Simon Langan

Biography

Simon Langan, PhD, is the Director of IIASA’s Water (WAT) Program and the Water Futures and Solutions Initiative (WFaS). He joined IIASA after leading a large research for development office in East Africa (for the International Water Management Institute, IWMI). His background academic training and experience grew from his doctoral degree in land use and water quality from the University of St. Andrews, UK. His PhD was followed by a three year post-doctoral fellowship in Imperial College, London, UK. His subsequent project and organizational experience has been with various international organizations and centered on a multi/interdisciplinary approach. Throughout his career, Dr. Langan has won grants and secured funding from regional and international donor projects, including from the private sector, the EU 7th Framework, Natural Environment Research Council, National Power, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, USAID, and Canadian Government. Dr. Langan has an extensive number of publications in peer-reviewed journals, as well as experience in policy-related analyses, including over 120 papers, technical reports, books/chapters and conference proceedings. From a management view, he has the drive to inspire and lead teams of researchers from different disciplines and various nationalities towards achieving higher goals, from research to implementation.

Research Interest

His areas of interest lies in generating and providing evidence to underpin improving policy and practice relating to the role of changing land use on water quality as well as the broader topics of river functioning and integrated water resource management at a watershed scale.