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.

Age limit

The awardee shall be a member max 35 years of age on 31 December of the year the Award is conferred at the IAHR World Congress.

Who can be awarded?

The IAHR Global Award (young professional category) will be made biennially, at the IAHR World Congress to a non-member or member of IAHR who has made exceptional contributions to the hydro-environmental aspects of engineering, science, technology, management and/or practice across any aspect of the overall water cycle and in the hydro-environment sector.

No individual shall receive the Award more than once.

Age limit

The awardee shall be a member max 35 years of age on 31 December of the year the Award is conferred at the IAHR World Congress.

Nomination

To submit a nomination please download the form and send it to awards@iahr.org by 31 January 2025

One person shall not nominate or support nominations of several nominees.

Selection procedure

The awardee will be endorsed by the IAHR Council based on a recommendation by the IAHR Awards Committee, either at its meeting during the preceding even numbered year or by electronic ballot in the year of the Congress; and considering the time required to encourage the recipient to attend the IAHR World Congress where the award shall be presented.

The award need not be made during any biennium in which the IAHR Council considers none of the nominees to be of sufficient high quality.

What does the award consist of?

The award consists of a certificate that will state the purpose of the award and indicate the specific contribution(s) of area(s) of endeavour for which the awardee is recognised. The award includes free membership of IAHR for the coming biennium. The award is presented at a public ceremony during the IAHR World Congress, typically during the opening ceremony.

Wide distribution of awardees among different countries, gender distribution and different areas of specialisation is to be sought by the Awards Committee and by the Council.

The nominations should consist of a concise statement of the qualifications of the nominee, a description of the outstanding accomplishment, pertinent biographical data, and a proposed statement of the endeavours for which the nominated awardee would be recognised. Each nomination should follow a standard format not to exceed two pages.

Self-nominations, which includes the process to putting him/her-self forward for an award by approaching IAHR members asking/requesting for nomination, are not accepted.