NEWS

August 2026

Under the dual stressors of accelerating climate change and intensifying anthropogenic activities, the global water system is experiencing increasingly severe challenges, including the uneven spatiotemporal distribution of water resources, the rising frequency and intensity of extreme hydrological events, pervasive water pollution, and the progressive degradation of aquatic ecosystems. In this context, hydrological science has become indispensable for assessing water resources, understanding water cycle dynamics, managing water quality, and protecting aquatic ecological integrity.

The International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), as one of the most influential academic organizations in the field, has long been committed to advancing hydrological research and fostering international cooperation worldwide. The IAHS International Commission on Water Quality (ICWQ) focuses specifically on promoting the assessment and management of water quality within hydrological systems. Since its inaugural session in Guangzhou in 2017, the IAHS-ICWQ Workshop series has been successfully convened six times, addressing core issues such as “Water Quantity and Water Quality in the Water-Energy-Food Nexus” and, most recently in 2024, “Flood-Drought Disaster Chains and Aquatic Ecological Degradation under a Changing Environment.” The series has established a robust tradition of high-level academic exchange.

To further expand the international dialogue on hydrological sciences and high-efficiency water resources utilization, the present conference will jointly convene the 7th IAHS-ICWQ Workshop and the 2nd International Symposium of Hydrological Sciences and High-efficiency Water Resources Utilization under the Changing Environment (2nd ISHW). 

The theme of the conference is “Water Resources Evolution and Adaptive Regulation under Climate Change.” Four specific topics will be addressed:

1. Water Cycle Evolution and Extreme Hydrological Event Responses under Climate Change – focusing on the mechanisms governing water cycle alterations, the formation and prediction of extreme events (floods and droughts), and corresponding adaptation strategies.
2. Water Quality Evolution and Aquatic Ecological Security in a Changing Environment – addressing trends and mechanisms of water quality deterioration, degradation processes of aquatic ecosystems, ecological restoration technologies, and water security assurance.
3. Integrated Regulation of Modern Water Networks and High-efficiency Water Resources Utilization – covering national water network construction, optimal water resources allocation, agricultural and industrial water conservation technologies, and the development of unconventional water resources.
4. Frontiers in AI and Big Data for Hydrological and Water Sciences – exploring innovative applications of artificial intelligence, big data analytics, digital twin technologies, and remote sensing in hydrological monitoring, simulation, forecasting, and water resources management.

The conference is jointly hosted by the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR), and the Chinese National Commission for IAHS (IAHS-CNC). It is organized by the State Key Laboratory of Water Resources Engineering and Management and the School of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, Wuhan University. The co-organizers include the Hubei Key Laboratory of Smart Yangtze River and Hydroelectric Science, the Bureau of Hydrology of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, Wuhan Dashuiyun Technology Co., Ltd., and the Youth Working Committee of the Changjiang Technology and Economy Society.

The conference will take place from 2-4 November 2026 at Wuhan University, China. All invited participants are free to attend the conference for making oral presentations. Posters related to our topics are also welcomed and the abstracts should be submitted to [email protected] before 2 October 2026. 

More information is available here.

August 2026

In this issue we are delighted to report the Journal’s increased Impact Factor and sustained Q1 SCImago ranking. We also present complete listings for recent issues of the Journal, together with synopses of key papers, including multiple Open Access and free-to-view ‘featured’ articles.

We welcome two new Associate Editors to our Editorial Board. 

Additionally, collections of published papers continue to grow in our recent very successful Special Issues, showcasing hydrological research in Latin America and Africa as well as a comprehensive survey of the history of hydrology. Calls for Papers remain active for Progress in coupled land–atmosphere systems for hydro-meteorological processes and Compound, multihazard and cascading impacts on water security.  

Be sure to explore our featured articles; in each issue of HSJ, the Co-editors select one article of particular interest to receive six months’ free access.

Read it all here.

July 2026

During the 5th International Conference on African Rivers held in Rabat, Morocco, one of the outcomes was the Rabat Declaration on the Future of African Rivers, which highlights ten recommendations.

