generation to grow 60–80% beyond conventional 1.5°C pathways, alongside a rapid expansion of renewables, hydrogen, and electrification.

At the same time, the analysis shows that earlier fossil fuel phase-out could reduce long-term dependence on carbon capture and CO2 removal technologies, while increasing the likelihood of returning warming to 1.5°C after overshoot. The study highlights the scale of the infrastructure, investment, and system-wide changes needed to move away from fossil fuels - and the trade-offs between different pathways to achieving climate goals.

This research was led by Kyoto University, 国立大学法人 北海道大学（Hokkaido University）, and IIASA, using the Asia-Pacific Integrated Model Technology mode and MESSAGEix-GLOBIOM models.

👏 Congratulations to all authors and collaborators, including Shotaro Mori, Volker Krey, Siddharth Joshi, Shinichiro Fujimori, Oliver Fricko, and Takuya Hara, as well as partners at Kyoto University, Hokkaido University, and Center for Global Environmental Research,NIES, JAPAN

https://iiasa.ac.at/news/may-2026/full-fossil-fuel-phase-out-by-2050-would-require-up-to-80-more-electricity-generation

15/05/2026

Fancy working in a castle? 🏰
We are looking for two Postdoctoral Research Scholars to join the ERC-funded ALTHAEA project at IIASA, based in the historic Schloss Laxenburg near Vienna.

❓Both roles explore a shared question: what makes places “habitable” in a changing climate and who gets to decide?
🔹 Governing habitability in a changing climate https://iiasa.ac.at/employment/job-openings?jh=j5g17n9f62eohjbkuvnzc8gv4wsl334
🔹 Understanding habitability in a changing climate https://iiasa.ac.at/employment/job-openings?jh=uqrb4d6f48zhv###pv683tzz0t5517w

Join an international, interdisciplinary team led by IIASA Senior Researcher Elisa Calliari, working on climate change, mobility, governance, and resilience while contributing to environmental sciences for sustainability and global wellbeing.

✨ Benefits include relocation support, visa assistance, educational subsidies for children in private schools in Austria, and the chance to work in a green, historic setting just outside Vienna.
https://iiasa.ac.at/employment/job-openings

08/05/2026

As the 2026 European Geosciences Union - EGU General Assembly comes to a close, we would like to thank everyone who visited the IIASA booth, attended our sessions, presented alongside us, and engaged in so many inspiring conversations throughout the week. 🌍

From climate risks and biodiversity, to energy systems, citizen engagement, and resilience research, this year’s discussions highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing global challenges. It was fantastic to see such strong interest in the work of IIASA researchers and partners across so many sessions and PICO presentations.

A special thank you to all colleagues, collaborators, and participants who contributed their time, ideas, and enthusiasm to make this week such a success.

Safe travels home, and we hope to see you all again next year at ! 👋

08/05/2026

Today is the final day of the 2026 European Geosciences Union - EGU General Assembly in Vienna, but we still have many exciting sessions in store for participants:

💧 Escalating lifetime water deficit for younger generations: 11:18–11:20 (CEST) 📍 PICO spot 4, PICO4.15

🌍 Cascaded score-based emulation of Earth system models for impact evaluation with SCALES-MESH: 12:00–12:10 (CEST) 📍 Room -2.15

📊 Combining emulators and demographics: Building a flexible toolkit for lifetime exposure assessments: 12:20–12:30 (CEST) 📍 Room -2.15

🌊 Understanding flood preparedness and risk perception after extreme events: Survey and experimental evidence from Italy: 14:25–14:35 (CEST) 📍 Room 2.24

📈 Comparing hydrological models in configuration and trajectory space: 14:45–14:55 (CEST) 📍 Room 2.31

📱 Social media, risk communication, and public engagement during the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes: Insights from Facebook posts: 14:55–15:05 (CEST) 📍 Room 1.15/16

🌳 Tree-Quest: A citizen science app for collecting single-tree attributes: 14:55–15:05 (CEST) 📍 Room N1

🌡️ Assessing societal response to extreme temperature shocks: 16:20–16:30 (CEST) 📍 Room 2.24

See all IIASA EGU sessions 👉 https://iiasa.ac.at/events/may-2026/iiasa-at-egu-general-assembly-2026