Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada – The European Geosciences Union (EGU) will award the Plinius Medal in 2026 to UNU-INWEH's Water, Climate and Infrastructure Risk Lead, Professor Amir AghaKouchak, for his "fundamental contributions to understanding hydrologic extremes and compound hazards."
Professor AghaKouchak is an internationally recognized scientist and a Professor of UC Irvine, working at the intersection of hydrology, climate, and remote sensing, with a strong emphasis on real-world risk reduction. Recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher, he has authored over 250 peer-reviewed papers. This recognition, awarded by EGU's Natural Hazards Division, highlights his outstanding interdisciplinary contributions to natural hazards research.
"We are incredibly proud of Prof. AghaKouchak's recognition with the Plinius Medal. He has been a field-defining voice on compound and cascading hazards, showing how interacting drivers amplify risk. His leadership has contributed advancing the global efforts to tackle complex hydrological and environmental challenges, " said Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH.
At UNU-INWEH, Prof. AghaKouchak guides the institute's work on developing practical frameworks to assess the intricate interplay between various climatic and non-climatic hazards, including the complex dynamics of compound and cascading hazards, to project the risk of such hazards and their impact on critical infrastructure.
“I am humbled and honored by this recognition from EGU,” said Prof. Aghakouchak. "This would have been possible without the exceptional colleagues I have had the privilege to work with. Their curiosity, rigor and teamwork drive everything we do, from advancing fundamental science to creating data and tools.”
Media Contact:
Shooka Bidarian Media & Journalism Fellow, Sustainability and Climate, United Nations University, shooka.bidarian@unu.edu
