IIASA

On 28 May, Peking University and IIASA held a joint online seminar to discuss health research under global change and to review the progress, priorities, and coordination arrangements for a proposed Center on Global Change and Health.

A key focus of the discussion was how to move the collaboration forward in a practical and well-coordinated way. Participants agreed that the Center should establish a framework for collaboration and management including agreement on priority research topics of joint interest. Researchers from both institutions presented ongoing research and identified areas where collaboration could produce strong scientific synergy.

Find out more 👉 https://iiasa.ac.at/news/jun-2026/peking-university-and-iiasa-advance-plans-for-new-centre-on-global-change-and-health

Can we create compelling visions of a “Good Anthropocene” that inspire action as much as they reflect reality?

IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber’s keynote at Forum Anthropozän offered a powerful reminder that while the climate crisis is pushing humanity into uncharted territory, there is still room for optimism grounded in science. His vision of combining technological innovation with nature-based solutions and sustainable materials provides a hopeful pathway toward climate repair.

Particularly inspiring was the call for new narratives: images of a desirable future that can mobilize societies, businesses, and policymakers alike.

The Good Anthropocene will not emerge by chance; it will require imagination, collaboration, and the courage to rethink how we build and live.
https://lnkd.in/dduMMG_A
Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften

IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber visited Barbados at the end of May to deepen engagement with government, academic, diplomatic, and international partners and explore new opportunities for collaboration on resilience, innovation, and sustainable development for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

“Barbados shows that resilience is not a function of size but of imagination, institutions, and collective purpose,” says Schellnhuber. “What impressed me throughout this visit was the country’s determination to transform vulnerability into opportunity. Together with our partners in Barbados, IIASA hopes to explore how systems science can help create societies that are not only more resilient, but also more prosperous, inclusive, and humane.”

Read more 👉 https://iiasa.ac.at/news/jun-2026/physics-of-good-vibrations-iiasa-and-barbados-explore-new-model-for-resilient-and
UNDP Barbados & the Eastern Caribbean, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus
📷 UNDP

🌍 Annual global migration has nearly tripled since 2000.

A new study published in Nature by Thomas Gaskin (The London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE) and Guy Abel (IIASA and The University of Hong Kong) finds that annual migration between countries increased from around 13 million people in 2000 to approximately 35 million in 2023.

Using deep-learning methods, the researchers developed the first dataset to estimate annual migration flows between all countries from 1990 to 2023. The dataset provides a more detailed picture of global migration patterns than traditional five-year estimates and helps reveal how migration changes over time in response to major events such as economic crises, conflicts, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The findings challenge previous estimates that suggested global migration rates had remained relatively stable, offering new insights into how, where, and when people move across borders.

🔗 Read more: https://iiasa.ac.at/news/jun-2026/annual-global-migration-has-nearly-tripled-since-2000

Retirement may mark the end of a career, but it doesn't have to mean a decline in cognitive engagement.

A new IIASA-led study, drawing on data from 27 European countries, shows that social connections can help protect cognitive functioning in later life, especially after people leave the workforce. The research highlights how different types of relationships support cognitive health for women and men, emphasizing the importance of staying socially connected beyond retirement.

As populations age across Europe and beyond, fostering strong social networks could play a key role in promoting healthy and active ageing.

Read more 👉 https://iiasa.ac.at/news/jun-2026/life-after-work-why-social-connections-matter

Universität Wien, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften

At a UNFCCC (UN Climate Change) SB 64 side event co-organized by IIASA, NewClimate Institute, and Coppe UFRJ, researchers and policymakers discussed how global climate goals can be translated into equitable national pathways that support both climate ambition and sustainable development, particularly in countries of the Global South.

IIASA’s Keywan Riahi presented insights from the Scenario Compass Initiative and JustMIP, highlighting new advances in climate scenario research that integrate equity and justice considerations.

More information: https://iiasa.ac.at/events/jun-2026/unfccc-sb-64-side-event-from-global-benchmarks-to-national-pathways-advancing

IIASA, NewClimate Institute, and the Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Coppe UFRJ) are organizing a side event during the sixty-fourth sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SB 64) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Bringing together researchers and policymakers, the event will examine how global climate goals can be translated into nationally relevant strategies that advance both emissions reductions and sustainable development. The discussion will explore emerging scientific evidence, methodological innovations, and policy perspectives on designing climate pathways that reflect national circumstances while contributing to collective global ambition.

📅 Monday, 8 June
⏰ 16:30
📍Bonn, Germany
ℹ️ https://iiasa.ac.at/events/jun-2026/unfccc-sb-64-side-event-from-global-benchmarks-to-national-pathways-advancing

🇬🇷 IIASA is excited to announce that Greece has joined the Institute effective from 1 June 2026 through the Academy of Athens, Greece’s national academy and the highest research establishment in the country.

“From the time of Plato and Aristotle, Greek thought helped establish the enduring nexus between philosophy, science, and public decision-making that continues to shape how societies understand and address complex challenges,” says IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber. “As the IIASA National Member Organization, the Academy of Athens will contribute outstanding scientific expertise, a strong science-policy mandate, and deep knowledge of the Mediterranean region. We are delighted to welcome Greece into the IIASA network and look forward to deepening our partnership in areas ranging from climate resilience and energy systems to sustainable development and digital transformation.”

Read more 👉

IIASA welcomes Greece as its newest member IIASA is excited to announce that Greece has joined the Institute effective from 1 June 2026 through the Academy of Athens, Greece’s national academy and the highest research establishment in the country.

🌱 Welcome to the 2026 IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program cohort!

This week, 53 talented PhD students from around the world arrived in Laxenburg to begin their YSSP journey. Over the coming months, they will collaborate, learn, and advance research on some of society’s most pressing challenges.

Inspired by new ideas, connections, and systems thinking, we hope your time at IIASA sparks creativity, meaningful discoveries, and lasting collaborations.

Wishing you an inspiring summer as you help move sustainable research forward and contribute to a more sustainable future. 🌍 ✨

Read more about this year's participants: https://iiasa.ac.at/capacity-development/yssp-young-scientists-summer-program/yssp-current-participants-and-past

📢 Don't miss tomorrow's installment of the IIASA AI for Climate Science Seminar Series!

Join us for the session titled: How much climate data do we need? Machine learning approaches for evaluating high-resolution climate models, featuring Aiko Voigt and Maximilian Meindl from the University of Vienna (Universität Wien).

As kilometer-scale climate models generate increasingly large datasets, traditional evaluation methods are becoming more challenging to apply. This seminar will explore how machine learning approaches can help assess high-resolution climate models using shorter periods of climate data and reveal new insights into model performance.

🗓️ Wednesday, 3 June 2026
⏰ 14:00–15:30 CEST
✍️ Register to attend and more info: https://iiasa.ac.at/events/jun-2026/ai-for-climate-science-seminar-series-how-much-climate-data-do-we-need-machine