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INSTITUTE NEWS Message from the director IIASA CORNER ALBERT VAN JAARSVELD The world is changing at an unprecedented rate and is facing challenges of rapid globalization, shifts in economic and political power, and environmental change. Systems analysis is a problem-solving process in which many people take part: scientists of relevant disciplines, stakeholders, and decision makers. To foster dialogue between the research and policy community on addressing societal challenges, IIASA cohosted the Systems Analysis and the Americas conference in Brazil in September 2019 – the first in a series of regional conferences. “In the Americas, countries are confronted with regional issues, and there is a need for effective sustainability strategies. This conference is a timely opportunity to explore the role of systems analysis in addressing these issues,” said Mauro Luiz Rabelo, IIASA Council Member for Brazil and Director of International Affairs for The Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES) in his opening remarks. “It is crucial to have this important dialogue on systems analysis and its practical impact on policymaking.” Goret Pereira Paulo, Director of the Research and Innovation Network, Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) said: “Our mission is to contribute to the economic and social progress of the country. The important theme of the conference helps us to fulfill this mission. Systems analysis is an integrated approach that allows for research at the nexus of global challenges.” IIASA, CAPES, and FGV hosted the conference in partnership with the US National Academy of Sciences. Science at IIASA is forging ahead to contribute to global sustainability issues through a steady stream of high-end publications and influential global reports (see this issue). The last quarter also saw a successful Systems Analysis for the Americas conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with IIASA partners, The Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES), the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), and the US National Academies of Sciences. After a meticulous recruitment and selection process, we have successfully appointed a Deputy Director General for Science. Leena Srivastava, Vice Chancellor of the TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, joined the institute in November. She brings extensive experience to the new position that will provide interdisciplinary leadership to the institute and ensure that IIASA research stays at the forefront of scientific endeavor. I look forward to working with her as we embark on a new IIASA strategy. A draft of the IIASA Strategic Plan 2021-2030 was presented to the IIASA Council in November. I would like to thank the Strategic Task Force, the working group assigned to formulate the new strategic plan, for all their efforts in the past year. The group, chaired by Mauricio Lopes, former President of Embrapa, Brazil, managed to create an open and transparent process involving all members of IIASA staff to achieve a shared view on future strategic directions for IIASA. Lastly, I would like to thank all Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) supervisors for the effort and commitment they displayed towards the 2019 YSSP group, as well as the YSSP team for their excellent support. The capacity building program is one of the institute’s cornerstones, which showcases outstanding research by the next generation of scientists from all over the world. IIASA regional conference: Systems Analysis and the Americas www.iiasa.ac.at/americas By Bettina Greenwell 26 Options www.iiasa.ac.atWinter 2019/20