Africa is warming at more than +0.3 °C per decade — faster than the global average, and up to 1.5 times the global mean in some zones. This accelerated warming is reshaping the hydrology of all African sub-regions in divergent yet equally alarming ways. In North Africa, the surface waters are already largely used for multipurpose uses and sediment trapping into dams accelerate the coastal retreat and vulnerability to sea level rise. The surface waters of the Nile basin face rising demand. Across West Africa, the Niger, Volta and Senegal basins alternate between deepening drying trends and high floods. Central Africa's Congo and Ogooue Rivers face combined climate and land-use pressures modifying their flows. East Africa oscillates between six consecutive failed rainy seasons in the Horn and devastating floods across the Nile and Rift Valley basins. Southern Africa's Zambezi, Limpopo, Okavango and Orange all recorded severely below-normal discharge in 2024. Rainfall and river discharge across the continent are swinging by −50% to +50% relative to long-term historical means, with cascading impacts on food security, energy, health and forced displacement. In 2024 — the hottest year in 175 years of records — only one-third of river basins globally experienced normal discharge, for the sixth consecutive year. The scientists of the 5th International Conference on Africa’s Rivers gathered in Rabat, under the auspices of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences, have prepared the 10 recommendations of this Declaration to call for evidence-based, inclusive and collective actions to protect, restore and better share river surface water in Africa.

Rabat Declaration on the Future of African Rivers 10 Recommendations 

1. Safeguard freshwater resources

African rivers are under severe stress from climate-driven drying, and urgent action is needed to manage watersheds sustainably before irreversible tipping points are reached.

2. Govern river water demand

With Africa's population set to double by 2050, surface water must be managed more efficiently and equitably, with women, children, and smallholder farmers at the centre of policy.

3. Protect river water quality

Pollution from mining, agriculture, and urban growth is contaminating rivers and aquifers across the continent, requiring enforceable standards and better monitoring.

4. Stop land degradation

Deforestation and soil erosion are worsening Africa's water crisis by increasing runoff and flooding rivers with sediment, increasing soil loss and landslide risk, making landscape restoration a water security priority.

5. Reduce the environmental consequences of large dams

Major dams have significantly reduced the supply of sediments to deltas and coastlines, accelerating erosion and coastal retreat, and future dam projects should better account for these river-to-coast impacts.

6. Strengthen cooperation on shared rivers

Africa's 63 transboundary rivers surface water resources would benefit from strengthen cooperation between countries, to better manage shared water and biodiversity all along river courses, through coordinated reservoir operations, joint planning, and basin-wide decision-making frameworks.

7. Protect people from floods and droughts

In 2024 alone, floods killed over 2,500 people and displaced 4 million across Africa. The capacities of prediction of severe floods and droughts and prevention measures should be improved.

8. Build better water monitoring networks

Africa's river gauging systems are sparse, underfunded and unsustained, open-data observation combining satellites, AI, and field stations is needed.

9. Combine traditional knowledge with modern science

Effective water governance must bring together ancestral community wisdom, satellite technology, AI forecasting, and the equal participation of women, youth, and indigenous peoples.

10. Educate the next generation about water

Understanding how rivers, forests, wetlands, and coasts form one interconnected system should become a core part of school curricula across all of Africa.

July 2026

The 29th IUGG General Assembly will be held 16 to 22 July 2027 in Songdo ConvensiA, Incheon, Republic of Korea. This is a special opportunity for participants from around the world to come together and share their science and culture. Join us for a host of scientific activities, including special public lectures, keynote Union lectures and a wide variety of themed sessions. The IAHS-led programme will be over the first half of the Assembly ie 16-20 July 2027.

New Forum Program

This event will use a new forum program, as was successfully used at IAHS 2025 Scientific Assembly in Roorkee, with no call for session and no parallel sessions, aimed at enhancing the visibility and engagement of all participants. This format underlines the importance of hydrology as a unified discipline while providing a platform for early career scientists and established researchers alike.

