Prof. Kaveh Madani is the Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH).
Professor Kaveh Madani is a distinguished environmental scientist, educator, and leader renowned for his interdisciplinary approach to addressing complex environmental and human security challenges. He is an expert in complex human-natural systems modeling. His work integrates mathematical, economic, and systems analysis models to derive actionable policy insights.
He currently serves as the Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health (UNU-INWEH) and the Founding Chair of the UNU Sustainability Nexus AID (Analytics, Informatics and Data) Programme. Additionally, he holds a Research Professorship at the City University of New York's Remote Sensing Earth Systems Institute (CUNY CREST).
Prof. Madani's career encompasses significant academic, governmental, and international leadership roles, demonstrating his ability to navigate complex policy, diplomacy, and scientific landscapes. He has previously served as the Deputy Head of Iran’s Department of Environment, Vice President of the UN Environment Assembly Bureau, Chief of Iran’s Department of Environment’s International Affairs and Conventions Center. During his tenure in Iran, he chaired the National Committee on International Climate Change Negotiations and led Iran's delegation at various negotiations and international forums such as the COP23 climate change conference. He also initiated the "Bi-Zobaleh" (No Waste) campaign, a national movement aimed at raising public awareness about waste and plastic pollution. He joined UNU from Yale University and prior to his public service, he was a tenured faculty member of the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London.
Throughout his career, Prof. Madani has been committed to bridging the gap between academic research and practical policy implementation. He has over 350 publications addressing critical issues such as water management, environmental policy, energy systems, food security, climate change adaptation, and environmental diplomacy across various regions, including North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. His pioneering contributions to science, policy, and society have earned him multiple prestigious awards, including the New Face of Civil Engineering (ASCE), Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Young Scientists (EGU), Hydrologic Sciences Early Career Award (AGU), Walter Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize (ASCE), Ambassador Award (AGU), and Honorary Diplomate (EWRA).
In addition to his research and policy work, Prof. Madani is a dedicated mentor and educator. He has advised/co-advised over 70 postgraduate students and postdoctoral scholars and has held teaching and research positions at esteemed institutions worldwide, including Stockholm University, Cornell University, UC Davis, UC Riverside, K.N.Toosi University of Technology, Lund University, Dalian University of Technology, and the University of Central Florida.
