IIASA Council welcomes new Chair

Saari has served as Council Vice-Chair since he joined the IIASA governing body in 2013 as the US Member Organization (NMO) representative. He also chairs the US Committee for IIASA of the National Academy of Sciences, the US NMO. His research interests include dynamical systems and their application to the physical and social sciences.

Saari, Distinguished Professor of Economics and Mathematics at the University of California, Irvine, succeeds Peter Lemke. Lemke has served as Council member representing the German NMO since 2003, and was Chair of the Program Committee from 2003-2008 and Council Chair from 2009-2014.

Director General and CEO Professor Dr. Pavel Kabat says, “Don Saari is an exceptional leader, and his expertise in the methodologies that underpin IIASA’s systems analysis approaches to global problems will be an invaluable asset for the Institute in its current phase of global growth.

I would also like to thank Peter Lemke for his unwavering focus on maintaining and strengthening IIASA’s research program through dedicated oversight of the IIASA’s Program Review and Science Advisory activities, and his valuable contributions and advice to IIASA’s leadership and council.”

Pavel Kabat and Don Saari award Peter Lemke as a IIASA Distinguished Visiting Fellow

Lemke was recognized at a ceremony on 10 November as an IIASA Distinguished Visiting Fellow, a new distinction that will bring internationally recognized thinkers to IIASA to aid in the Institute’s efforts to address complex global problems.

Alexey Gvishiani was appointed as Council Vice-Chair at the same meeting, succeeding Saari. Gvishiani, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, is Director of the Geophysical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, and specializes in mathematical geophysics.

Saari and Gvishiani will serve in their new posts through December 2018.

Last edited: 12 November 2014