The United Nations University is proud to announce that Professor Taikan Oki has been awarded the 2024 Stockholm Water Prize. Prof. Oki served as UNU Senior Vice-Rector and United Nations Assistant Secretary-General from 2016–2021.
The Stockholm Water Prize is the world’s most prestigious water achievement. It is awarded by the Stockholm Water Foundation in cooperation with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and presented by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who is the official patron of the Prize.
Professor Oki received the prize for his global contributions to sustainable water management including his groundbreaking research developing models to accurately map the world’s terrestrial water flows, and his interdisciplinary efforts connecting hydrology and social issues to water policy.
The Stockholm Water Prize Nominating Committee highlighted: “Professor Taikan Oki’s work has greatly advanced our understanding of the nexus among hydrology, climate change and sustainability. He is selected for the award for his outstanding contributions to global water balance studies, global virtual water flows, and the spatial and temporal variability of annually renewable water.”
Prof. Oki will receive the prize at a royal ceremony during World Water Week in August in Stockholm.
Prof. Oki holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Tokyo. He is currently Special Advisor to the President of the University of Tokyo, and a Professor at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Engineering.
His previous academic positions include Professor with IIS; Associate Professor with the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature; and Associate Professor, Lecturer, and Research Associate with IIS. He also served a term as Deputy Director for Environment and Energy with the Council for Science and Technology Policy, Cabinet Office of Japan.
Prof. Oki has received several major awards including the John Dalton Medal (2023), the International Association of Hydrological Sciences International Hydrology Prize (Dooge Medal, 2021), Cultural Publication Award (Japan Society of Civil Engineering, 2014) and the Biwako Prize for Ecology (The Ecological Society of Japan, 2011). He is a member of the Club of Rome and the Science Council of Japan.
