NEWS

Preparation for the XII^th IAHS Scientific Assembly, 5-10 October 2025 is at full speed. This event will be an experiment in community building by having all presentations in Plenum to encourage more joint scientific discussions within the hydrological society. We will allow more time for in-depth conceptual understanding as well as plenty of flash presentations of ongoing work and new results.

Suggest pre-events now!

Instead of parallel meetings, we open for pre-event meetings as side events. Therefore interested leaders of International Commissions, Working Groups and Committee Leaders should reach out to the IAHS Secretariat or Secretary General as soon as possible so that facilities can be provided and participants can arrange their stay accordingly. Side event details will be posted on the website as soon as they’re confirmed, so stay tuned!

Join us in India next year for what promises to be an engaging and transformative event for the hydrological sciences! 

Please be reminded of the upcoming online HELPING conference, 26 Nov 2024 (13:00 - 16:00 CET). The final program is now available, addressing core elements of HELPING, individual Working Group activities and achievements, as well as parallel discussions on the next steps for each Theme. The program opens for engagement and interactions between participants. Please complete this registration form to secure your spot at this year's event. If you cannot access the Google Form, please contact [email protected] and assistance will be offered to you.

Nominations are now being accepted for the IAHS Tison and Falkenmark Awards.

The IAHS Tison Award

Léon Tison was a former Secretary-General and Honorary President of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences. The Award was established in 1982 and aims to promote excellence in research by young hydrologists. The Award will be granted for an outstanding paper published by IAHS in a period of two years previous to the deadline for nominations. More information, including the eligibility criteria and list of previous awards, is available here.

The IAHS Falkenmark Award

Established in 2022 and named in honour of the late Malin Falkenmark, a professor of Applied and International Hydrology. She was best known for her long-standing work and expertise on the sustainable use of water resources to meet human and ecosystem needs. Her work is characterized by pioneering integration of both natural- and social-science approaches in global perspectives. She was particularly known for developing the Falkenmark Water Stress Indicator, concepts of Blue and Green water and Comparative hydrology. The IAHS Falkenmark Award is for best PhD thesis from a nominee who grew up in and recently performed the PhD work in one or more financially disadvantaged countries. More information, including the eligibility criteria and list of previous awards, is available here.

Nominations for both of the awards should be received by the Secretary General, Jean-Marie Kileshye Onema at [email protected], no later than 31 December 2024.

Nominations are now being accepted for the IAHS International Hydrology Prize. 

This prize is awarded annually by IAHS, with UNESCO and WMO, to two people who have made an outstanding contribution to hydrological science. Two medals are awarded under the International Hydrology Prize: the Dooge Medal and the Volker Medal. Both medals are intended to distinguish outstanding achievements by hydrological scientists but with a different focus. The Dooge medal is aimed at fundamental contributions to the science of hydrology, whereas the Volker medal is aimed at outstanding applications of hydrological science for the benefit of society at large. More information, including the list of previous awards and the nomination process, is available here.

Nominations for both of the awards should be received by the Secretary General, Jean-Marie Kileshye Onema at [email protected], no later than 31 December 2024.

Places are still available for the joint conference between the IAHS International Commissions on Statistical Hydrology (STAHY) and the Water Resources System (ICWRS) held in collaboration with the Brazilian Water Resources Association (ABRHidro) in Florianópolis, Brazil. But time is running out so get your registration in before the 28 October deadline. This conference is a joint meeting on water resources systems and statistical hydrology, which combines three events:

• The 9^th International Symposium on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
• The 14^th International Workshop on Statistical Hydrology (STAHY)
• The 1^st Brazilian Meeting on Statistical Hydrology (EBHE).

Among other exciting happenings, this conference offers:

• Two keynotes by Prof. Alberto Montanari and Prof. Ross Woods
• IAHS Prize ceremonies and the medallists’ solicited presentations
• Early Career Scientists lectures 
• Eight oral sessions
• numerous posters with flash presentations.

For more detailed information, please find the full program here. 

Take the lead for the next biennium of the IAHS Science for Solutions Decade dedicated to water solutions in the Anthropocene.

Background

The third IAHS Scientific Decade, HELPING  (Hydrology Engaging Local People IN one Global world) was launched in 2023 with the first biennium chaired by IAHS President Berit Arheimer. This decade is a bottom-up process empowered by local hydrologists and scientists using open science and local data/methods when solving local water problems.

