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.

• The IAHR Global Water Award (individual 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.

• The awardee will be endorsed by the IAHR Council based on a recommendation by the IAHR Awards Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Award 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.

• The award consists of a physical showpiece 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.

• No person shall receive the award more than once.

• 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.

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