After more than a decade of collaborative work, a significant new book advancing the science of water and society has been published with the involvement of Murugesu Sivapalan, professor of geography & geographic information science. Sivapalan served on—and co-chaired—the editorial advisory board for Coevolution and Prediction of Coupled Human-Water Systems: A Sociohydrologic Synthesis of Change in Hydrology and Society, a landmark volume emerging from the International Association of Hydrological Sciences’ (IAHS) Panta Rhei scientific decade (2013–2022).
"The book represents a major milestone for our community," says Sivapalan, "Built on the vision of the Panta Rhei decade, it brings together natural and social sciences to confront today’s complex water challenges - challenges driven as much by social dynamics, governance, and inequities as by hydroclimatic change."
Led by Editor Fuqiang Tian of Tsinghua University, the book brings together contributions from more than 160 experts across six continents to examine how hydrological processes and human societies interact and shape one another over time. Moving beyond purely physical models of water systems, the volume integrates natural and social sciences to address contemporary water challenges driven by governance, social dynamics, inequality, and hydroclimatic change.
Structured in five parts, the book introduces the complexity of coupled human–water systems, develops conceptual and methodological bridges between hydrology and the social and environmental sciences, and presents advances in understanding floods, droughts, agriculture, and transboundary and global water systems—in-depth case studies from around the world ground theory in real-world dynamics, and pathways toward water security. The final section synthesizes key insights to guide future research and practice.
Intentionally written as a “low-entry, high-exit” textbook, the volume is designed to be accessible to students and early-career researchers while offering depth for experienced scholars and practitioners. Sivapalan says the book is "designed to inspire students and early-career scientists, broaden perspectives, and help cultivate the next generation of interdisciplinary thinkers who will lead future advances in sustainable water management."
The book is fully open access and available for free download via ScienceDirect, reflecting the Panta Rhei community’s commitment to broad, interdisciplinary engagement in sustainable water management.