Anders Andersson, is Associate Professor at Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, and Co-Chair of the upcoming 9th IAHR Europe Congress. Anders works mainly in the field of Ecohydraulics where the connection between fluid mechanics and ecological systems is in focus. His research mainly deals with the environmental effects of hydropower in our regulated rivers, where he, among other things investigate the dynamic processes that arise with a more flexible regulation of hydropower plants and what environmental consequences it can lead to. He also works on how to improve the possibilities for upstream and downstream fish migration with the help of field measurements and numerical simulations.

Interviewed by Ana Margarida Bento, Editor of Newsflash Europe

As Program Co-Chair of the upcoming IAHR 2026 Europe Congress, what is your vision for the event? Which themes do you believe should be at the forefront to address today’s global hydro-environment challenges?

Our vision is to provide a forum where scientists, engineers, practitioners, and policymakers join forces to shape the future of hydraulic and ecohydraulic research. We hope that this event will also contribute to discussions and collaborations that can lead to more evidence-based decisions and promote a more sustainable use of water in the future. 

The conference focuses on the four themes developed by IAHR 

• Climate change adaptation and mitigation 

• Water for the energy transition, food security and nature 

• Improving resilience against water hazards and disasters 

• Digital transformation 

Where I am most excited to see what advances are being made regarding the green energy transition and climate change adaptations. 

Your research has focused strongly on ecohydraulics, particularly the environmental effects of hydropower regulation and fish migration. How do you see these themes evolving, and how can IAHR 2026 serve as a platform to advance knowledge in this area?

As Europe accelerates its transition to renewable energy, hydropower increasingly serves as a flexible regulator balancing the variability of solar and wind generation. This new operational paradigm changes the nature and intensity of environmental pressures on aquatic systems, requiring interdisciplinary research and collaboration to ensure that hydropower continues to support both energy security and ecological sustainability.   

Hydropower remains a cornerstone of renewable energy, but it also brings ecological challenges for river systems. From your perspective, how can research, and international forums like IAHR, help balance energy production with ecological sustainability?

The ecosystems in regulated rivers are extremely complex and therefore require many different perspectives and expertise’s to find holistic solutions. Balancing global benefits of green electricity with the local environmental pressures from hydropower therefore requires cooperation on many levels, and the IAHR conferences are an excellent opportunity to present the latest advancements in environmental research and discuss how they should impact policies for the future.    

You combine field measurements with numerical simulation in your research. What role do you see for this integrated approach in shaping the next generation of ecohydraulic studies?

Modelling of rivers and waterways is an important method to evaluate environmental impacts and investigate different mitigation techniques. Models provide detailed information on both spatial and temporal scales that are not feasible to measure in the field. Hydraulic modelling also has the advantage that you can test different measures before they are implemented and that you can simulate flow events that are expected to occur in the future, for instance scenarios affected by climate change. A model, however, is always a simplification of reality. It is therefore of great importance to gather field data to be used as input to these models to make them as accurate as possible, but also to validate the models to make sure that they accurately represent the physical processes that are occurring.  

IAHR is known for fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration. How do you see ecohydraulics bridging engineering, ecology, and policy in the years ahead?

Ecohydraulics has, since its inception, been a cross-disciplinary field and requires the collaboration of ecologists, biologists and engineers to understand the connection between the environment and river hydraulics. By also including expertise from social scientists, recommendations can be made that account for a larger number of, sometimes counteracting, goals to create the best societal benefits.  

Digitalization and computational advances are transforming how we model water systems and ecosystems. Which developments do you believe will be most transformative for ecohydraulic research?

The transition from one-dimensional to two-dimensional modelling of rivers has greatly increased the usefulness of hydraulic models for environmental applications. Providing velocity fields (although simplified) enables much more detailed analysis of environmental effects and has enabled integrated ecohydraulic models such as habitat- and population models to be much more precise. With the development of hardware and numerical methods we could see a further shift, where rivers are mostly modelled with three-dimensional simulations even at larger scales and to also include turbulent properties of the flow, giving an even better description of important processes. Another interesting advancement would be digital twins of rivers that couple numerical simulations with real-time data from power plants or other important locations, producing more accurate representations of current conditions in our river systems. 

A strong focus of IAHR has always been youth engagement. How do you envision IAHR 2026 further empowering early-career researchers and giving them visibility in a large international setting?

The IAHR congresses are excellent opportunities for early-career researchers to meet with peers but also international experts in different fields to learn from each other and to expand their networks. At the IAHR Europe Congress in Luleå we will have special sessions dedicated to young professionals and an exclusive social event to promote the career development of these young researchers, as they are the ones who will be tackling the complex hydro-environmental issues of the future.  

Looking across recent years, what do you consider the most significant shifts in hydraulic and ecohydraulic research, and how should the IAHR community respond to them?

The field of Ecohydraulics has evolved from a niche discipline into a more fully interdisciplinary research domain, combining hydrodynamics, geomorphology, ecology, biology and engineering. Research now places greater emphasis on coupled physical + ecological processes, rather than treating hydraulics and ecology as separate entities. IAHR should continue to enable this interdisciplinarity and promote its importance to practitioners, policy makers and stakeholders. 

Abstract submission for IAHR 2026 will open soon. What message would you like to share with researchers and practitioners to encourage them to prepare their contributions and take part in this global event?

We invite researchers and practitioners to contribute to this conference and join a vibrant community shaping the future of hydraulic and ecohydraulic science in Europe. As hydropower operations evolve to balance renewable energy sources and water systems face growing climate pressures, collaboration across disciplines is more important than ever. 

Together, we can advance knowledge and solutions for the sustainable use of water, resilient ecosystems, and innovative hydraulic management that support both people and nature.  

Finally, as Program Co-Chair, what long-term impact or legacy would you like IAHR 2026 to leave for the scientific community, for policy makers, and for the next generation of water professionals?

We hope the conference will strengthen the links between science, policy, and practice in advancing sustainable water management. For the scientific community, it should spark new interdisciplinary collaborations and innovative approaches to understanding and managing dynamic water systems. For policy makers, it will provide science-based insights to guide effective and adaptive water and energy policies. And for the next generation of water professionals, it should inspire commitment to the wise and sustainable use of water resources for the benefit of both people and nature.  

Related 

9th IAHR Europe Congress "Innovating Hydro-EnvironmentEngineering for a sustainable future. Artic Waters and Beyond" 09 - 12 June 2026, Lulea, Sweden 

IAHR Europe Regional Division