Page - 27 - in options, Volume winter 2020

ECONOMIC FRONTIERS PROGRAM DIRECTOR MICHAEL KUHN The aim of the Economic Frontiers Program will be to improve human wellbeing through sustainable economic and planetary security. The program – of which the structure is currently being developed – will apply systems thinking and integrate economic, societal, and environmental benefits to the entire landscape of economic planning and execution, including global economic governance, macroeconomics, and microeconomics to address issues such as planetary tipping points and looming environmental crises. “I am delighted about the opportunity to integrate economics into IIASA research as a “new kid on the block”, and to collaborate with colleagues from the systems, environmental, climate, and demographic sciences in arriving at truly multidisciplinary approaches, and thereby, to take economics to its frontiers,” says Kuhn. ENERGY, CLIMATE, AND ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM DIRECTOR KEYWAN RIAHI The aim of the Energy, Climate, and Environment Program is to understand the nature and dynamics of feasible systems transformations that can address environmental impacts in a socially and economically sustainable manner. “Fundamental changes can only be achieved through a systems perspective that fully accounts for critical interdependencies across sectors and manages trade- offs and synergies between technologies, environmental objectives, and other societal and economic priorities at different scales. These trade-offs and potential synergies will be the central theme of the new program,” says Riahi. • Integrated Assessment and Climate Change Research Group Leader: Volker Krey • Pollution Management Research Group Leader: Zbigniew Klimont • Sustainable Service Systems Research Group Leader: Bas van Ruijven • Transformative Institutional and Social Solutions Research Group Leader: Shonali Pachauri POPULATION AND JUST SOCIETIES PROGRAM DIRECTOR RAYA MUTTARAK The Population and Just Societies Program will study changing demographics and social structures, as well as their impact on sustainability, resilience, and equitable human wellbeing. “Building on the institute’s strong basis in demographic modeling, coupled with my expertise in social inequalities, our program endeavors to provide empirical-based research using advanced data and methodological tools to deliver relevant results that can be incorporated into different models used in systems analysis,” says Muttarak. • Equity and Justice Research Group Leader: Thomas Schinko (Acting) • Migration and Sustainable Development Research Group Leader: Raya Muttarak (Acting) • Multidimensional Demographic Modeling Research Group Leader: Samir K.C. • Social Cohesion, Health, and Wellbeing Research Group Leader: TBC STRATEGIC INITIATIVES PROGRAM DIRECTOR STEFFEN FRITZ Fritz will lead the Strategic Initiatives Program, which aims to improve the prospects of a sustainable future and to deliver policy solutions. The program will draw on expertise distributed across the institute and partner organizations to engage in research projects that deliver policy relevant research in emerging areas not emphasized in other IIASA programs. “I am excited to take up this new position and will strive to implement new initiatives that respond to the needs of humanity and our planet in a timely manner, while helping to accelerate the particular transformative changes we urgently need to tackle inequality, climate change, and the loss of biodiversity,” comments Fritz. By Bettina Greenwell INSTITUTE NEWS Further info: www.iiasa.ac.at/news/PDs-20 www.iiasa.ac.at/news/PDs-0820 www.iiasa.ac.at/news/RGLs-20 © M on ika B a u er | IIA SA © M atth ias S ilveri | IIA SA © IIASA © Barb ara S im u n ics | V ID 27Optionswww.iiasa.ac.at Winter 2020 IIASA corner