History of IC-Rivers
From Founding to Today – Our History
The history of the Center for Integrated River Research and Management began in 2014 when the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) was awarded Austria’s first scientific UNESCO Chair. This recognition laid the foundation for the establishment of the Research Center for Integrated River Research, which has since promoted international cooperation and played a key role in implementing Phases 8 and 9 of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP).
A major milestone was the World’s Large Rivers Initiative (WLRI), which was approved in 2014 by the 21st Intergovernmental Council of UNESCO’s IHP as part of its work plan and fully integrated by 2018. The initiative focuses on the global analysis of the status of the world’s large rivers (WLRs) and investigates the impacts of climate change and human interventions.
The center grew from a two-person team into an established research institution with 21 members by 2024. During this time, it organized up to five international conferences, workshops, and seminars focused on the state and future of the world’s large rivers.
A key driver for the center was the DREAM Project (Danube River Research and Management)—the first flagship project of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). One of the project’s major achievements was the opening of the BOKU River Lab in June 2023, a state-of-the-art hydraulic engineering laboratory with a unique open flow capacity of up to 10 m³/s, enabling both fundamental and applied research at the highest level. From the very beginning, the plan was to establish the Center for Integrated River Research and Management within the River Lab. Since June 2023, the center has been officially operating in its dedicated facilities on the first floor of the River Lab.
Another highlight was the Vienna Waters Conference 2023, which also included the 5th World’s Large Rivers Conference. Additionally, in the same year, Prof. Habersack was appointed Chair of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP).
Beyond conferences and strategic developments, the center also participated in international research projects. In 2023, the Horizon Europe project DANUBE4all was launched—an initiative coordinated by the chair to restore the Danube River Basin. In 2024, another Horizon Europe project began, with the center playing a key role. Furthermore, four EU Interreg projects were approved, ensuring long-term funding for IC-RIVERS.
A key focus of the center is academic education and the promotion of young researchers. We are proud that, to date, 9 doctoral theses and 63 master’s theses have been successfully completed under the supervision of the chair.
The international dissemination of knowledge is a fundamental part of our work. Over 500 authors have contributed to our research on the world’s large rivers (WLRs). These studies have been published in 12 special issues of high-ranking SCI journals, strengthening global awareness of integrated river management and fostering international knowledge exchange.
With these achievements behind us, we continue our work—for a sustainable future of the world’s large rivers.
