To respond to dynamic changes in the international research community, IIASA established special projects for exploring promising avenues of research. Funds have been set aside for launching one or two such projects at a time. The new initiatives, while clearly related to the institute’s main themes, have the potential for becoming strong additional or alternative programs.

Health and Global Change
Goal: The long-term goal is to enable IIASA to

• contribute to research and
• expand policy dialogue

on health as a human aspect of global change.

Activities: In the first two years, the project will concentrate on pandemic influenza and infectious disease. Activities will include:

• data collection and modeling,
• a series of workshops,
• buildup of an international network of researchers,
• and dissemination of research results.

Integrated Modeling Environment
Goal: The project seeks to increase support for integrated modeling where commonly known methodology and/or general-purpose tools fail to meet IIASA's growing needs.
Activities: The work will integrate and extend modeling methods and tools so that they can

• handle complex models
• cope both with inherent, endogenous uncertainties and risks with potential catastrophic consequences

This advanced web-based modeling environment will be specifically adapted to the needs of IIASA's programs.

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Last updated: 13 Jan 2006