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Kaveh Madani

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Kaveh Madani
Kaveh Madani
Born1981 (age 42–43)
Tehran, Iran
Nationality Iranian
Alma mater
Known for
  • Fundamental contributions to integrating game theory and decision analysis into water management models
  • Environmental activism and impacting water policy in Iran
Awards
Scientific career
Institutions
Doctoral advisorJay R. Lund
Notable studentsAli Salajegheh
Website

Kaveh Madani (Persian: کاوه مدنی;[1] born 1981 in Tehran) is a scientist, activist, and former Iranian politician. He previously served as the Deputy Head of Iran's Department of Environment (also Iran's Deputy Vice President). He also served as the Vice President of the United Nations Environmental Assembly Bureau from 2017 to 2018.[2][3]

He is known for his work on integrating game theory and decision analysis into water resources management models.[4] His research and outreach activities have influenced water policy in Iran.[5] He also has played a major role in raising public awareness about Iran's water and environmental problems in recent years.[6][7]

Known as "Iran's expat eco-warrior",[8][9] he was considered the "Symbol of Expatriate Return" to Iran during President Rouhani's administration.[10][11]

He is currently the Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH),[12] and a Research Professor at the City College of New York. Prior to this, he has held positions at Yale University and Imperial College London.

Life and education

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Kaveh Madani was born in 1981 in Tehran from a family from Amol,[13] Iran to the parents working in the water sector.[14] He did primary education in Tehran and received his BSc in Civil Engineering from University of Tabriz.[15] He has a MSc in Water Resources from Lund University[16] in Sweden and a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Davis.[17][18] He did his post-doctoral studies in Environmental Policy and Economics at the Water Science and Policy Center and the Department of Environmental Sciences of the University of California, Riverside.[18][19][20]

He is an Iranian citizen and has frequently denied the claims by the Iranian hardliners about having additional citizenships.[21][22][23][24]

Academic career

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Kaveh Madani is currently the Director of the UNU-INWEH, the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, known as the United Nations' Think Tank on Water. He is also a Research Professor at the City University of New York's Remote Sensing Earth Systems (CUNY-CREST) Institute at the City College of New York.

He joined the United Nations University as the Director of the Nexus Program at UNU-FLROES in 2021. Prior to that he was the Henry Hart Rice Senior Fellow at the Yale University's MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies and its Department of Political Science.

In 2013, he joined the Centre for Environmental Policy of Imperial College London after serving as an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida for three years. He worked at Imperial College as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Environmental Management (2013-2015), Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Environmental Management (2015-2016), and Reader in Systems Analysis and Policy (2016-2017) before joining politics. Since 2017, he has been associated with Imperial College as a Visiting Reader (2017-2018) and a Visiting Professor (full) (2018–present). He served as the Centre for Environmental Policy's Director of Alumni from 2014 to 2017.[25][26]

He has more than 200 publications[27] and is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and Fellow of EWRI (American Society of Civil Engineers).[27]

Political career

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In 2017, his name appeared in the media, including Shargh,[28] as one of the candidates[29] with strong support from the Iranian environmental NGOs and activists[30] to become Iran's Minister of Energy after Hamid Chitchian in Hassan Rouhani's second presidency term. Madani denied this news later in an interview with the Mehr News Agency.

He was appointed by Issa Kalantari as the Deputy for International Affairs, Innovation and Socio-cultural Engagement of Iran's Department of Environment in 2017.[6] From 2017 to 2018, he served as the Deputy Vice President of Iran in his position as the Deputy Head of Iran's Department of Environment and the Chief of Iran's Department of Environment's International Affairs and Conventions Center.[31][32][33] He was interrogated many times during his tenure in Iran and was arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in February 2018.[34][35][36] In April 2018, he resigned[37] from his political post and revealed that he was kept under surveillance by the Iranian intelligence services and hardliners since his return to Iran.[38][39]

In Iran, he served as the Chair of the National Committee on International Climate Change Negotiations, Vice President of the National Committee of Sustainable Development, Member of the Supreme Council of Iran's House of Farmers, Member of Iran's Supreme Water Council, and Member of the Iran-Afghanistan Negotiations Workgroup on Water.[25][26] He led Iran's delegation in the 23rd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23)[40][41][42] and the 3rd Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-3).[43]

Campaigns on Waste and Plastic

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By running a national campaign on waste, he tried to raise public awareness about waste and plastic pollution in Iran.[44][45] He was the initiator of the popular Bi-Zobaleh (No Waste) challenge, a social game that reminded both citizens and decision makers about their responsibilities on waste using the “Let's Start with Ourselves” slogan.[46][47]

