March 22, 2002 -- The winner of the 2002 Stockholm Water Prize is the Venezuelan hydrologist Professor Ignacio Rodriguez-Iturbe of Princeton University, USA.
He is being honored for his significant scientific contributions to the understanding of the interaction between climate, soil and vegetation structures, surface water, floods and droughts.
Professor Rodriguez-Iturbe, 60, is one of the world's hydrologists. He was born in Venezuela, where he also has worked for many years, and is a citizen of both Venezuela and the United States. He is the first South American to receive the Stockholm Water Prize.
Professor Rodriguez-Iturbe's scientific contributions have had important theoretical and practical meaning for hydrology's development as an Earth Science. They have also increased understanding of the planet's climatic system, where water's circulation place a decisive role.
Thus, the Nominating Committee in its motivation wrote:
"Professor Ignacio Rodriguez-Iturbe is awarded the 2002 Stockholm Water Prize for lasting contributions to surface hydrology. With scholarship, creativity, enthusiasm and inspiration he has been in the forefront of the scientific evolution that placed hydrology in the fellowship of Earth Sciences."
Water is the Link
Professor Rodriguez-Iturbe's research has led to greater understanding of meteorological and hydrological events like extreme floods and droughts, which can cause human suffering, environmental damage and economic loss. During the 1970s Professor Rodriguez-Iturbe developed a mathematical model for long-term extremes such as these. These formulations have been used extensively throughout the world, for example, in forecasting river flows and variations in water levels.
Evaluation of Hydrologic Data
In addition, Professor Rodriguez-Iturbe contributed to the development of methods to quantify the accuracy and value of hydrologic data. This concept is now adopted in hydrological and meteorological services. It has been used in the USA, Canada and Great Britain to evaluate the utility of their data collection systems.
Risk Analysis
In the mid 1970s, Professor Rodriguez-Iturbe introduced "Bayesian approaches" (a mathematical tool to combine information from many different sources which have varying degrees of accuracy) to improve different models for river flows and to predict the likelihood of extreme hydrological events. This type of approach is now adopted in many Earth Sciences, for example, as a way of combining outputs from different weather or climate models or as a way of integrating models and opinions for environmental risk assessment.
Theoretical Development
In the 1980s and through the 1990s, Professor Rodriguez-Iturbe and his collaborators proceeded to reformulate the theories on the formation of river basins in a geomorphologic respect (geomorphology is the science of Earth's surface terrains). Through work that showed that nature transports water and sediment out of the watershed in the most energy efficient way possible, he was able to establish equations that, once solved, yielded the drainage pattern that nature will produce under different climatic and geologic conditions.
Professor Rodriguez-Iturbe also spearheaded and formulated the mathematical representation of rainfall as random, active point processes. Because of this it is now possible to simulate rainfall patterns in time and space over many years, creating sequences that mimic how nature may behave in the future and use the results in engineering design or analysis.
Research in Eco-hydrology
Most recently, Professor Rodriguez-Iturbe has defined the concept of eco-hydrology to explain the interaction of the atmosphere and the hydrology with plants and soil in a natural system. In-depth studies within this new field now constitute a new scientific front within hydrology and ecology, and the results of research in this area will be important for the understanding of global carbon cycles and climate variation, for example.
An Author, Teacher and Bridge-builder
Professor Rodriguez-Iturbe's passion for teaching is well-known, as is his dynamic set to solve problems. He is also a distinguished lecturer and author of many scientific articles and several books. His ability to build bridges between different scientific disciplines is well-known and he has in a meritorious way participated in creating understanding and cooperation among and between scientists and technicians.
Professor Rodriguez-Iturbe was born in Caracas, Venezuela, is married to Mercedes and has five children.
The Stockholm Water Prize
The $150,000 Stockholm Water Prize is presented by the Stockholm Water Foundation for the 12th time. It is awarded to an individual, institution, organization or company that has made the most substantial contribution to the preservation, enhancement and availability of the world's water resources. The Prize recognizes outstanding research, action or education that increases knowledge of water as a resource and protects its usability for all life.
His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is the patron of the Stockholm Water Prize and will present the award to Professor Rodriguez-Iturbe at a ceremony in the Stockholm City Hall on August 15, 2002, during the annual World Water Week in Stockholm.
Previous Stockholm Water Prize winners have represented many water-related disciplines - from technology and education to engineering and research - and have come from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, India, Israel, Japan, South Africa, Switzerland and the United States.
Stockholm Water Prize Founders include Anglian Water, Aragon Fondkommission, Bacardi Limited, Compaq, DuPont, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, General Motors, Grundfos, ITT Flygt, Kemira Kemwater, KPMG, Ragn-Sells, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), SNECMA, Stockholm Water Festival, Swedish State Railways (SJ), Uponor Group, and Water Environment Federation.
For more complete information about the 2002 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate, his research, accomplishments and photos, visit http://www.siwi.org.
The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), a scientific, technical and awareness-building organization, contributes to international efforts to combat the escalating global water crisis by facilitating research, raising understanding and stimulating action on world water issues. SIWI administers the Stockholm Water Prize, Stockholm Junior Water Prize, Stockholm Water Symposium, Stockholm Water Initiative, Stockholm Industry Water Award and Swedish Baltic Sea Water Award.
