Session TM2

TM2 | Coevolution in Coupled Human–Water Systems — What We Learned and What We Should Do Next

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 MorovatiECSECS

Thu, 07 May, 19:00–20:00 (CEST)

Room D2

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).

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 just before the time block starts.