The first biennium has already achieved a great deal with the formation of 29 Working Groups with over 1000 members and the publication of the visionary community paper in the Hydrological Sciences Journal.

HELPING underpins solutions for the water crisis, leaving no catchment or hydrologist behind, in search for scientific evidence to:

• Accelerate the understanding of the linkages between hydrological processes at local and global scales and their interaction with water resources.
• Engage with local scientists and societies to learn from local experience, differences in hydrological processes and change around the world, and transfer solutions globally.
• Synthesising hydrological understanding across the globe and underpin the management of current crises by finding holistic solutions to mitigate future crises.

Leadership

Continuing in the same format as previous IAHS Scientific Decades the Chair serves for two years. IAHS is therefore now looking for a talented leader who is familiar to IAHS and willing to serve as Chair of the second biennium.

The Chair is responsible for:

• Promoting the IAHS HELPING Decade
• Coordinating the activities of the Working Groups via the three Theme leaders
• Leading, initiating and synthesising the publication of community papers from the Decade
• Reporting annually on the HELPING process to the IAHS Bureau

The applicants should have documented leadership experience and be active in water solutions research in line with the HELPING vision and working groups. Such research could for instance be encompassing interaction between local and global hydrological change, or developing holistic solutions for water security, or elaborating and applying co-creation processes.

To be considered please send an email to [email protected] by 8 November 2024 with the following attachments:

• cover letter no longer than one page outlining your relevant experience and aspirations for HELPING
• a resumé of CV no longer than two pages.

If you have any questions, please contact the IAHS secretariat. Looking forward to receiving many engaged and highly qualified applications!

IAHS has been committed to fostering a culture of equality, diversity, and inclusion through our official EDI Statement which we published in 2022. Now, we’re taking this mission to the next level by forming the IAHS EDI Task Force and we need passionate, forward-thinking members to help us shape the future of IAHS.

The IAHS EDI Task Force, led by Archana Sarkar (Vice President of IAHS), will play a pivotal role in developing our Association’s code of ethics and conduct, covering everything from leadership and conference behaviour to reviewer guidelines and reward systems. As part of this dynamic team, you'll have the opportunity to drive meaningful change and ensure IAHS upholds the highest standards of inclusivity.

What does it mean to be part of the IAHS EDI Task Force?

• Collaborate and Lead: Contribute to Task Force meetings (held online 2-4 times a year) and contribute to ongoing initiatives between meetings.
• Research and Advocate: Explore EDI approaches in similar organisations, gather insights from IAHS members, and engage with IAHS Officers, the Secretariat, and the HSJ Editorial Board.
• Shape the Future: Help draft and implement the IAHS EDI Action Plan, promoting EDI best practices at IAHS events.
• Influence Policy: Contribute to annual reporting to the IAHS Bureau and IUGG as appropriate and represent the EDI Task Force at the IAHS Bureau and IUGG EDI meetings when the Chair is not available.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a team that will shape the future of EDI within IAHS.

If you're passionate about creating a more inclusive scientific community, we invite you to apply! Simply complete the Google form or request a PDF version by emailing [email protected]. The deadline for applications is 1 November 2024.

Last year's online HELPING conference was a success and will be repeated 26 Nov 2024 (13:00 - 16:00 CET) in a new format, addressing some of the suggestions made at the side event at EGU. We now have 29 Working Groups that will be gathered to highlight progress and discuss collaboration. Please complete this registration form to secure your spot at this year's event. If you cannot access the Google Form, please contact [email protected] and assistance will be offered to you.

Welcome to this edition of HSJ Digest, our bi-monthly synopsis of the latest news from Hydrological Sciences Journal. In this issue, in addition to our regular features, we reveal the winner of this year’s prestigious Tison Award. Read too about our key community paper setting out visions for the HELPING decade. And in our regular profile of HSJ people, meet Lottie Rundall, Editorial & Production Manager. Also find out more about LaTeX submissions, Openly HSJ, and much more.

Hydrological Sciences Journal is the official Journal of IAHS and provides a forum for original papers and for the exchange of information and views on significant developments in hydrology worldwide. It is published by Taylor & Francis and is available online and in print format. Keep abreast of our latest issues here, together with the Co-editors’ choice of featured articles.