SYSTA

SYSTA (Sivapalan Young Scientist Travel Award) funding is available to eligible early career scientists who meet ALL of the SYSTA award criteria. Applicants should email the completed SYSTA application form and a copy of their published paper and conference abstract to IAHS Secretariat ([email protected]). The closing date for SYSTA applications for upcoming IUGG 2027 General Assembly is February 2027 and exact dates will be released shortly. Before submitting the application form, applicants should read the “Guidance on completing the SYSTA application form” document. Applications and published paper must be in English.

Important Dates

October 2026: Early Registration Opens; Abstract Submission Opens; SYSTA Application Opens
February 2027: Abstract Submission Closes, SYSTA Application Closes
March 2027: Notification of Abstract Acceptance
April 2027: Early Registration Closes; Regular Registration Opens
May 2027: IUGG 2027 Official Program Opens
July 2027: Regular Registration Closes
16-22 July 2027: IUGG 2027 Incheon

June 2026

This edition features a curated selection of HSJ articles, along with complete listings of recent issues. We proudly celebrate the recipient of our annual Associate Editor Award, Svenja Fischer, alongside our multiple Reviewer Award winners. 

Additionally, we provide information on manuscript submissions for the Special Issue on Progress in coupled land–atmosphere systems for hydro-meteorological processes. Full details, including the Call for Papers for Compound, multihazard, and cascading impacts on water security, can be found in this issue. 

Be sure to explore our collections of recent Special Issue papers, including the new MOXXI Collection, HSJ Reviews, and Hot Topics. 

Read it all here.

April 2026

The 2027 IAHS Academy, in Ningbo from 11 to 17 January 2027 and hosted by Eastern Institute of Technology, is jointly organised by the IAHS, UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo (EIT) and Tsinghua University, Beijing.

Following the success of the first edition in Ningbo (January 2026), the IAHS Academy 2027 is expanding and launching an open international call to define up to five advanced short courses in hydrological sciences.

We invite leading scientists, lecturers and research teams worldwide, including those outside IAHS, to submit proposals for a week-long course combining:

• Advanced theoretical lectures
• Hands-on training (Python, R, MATLAB, etc.)
• Real-world case studies.

The IAHS Academy aims to:

• Strengthen global capacity in hydrology
• Support early-career scientists
• Promote open science and international collaboration
• Bridge research, data, and operational applications.

We encourage keynote lecturers from geomorphology, geology, environmental sciences, earth sciences, earth observation, artificial intelligence, statistics and any other discipline/topic addressing water challenges. The deadline for topic proposals in 8 May 2026. A template to submit your proposal to become a keynote lecturer is available here, or contact the IAHS Academy Chair by email ([email protected]). We are looking for topics such as:

• Strong scientific relevance
• Active international communities
• Available training material and tools
• Capacity to attract participants globally.

Lecturers will play a key role in shaping the next generation of hydrological scientists and contributing to a growing global network.

IAHS Academy Permanent Steering Committee:
Fernando Nardi (IAHS Academy Chair, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy) 
Abou Amani (UNESCO IHP)
Antonio Annis (IAHS, University of Padua, Italy)
Dominique Bérod Berod (World Meteorological Organization)
Fabio Castelli (UNESCO Chair, University of Florence) 
Christophe CUDENNEC (IAHS Vice-President) 
Moctar DEMBELE (IAHS Early Career Scientists Committee Chair)
Maria C. Donoso (UNESCO Chair, Florida International University)
Miguel Doria (UNESCO WWAP) 
Salvatore Grimaldi (IAHS President) 
Fuqiang Tian (IAHS Vice-President) 
Chunmiao Zheng (Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, China)

April 2026

“The number one piece of advice I would give anybody is to pick a problem and go after that problem. Ideally, you should pick a problem that requires a lifetime to solve.” Prof. M. Sivapalan, episode 1.
“A lot of greybeards telling us what we should be doing is absolutely the wrong way to do science. Science is anarchic, it’s bottom-up.” Prof. Mike Kirkby, episode 2.
“I wrote to the journal editor asking what the record of rejected papers in a row was, because now that I had five in a row I really wanted to go for the record." Prof. Keith Beven, episode 3.
“Curiosity and fun are the main drivers of any scientific endeavor.” Prof. Georgia Destouni, episode 4.

