Since 1940, the IAHR Honorary Membership Award rewards IAHR members, as well as individuals and entities outside the IAHR community, for their life-time contributions to hydro-environment engineering and research, and for outstanding service to the association. This is the most prestigious honour conferred by the IAHR Council, and rewards four IAHR members and one individual/institution from outside the IAHR community.
The M. Selim Yalin Lifetime Achievement Award is conferred upon an IAHR member whose experimental, theoretical, or numerical research has resulted in significant and enduring contributions to the understanding of the physics of phenomena and/or processes in hydraulic science or engineering and who has demonstrated outstanding skills in graduate teaching and supervision.This award was established in 2006 to honour the memory of Professor M. Selim Yalin (1925-2007), Honorary Member and Fluvial Hydraulics Committee Chairperson (1986-1991), remembered for his prolific and pioneering research contributions in fluvial hydraulics and sediment transport, and for his inspirational mentoring of students and young researchers.
The Arthur Thomas Ippen Award recognises an IAHR member who has demonstrated conspicuously outstanding ability, originality, and accomplishment in basic hydraulic research and/or applied hydraulic engineering, and who holds great promise for continuation of a high level of productivity in this profession.This award was established in 1977 to honour the memory of Professor Ippen, IAHR President (1959-1963) and IAHR Honorary Member (1963-1974), and for many decades an inspirational leader in fluids research, hydraulic engineering and international co-operation and understanding.
The Harold Jan Schoemaker Award is granted to the author(s) of the paper judged the most outstanding paper published in the IAHR Journal of Hydraulic Research in the two years preceding the IAHR World Congress.The award was established in 1980 to recognise the efforts made by Professor Schoemaker, IAHR Secretary (1960-1979), in guiding the Journal of Hydraulic Research in its formative years.
The John F. Kennedy Student Paper Competition recognises conference papers from undergraduate and postgraduate students on the basis of written and oral presentations at the IAHR World Congress. The Award was established in 1992 to honour the memory of Professor John F. Kennedy, IAHR President (1979-1983) and Honorary Member (1989-1991). Professor Kennedy made significant and lasting contributions to the Association and is remembered particularly for his efforts to foster younger-member membership and participation.
The Willi H. Hager Journal of Hydraulic Research (JHR) Best Reviewer Award is presented to up to three reviewers, preferably under 45 years of age, judged to have provided the most outstanding reviews of the papers submitted to the IAHR Journal of Hydraulic Research during the preceding two-year period. The Award was established in 2012 and is sponsored by former JHR Editor Professor Willi H. Hager.
The JRBM Best Paper Award rewards biannually the best contribution to the International Journal of River Basin Management (JRBM) with strong original research dealing with significant basin management problems.The award is granted to the corresponding author of the paper judged the most outstanding paper published in the IAHR International Journal of River Basin Management in the two years preceding the River Flow ConferenceThe JRBM Best Reviewer Award rewards biannually the most outstanding reviewer to the International Journal of River Basin Management (JRBM) in the two years preceding the River Flow Conference. The International Journal of River Basin Management (JRBM) brings together research dedicated to all aspects of integrated river and floodplain management including catchments, wetlands, and estuarine systems with the aim of applying an integrated, cross-disciplinary approach to river basin management as recognised by the UN Watercourses Convention, World Water Vision, World Water Council and Global Water Partnership. To assist in this task, the International Association of Hydro-environment Engineering and Research and Taylor and Francis offer an annual award for the best contribution to JRBM.Established in 2010, this IAHR award is supported by Taylor and Francis and was reactivated under the current rules in 2023.
The RIBAGUA Best Paper Award award biennially rewards the best contribution to the Ibero-American Water Journal (RIBAGUA) in two categories: best technical paper and best scientific paper; both with strong original research dealing with significant water problems in Ibero-America. The Award is supported by IAHR and the World Council of Civil Engineers (WCCE).
Established in 2012, the IAHR Hydro-Environment World Heritage Award is conferred on a local infrastructure of lasting and international importance. It has the purpose of giving international professional recognition to the work of local hydro-environment engineers, and should demonstrably have stood the test of time (be at least a hundred years old) and be accepted and valued nationally.
The IAHR Industry Innovation Award is conferred by IAHR on a recent local innovation in design of lasting and international importance. It has the purpose of giving international professional recognition to the work of local hydro-environment engineers.
IAHR Regional Hydro-Environment Heritage Award is conferred by IAHR during one or more of the IAHR Regional Congresses on a local infrastructure of lasting and international importance. It has the purpose of giving international professional recognition to the work of local hydro-environment engineers, and the infrastructure should demonstrably have stood the test of time (be at least one hundred years old) and be accepted and valued nationally.IAHR Hydro-Environment Industry Innovation Award is conferred by IAHR during the World Congress on a recent local innovation in design of lasting and international importance. It has the purpose of giving international professional recognition to the work of local hydro-environment engineers.
The Gerhard Jirka Award for Young Researchers awards the best presentation given by a Young Professional during the biennial IAHR Europe Division Congress. The award recognises the quality, originality and relevance of the presentation.The award was introduced at the 5th IAHR Europe Congress in Trento in 2018 and was created in memory of Prof. Gerhard Jirka.
