On Wednesday, 27 August, His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden presented the 2025 Stockholm Water Prize to Professor Günter Blöschl of Austria at Stockholm City Hall. The solemn ceremony took place in the presence of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Sweden and more than 200 invited guests.
Professor Blöschl, Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources Management at the Vienna University of Technology, received the award for his groundbreaking contributions to understanding the drivers of flood risks under climate change. His pioneering research has transformed the way societies forecast and manage floods, saving lives and shaping global water policies.
The Stockholm Water Prize Nominating Committee described him as “the world’s leading flood hydrologist”, recognising his meticulous work in building a 500-year flood database and creating new scientific fields, including regional process hydrology and sociohydrology, which bridge science with society.
Reflecting on the award, Professor Blöschl said:
“It is a great honour for me to be accepted into a circle of eminent hydrologists and water scientists from around the world. This recognition is not only for my work, but for the efforts of the many colleagues, students, and collaborators who have shaped these ideas with me. Hydrology must be more than a technical discipline—it must connect to the real world, and ensure that knowledge helps protect communities and build resilience.”
Blöschl’s research combines scientific rigour with practical impact. In September 2024, his flood forecasting tools were instrumental during the devastating Central European floods, enabling timely evacuations and reservoir management that prevented greater catastrophe. He has also shown how climate change influences floods differently across Europe, revealing that the last three decades have been among the most flood-rich in the last 500 years.
From his early fascination as a child building small dams in mountain streams to leading international collaborations on megafloods, Blöschl’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to connecting theory with practice:
“Behind every hydrograph, every model run, is a community, a home, a life. That awareness changes how you approach the science—it becomes more than theory; it becomes responsibility.”
The Stockholm Water Prize is awarded by the Stockholm Water Foundation in cooperation with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Founding partners of the Prize are Ålandsbanken, Bacardi, Fujitsu, PDJ Foundation, WEF, and Xylem.
The nomination process for the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize is now open:
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