Bi-Zobaleh turned into a viral social media game in Iran with many celebrities, top politicians, influential figures, activists and the public from all walks of life joining the challenge from different parts of the country, sharing their solutions and actions on waste reduction in the environment.[47] The move created national sensitivity to the waste issue, which subsequently encouraged many public waste collection events around the country followed by plastic bottled water bans in some city councils, including major cities like Tabriz, Rasht and Isfahan.[44]

Among the Iranian public figures and celebrities who attended the Bi-Zobaleh Challenge are Mitra Hajjar, Pejman Jamshidi, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi, Shahindokht Molaverdi, Reza Sadeghi, Mohammad Rezs Aref, Mohammad Bathaei, Issa Kalantari, Reza Yazdani, Tayebeh Siavoshi, Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Ali Al-Hashem, Pantea Bahram, and Roya Nonahali.[48][49][50]

Awards

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He has received several awards for his research contributions, teaching innovations, and humanitarian activities.

New Face of Civil Engineering (ASCE)

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In 2012, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) introduced him as one of the 10 "New Faces of Civil Engineering"[51] for "work and personal achievements representing the bold and humanitarian future of civil engineering”.

Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Young Scientists (EGU)

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He received the Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Young Scientists[52] from the European Geosciences Union (EGU) in 2016 for "fundamental contributions to integrating game theory and decision analysis into water management models"[4]

Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize (ASCE)

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He received the Walter L. Huber prize for "groundbreaking research in developing methods for the allocation of scarce water resources merging conflict-resolution and game-theoretic concepts for application to complex water resources systems”,[53][15] introducing "novel insight on how to achieve binding, long-term solutions to complex water resources problems",[54] and “outstanding leadership in the application of systems analysis to environmental, water and energy resource problems.”[5][55]

Hydrologic Sciences Early Career Award (AGU)

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He received the Hydrologic Sciences Early Career Award from the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in 2019[56][57] for "fundamental contributions to integrating game theory and decision analysis methods into conventional water resources systems models" and "proven dedication to education, outreach, raising public awareness on environmental and climate issues, and selfless service to the hydrologic sciences community has had major societal impacts."[58]

Ambassador Award (AGU)

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Kaveh Madani awarded the American Geophysical Union 2020 Ambassador Award for his contributions and leadership in research, education and outreach in the Earth and space science [59] and for "his selfless service and outstanding societal impacts as an ambassador of the hydrologic sciences community in the real world".[60]