The Stephen E. Coleman Best Paper Award is given biennially to the best paper submitted to the River Flow Conference Series and authored or co-authored by a young researcher. This award was established by the IAHR technical committee on Fluvial Hydraulics in September 2014, in memory of Prof. Stephen E. Coleman (1966–2012). Prof. Coleman is remembered for his outstanding and original contributions to fundamental and applied research in the fields of river mechanics and environmental fluid mechanics and his devotion and enthusiasm in the training of the new generations of hydraulic engineers and scientists.
Appointment as an Honorary Fellow of the IAHR technical commitee on Ecohydraulics is to honour exceptional achievement and/or service within our community and profession. This recognition may be given to IAHR members and non-members.
The Donald R. F. Harleman Lectureship, to be given at the IAHR World Congress, recognises the early contributions to engineering hydraulics by Professor Harleman and focuses on two areas of IAHR endeavour: artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of water science and engineering, and ecohydraulics.
IAHR members of outstanding merit to the Asia and the Pacific region may be awarded the IAHR-APD Distinguished Membership by the IAHR Asia and Pacific Division executive committee.
The IAHR-Asia and Pacific Division Best Paper Award (hereinafter called the IAHR-APD Award) recognizes the authors of the two most outstanding papers presented at the IAHR-APD Congress. It was established by the IAHR Council in its meeting in Moscow on 3 September 1983 to encourage the presentation of results on hydraulic and water resources research at the IAHR-APD biennial congresses.
Launched by the IAHR/IWA joint technical committee on Urban Drainage in 2005, the Poul Harremoës Award is given at each triennial International Conference on Urban Drainage (ICUD) to the presentation of novel and ideally provocative ideas relating to developments in urban drainage by young authors (up to 35 years old). The aim of the award is to inspire young researchers to push the field forward, to be bold and daring by challenging the status quo, and always asking the difficult questions.Prof. Poul Harremoës was a globally renowned water engineer and Professor on Environmental Science and Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). . At each ICUD, three nominees are selected to present their submission in a plenary session of the ICUD. Each of these nominees is given the opportunity to publish their paper in Water Science & Technology.
The Phil H. Burgi Best Paper Award rewards the best technical paper presented at the IAHR International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures (ISHS). The Award was launched in 2018 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the IAHR technical committee on Hydraulic Structures. Named after the first chair of the Technical Committee, Philip H. Burgi, the Award was delivered for the first time at the 7th International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures in Aachen, Germany.
The Journal of Ecohydraulics Best Paper Award and Best Reviewer Award recognise outstanding papers and reviewers who contributed to the Journal of Ecohydraulics and aims at encouraging scientists to contribute to the varied research in the field of ecohydraulics. The awards are given annually to two authors of the paper judged the most outstanding paper and two reviewers judged to provide most outstanding reviews of the paper submitted to the Journal of Ecohydraulics.
The IAHR Global Award (organisation category) is established by the IAHR Council of 2024 to recognise the very best in the global activities and contributions of an organisation for knowledge, practice and/or innovation related to holistic water engineering.The award is conferred biennially, in odd-numbered years, to an organisation that has demonstrated excellence in engineering research, science, technology, management and/or practice across any aspect of the overall water cycle and in the hydro-environment sector. This includes groundbreaking scientific discoveries, and/or for developing or implementing approaches or solutions that have significant impact at a global level.Recipients must be legally registered entities and may be from academia, science or practice (utilities, consultancies, universities, research institutes, service or technology providers, government, public authorities, NGOs and civil society, national or international organisations). Candidates for the award may be members or non-members of IAHR.
The IAHR Global Award (young professional category) is established by the IAHR Council of 2024 to promote and support the emerging generation of engineers and professionals in the water sector.The award is conferred biennially, in odd-numbered years, to a young individual (younger than 35 years) who has demonstrated outstanding contributions in areas of: leadership, scientific excellence, innovation, advancing gender or diversity issues, technological impact of developments or software, dissemination of knowledge, education and/or capacity building in any fields related to water engineering involving any part of the water cycle.Recipients may be persons from academia, science or practice (utilities, consultancy, universities, research institutes, technology or service providers, government, public authorities, NGOs and civil society, or international organisations). Candidates for the award may be members or non-members of IAHR.
The IAHR Global Water Award (individual category) is established by the IAHR Council of 2024 to recognise the very best in the global activities and contributions of an individual for knowledge, practice and/or innovation related to holistic water engineering.The award is conferred biennially, in odd-numbered years, to an individual person who has made exceptional contributions to engineering research, science, technology, management and/or practice across any aspect of the overall water cycle and in the hydro-environment sector.This includes groundbreaking scientific discoveries and/or for developing approaches or solutions that have significant impact at a global level. Furthermore, the award encourages advancement of gender diversity supporting both equity and wider impactful change in the hydraulic and environmental sector.Recipients may be persons from academia, science or practice (utilities, consultancy, technology providers, government, public authorities, NGOs and civil society, or international organisations). Candidates for the award may be members or non-members of IAHR.