These are some of the inspiring, insightful and often funny quotes that you can now hear in the newly-launched History of Hydrology Interviews podcast. In each of the 19 episodes, a member of the IAHS History of Hydrology Working Group interviews a senior hydrologist that has put their mark on the history of our field. Here is everything you need to know about this interview series, why there is now a podcast, and how you can contribute by recording an episode yourself!

What are the History of Hydrology Interviews?

Operating within the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), the History of Hydrology Working Group is a global community effort to document the development of hydrology as a scientific field. As part of this initiative, members of the Working Group have conducted interviews with hydrologists who have written this exact history. They explain what drove them to become hydrologists in the first place, discuss the challenges and achievements of their careers and share advice for young hydrologists. Since the series’ launch in 2019, 19 interviews have been recorded and posted on the History of Hydrology YouTube channel. They are generally between 45 minutes and an hour long. As an example, here is the latest addition: Interview with Professor Petra Döll.

Why is there now a podcast?

The goal of the podcast release is to make these interviews easier for the global hydrology community to access. Videos are not the easiest format to fit into a busy schedule while a podcast is easy to listen to during a commute or on a walk. In addition, we have cleaned up the audio quality where possible to improve speech clarity and reduce background noise. The interviews are now available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, or “wherever you get your podcasts”.

Can I propose and conduct an interview myself?

Yes! Interviews are open to contributions from the community. The main requirements are that the interview be conducted in English and that the interviewee has been involved in hydrology over several decades. We particularly encourage interviews with female hydrologists, hydrologists from the Global South, and other hydrologists currently underrepresented in our interview series. For guidance on conducting an interview, feel free to contact the interview coordinator, Professor Okke Batelaan ([email protected]).

April 2026

SYSTA (Sivapalan Young Scientist Travel Award) funding is available for two exciting new events;

• The 10th International Symposium on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) taking place from 9-13 September 2026 in Canberra, Australia
• The IAHS International Commission on Continental Erosion (ICCE) symposia taking place from 17-19 September 2026 in Como, Italy

SYSTA funding is available to eligible early career scientists who meet ALL of the SYSTA award criteria. Applicants should email the completed SYSTA application form and a copy of their published paper and conference abstract to IAHS Secretariat ([email protected]). Before submitting the application form, applicants should read the “Guidance on completing the SYSTA application form” document. Applications and published paper must be in English.

April 2026

IAHS is pleased to be a partner in the upcoming 27th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium on harnessing artificial intelligence and big data to enhance climate resilience in integrated water resources management in Eastern & Southern Africa.

The symposium will be held in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, at Mount Meru Hotel, 28 – 30 October 2026. The symposium will be hosted by the Mbeya
University of Science and Technology in collaboration with other partners.

The Symposia have been held annually in the Eastern and Southern African regions for the past 26 years to promote interaction among policymakers, academics, practitioners from water and related sectors, and cooperating partners. Together, they identify regional issues, gaps and priorities that require further research and support. Great emphasis has been placed on integrating knowledge, particularly involving scholars from the natural and social sciences.

Deadline for submission of abstracts: 30 May 2026
Notification acceptance of abstracts: 30 June 2026
Deadline for early bird registration: 30 July 2026

This year's symposium sub-themes have been aligned to the SADC Water Research Agenda under the Regional Strategic Action Plan (RSAP) on Integrated Water Resources Development and Management Phase V, whose main objective is:

• Promoting evidence-based implementation of SADC water programmes and projects through multi- and inter-disciplinary research, and synthesis of existing and new information, which will lead to a realisation of SADC developmental goals.

Authors are invited to submit their abstracts for presentation at the symposium for oral, poster or special session presentations. More information is available here.