References

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  1. ^ Rate My Professors
  2. ^ "UNEA Chair and Bureau | Committee of Permanent Representatives". web.unep.org. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  3. ^ "Iran proposes regional center for SDS assessment". Tehran Times. 2017-12-09. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  4. ^ a b "EGU". European Geosciences Union (EGU). Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  5. ^ a b "Imperial reader receives ASCE's prestigious Huber Prize". 20 April 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Kaveh Madani appointed Iran's deputy environment chief". Tehran Times. 2017-09-18. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  7. ^ "Can a 36-year-old Scientist Solve Iran's Water Crisis?". IranWire | خانه. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  8. ^ "Kaveh Madani, Iran's expat eco-warrior who was on too many fronts | Gareth Smyth". AW. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  9. ^ "An Iranian Patriot Vs. a Corrupt System". IranWire | خانه. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  10. ^ "Iran's deputy environment chief resigns amid mounting pressure from hard-liners". Al-Monitor. 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  11. ^ Rupp, Kelsey (2018-05-26). "In Iran's water crisis, Tehran sows the seeds of its own decline". TheHill. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
  12. ^ "Kaveh Madani Named as Next Director of UNU-INWEH - United Nations University". unu.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  13. ^ American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (2012-02-22), Kaveh Madani 2012 New Face of Civil Engineering - Professional Edition, retrieved 2017-03-04
  14. ^ TEDx Talks (2015-06-11), Water: Think Again | Kaveh Madani | TEDxKish, retrieved 2017-02-24
  15. ^ a b "Remember This Face". UCF News - University of Central Florida Articles - Orlando, FL News. 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  16. ^ "LU engineering alumnus Dr. Kaveh Madani at TEDx | FACULTY OF ENGINEERING LTH". www.lth.se. Archived from the original on 2017-02-25. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  17. ^ "Home - Dr Kaveh Madani". www.imperial.ac.uk. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  18. ^ a b "Remember This Face". UCF News - University of Central Florida Articles - Orlando, FL News. 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  19. ^ American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (2012-02-22), Kaveh Madani 2012 New Face of Civil Engineering - Professional Edition, retrieved 2018-04-18
  20. ^ "Kaveh Madani". UCR Today. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  21. ^ "Iranian Hardliners Continue Attacks on Former Environmental Official Kaveh Madani". Center for Human Rights in Iran. 2018-04-26. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  22. ^ Erdbrink, Thomas (2018-04-18). "Pressed by Hard-Liners, U.S.-Trained Environmentalist Quits Post in Iran". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  23. ^ Madani, Kaveh (2019-11-14). "Why is Iran so paranoid about environmentalism?". Medium. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  24. ^ "Iran's Environmentalists Are Caught Up in a Political Power Struggle". Human Rights Watch. 2018-10-18. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  25. ^ a b "About Kaveh Madani | کاوه مدنی". Kaveh Madani. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  26. ^ a b "Home - Dr Kaveh Madani". www.imperial.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  27. ^ a b "Kaveh Madani". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  28. ^ PARHA-NP.V.5.1.1. "4 مرد حمایت چه کسانی را دارند؟". روزنامه شرق. Retrieved 2017-09-01.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Behnegarsoft.com. "وزارت نیرو هم به وزیر جوان می رسد؟". پایگاه خبری الف. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  30. ^ ""کاوه مدنی" پیشنهاد مسئولیت وزارت نیرو را تکذیب کرد". خبرگزاری مهر | اخبار ایران و جهان | Mehr News Agency (in Persian). 2017-08-28. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  31. ^ "Greater than the sum of its parts: Deceiving assumptions and misleading policies in modelling and managing water". Water Institute. 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  32. ^ "کاوه مدنی سرپرست مرکز امور بین‌الملل و کنوانسیون‌های سازمان حفاظت محیط زیست شد". ana.ir (in Persian). Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  33. ^ "ناصر مقدسی جایگزین کاوه مدنی در مرکز امور بین‌الملل سازمان محیط زیست شد". ایسنا (in Persian). 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  34. ^ "Kaveh Madani, Iran's expat eco-warrior who was on too many fronts | Gareth Smyth | AW". AW. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
  35. ^ agencies, The New Arab &. "Iran launches wave of arrests against environmentalists". alaraby. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
  36. ^ "In Iran, Environmentalists Are Now Seen as Spies". The New York Times. 2018-02-12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
  37. ^ "Pressed by Hard-Liners, U.S.-Trained Environmentalist Quits Post in Iran". The New York Times. 2018-04-18. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
  38. ^ "An Iranian researcher went home to serve his country. Now, 'I realize that I'm lucky I'm not in prison.'". Science | AAAS. 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
  39. ^ Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (2018-04-18). "Top scientist leaves Iran after crackdown on environmentalists". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
  40. ^ Madani, Kaveh (2019-11-14). "Politicians don't lead movements — people do". Medium. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  41. ^ "Iran's statement (COP 23)" (PDF). UNFCCC.
  42. ^ "On my way back to Tehran, I like to thank the Governments of Fiji & Germany ..." 2017-11-17. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  43. ^ UNEA 3-Iran's National Statement by Dr. Kaveh Madani سومین مجمع محیط زیست ملل متحد-دکتر کاوه مدنی, 15 April 2018, retrieved 2020-01-08
  44. ^ a b Bizar, Maysam (2018-04-19). "How an anti-waste challenge went viral in Iran". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  45. ^ "DOE starting to promote 'waste separation' culture - Tehran Times". www.tehrantimes.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  46. ^ "No waste: Want a change? start with yourself". Tehran Times. 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  47. ^ a b "Iran's DEO: No-Rubbish Campaign Successful". Financial Tribune. 2018-04-04. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  48. ^ "چالش بی زباله چیست و کدام سیاسیون و افراد مشهور ایران در آن شرکت می‌کنند؟". پایگاه خبری جماران - امام خمینی - انقلاب اسلامی (in Persian). Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  49. ^ "بی زباله (@bizobaleh) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  50. ^ "BiZobaleh (@BiZobaleh) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  51. ^ "Remember This Face". UCF News - University of Central Florida Articles - Orlando, FL News. 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  52. ^ "Imperial senior lecturer elected as Outstanding Young Scientist in Geosciences". 2015-11-03. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  53. ^ "ASCE Honors Influential Research Work | ASCE News". news.asce.org. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
  54. ^ "ASCE Honors Influential Research Work | ASCE News". news.asce.org. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  55. ^ "Iranian scientist receives ASCE's prestigious Huber Prize". Tehran Times. 2017-04-22. Retrieved 2017-04-22.
  56. ^ "2019 AGU Section Awardees and Named Lecturers". Eos. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
  57. ^ "Hydrologic Sciences Early Career Award | AGU". www.agu.org. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  58. ^ "Konar, Long, and Madani Receive 2019 Hydrologic Sciences Early Career Award | EOS". www.eos.org/. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  59. ^ "Announcing the 2020 AGU Union Medal, Award, and Prize Recipients". Eos. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  60. ^ "Ambassador Award | AGU". www.agu.org. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
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