TM2 | Coevolution in Coupled Human–Water Systems — What We Learned and What We Should Do Next
EDI
Coevolution in Coupled Human–Water Systems — What We Learned and What We Should Do Next
Convener: Heidi Kreibich | Co-conveners: Fuqiang Tian, Melissa Haeffner, Khosro Morovati
Programme
| Mon, 04 May, 19:00–20:00 (CEST)
 
Room D3
Programme
Mon, 19:00
The IAHS scientific decade Panta Rhei—Change in Hydrology and Society (2013–2022) catalyzed a global, community-driven effort to advance hydrology in an era when water dynamics are increasingly shaped by human decisions, institutions, infrastructure, and socio-economic change. The newly published Panta Rhei Synthesis Book ‘Coevolution and Prediction of Coupled Human–Water Systems: A Sociohydrologic Synthesis of Change in Hydrology and Society’ distills a decade of interdisciplinary progress into a coherent narrative. Key insights are presented around coupled human–water systems and sociohydrology: the two-way feedback between hydrological processes and human actions, the emergence of new system behaviors, and the unintended consequences of interventions. These concepts are now central to understanding and predicting floods and droughts, managing water quality and allocation, designing resilient infrastructure, and supporting equitable governance under climate change and rapid development.
Triggered by the comprehensive presentation of recent achievements in the Panta Rhei Synthesis Book we organize this Townhall meeting at EGU26 to (i) present the key results and methodological advances in a highly accessible way, (ii) connect researchers across EGU divisions who work on hydrology, hazards, climate impacts, ecology, and socio-environmental systems, and (iii) discuss and identify concrete next steps for advancing research on the coevolution in Coupled Human–Water Systems. The target audience includes hydrologists and interdisciplinary modelers, practitioners and decision-support developers, and, importantly, early career scientists and students seeking a roadmap for coupled human–water systems research and training.
The session will combine a brief overview of the key results via lightning talks by editors and authors of the Panta Rhei synthesis book, followed by a moderated open discussion. The discussion will focus on actionable outcomes: (1) priority research questions and benchmark challenges for coupled human–water systems prediction; (2) shared needs for data, models, and evaluation protocols; (3) pathways to translate sociohydrological insights into operational practice; and (4) community-building actions within EGU (e.g., follow-up activities, teaching resources, and future session themes).

Schedule

19:00-19:02 Khosro Morovati - Welcome

19:02-19:05 Heidi Kreibich - Introduction to coupled human-water systems

19:05-19:10 Marlies Barendrecht - Systems thinking: phenomena and archetypes

19:10-19:15 Alberto Viglione – Human-water systems with focus on Human-flood systems

19:15-19:20 María José Polo Gomez - The widening world of Panta Rhei case studies

19:20-19:25 Murugesu Sivapalan – Grand synthesis 

19:25-19:55 Discussion

19:55-20:00 Günter Blöschl – What we should do next and closure 

Programme: Mon, 4 May, 19:00–20:00 | Room D3

The oral presentations are given in a hybrid format supported by a Zoom meeting featuring on-site and virtual presentations. The button to access the Zoom meeting appears 15 minutes before the time block starts.
19:00–19:02
Khosro Morovati - Welcome
19:02–19:05
Heidi Kreibich - Introduction to coupled human-water systems
19:05–19:10
Marlies Barendrecht - Systems thinking: phenomena and archetypes
19:10–19:15
Alberto Viglione – Human-water systems with focus on Human-flood systems
19:15–19:20
María José Polo Gomez - The widening world of Panta Rhei case studies
19:20–19:25
Murugesu Sivapalan – Grand synthesis
19:25–19:55
Discussion
19:55–20:00
Günter Blöschl – What we should do next and closure

Speakers

  • Khosro Morovati, Tsinghua University, China
  • Heidi Kreibich, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Germany
  • Marlies H Barendrecht, King's College London, United Kingdom
  • Alberto Viglione, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
  • María José Polo, University of Cordoba, Spain
  • Murugesu Sivapalan, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 220 Davenport, United States of America
  • Günter Blöschl, TU Wien, Austria