IIASA Voices

Virunga National Park, located in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), stands as a testament to the harmonious integration of environmental conservation and socioeconomic development. Home to unparalleled biodiversity, including approximately one-third of the world's endangered mountain gorillas, Virunga faces the challenge of safeguarding its rich ecosystems while addressing the needs of the 11 million people residing in extreme poverty around its periphery.IIASA is honored to welcome our distinguished guests from Virunga National Park, Dr. Emmanuel de Merode and Gaia de Battista, for a special public lecture on the Kivu-Kinshasa Green Corridor. This lecture is a rare opportunity to hear firsthand about groundbreaking conservation efforts in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.https://iiasa.ac.at/congolecture

The twelfth IIASA Voices webinar will focus on the role of different drivers in shaping migration worldwide with IIASA researchers Raya Muttarak, Jesus Crespo Cuaresma, and Gregor Zens presenting insights from their recent work. The session will be moderated by Roman Hoffmann. Read more https://iiasa.ac.at/voices

The planet is facing multiple challenges as the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and other environmental problems are starting to be realized. Nature-based Solutions can address the climate-biodiversity nexus by utilising nature and the power of healthy ecosystems to protect people and economies, and safeguard a stable and biodiverse future. During this event you will learn more about how NBS can be enabled or hindered through governance systems with a special focus on addressing the near insurmountable nature financing gap. JoAnne Linnerooth-Bayer and Juliette Martin, with moderator Alberto Fresolone, will share their research and highlight policy and financing policy reforms for supporting NBS. Learn more: https://iiasa.ac.at/voices

Negative impacts from human-caused climate change on health and wellbeing, cities, settlements and infrastructure, water availability, food production, biodiversity, and ecosystems are continuing to intensify, and it is becoming critical that humans act to prevent the situation worsening. Early in 2023, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Synthesis Report for the sixth assessment cycle, which was coauthored by IIASA researchers. During this IIASA Voices session, three of the coauthors will discuss highlights from the report on how we can address climate change in ways that provide wider benefits for the wellbeing of people and the health of the planet. We look forward to welcoming you to this event. Learn more at https://iiasa.ac.at/voices

Monbiot is a British writer known for his environmental and political activism. He writes a weekly column for The Guardian and is the author of several best-selling books. His most recent book, Regenesis Feeding the World Without Devouring the Planet, took him on a journey of reviewing thousands of research articles, reports, books, and other forms of scientific evidence, which he synthesized through discussions with farmers, consumers, and other stakeholders to identify systemic problems in food systems, its social and environmental impacts, and possible transformational solutions. We are privileged to host Monbiot, who is also a guest senior research scholar in the IIASA Biodiversity, Ecology, and Conservation Research Group at IIASA, in a conversation chaired by IIASA Economic Frontiers Program Director, Michael Kuhn. More at https://iiasa.ac.at/voices

Humankind is facing a multitude of challenges requiring collective action of all major stakeholders including businesses, governments, and citizens. Science has played a crucial role in generating knowledge that underpins our current living standards and reveals the proneness of our systems to external and internal shocks such as pandemics, technological advancements, or climate change. Scientists are working hard to develop possible solutions to our current challenges, but is science doing enough? Is the role of science confined to providing impartial knowledge? Should science and scientists be more proactive in shaping stakeholders' views on the global challenges and possible pathways? Would such a shift in the approach strengthen or deteriorate the credibility of science? What is the most effective way of infusing science into decision making at the time?  Learn more at https://iiasa.ac.at/voices

In celebration of International Women's Day, this webinar features three IIASA researchers with a passion for education and science. Marina Andrijevic, Anne Goujon, and Thomas Schinko will discuss their perspectives on the importance of women in research, education as a demographic variable, and promoting science in education. iiasa.ac.at/voices

At a crucial moment for beleagured nature, IIASA research is showing that we can reverse biodiversity loss. IIASA Research Group Leader Piero Visconti will discuss what this looks like in the second of a series of public webinars that provide a platform for the science curious and enthusiasts, as well as science professionals and novices, to discuss the world's most pressing sustainability problems and systems approaches for a better future.   MORE INFORMATION

In a world facing global crises it is vital to connect and share our knowledge and experience. IIASA Director General Albert van Jaarsveld will kick off a series of public webinars that provide a platform for the science curious and enthusiasts, as well as science professionals and novices, to discuss the world's most pressing sustainability problems and systems approaches for a better future.   MORE INFORMATION: https://iiasa.ac.at/web/home/about/events/210929-IIASA-Public-Webinar.html