Professor Taikan Oki stands as a preeminent global authority in hydrology, renowned for his transformative contributions to water resource management on a planetary scale. He currently serves as Special Advisor to the President and Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, where he earned his PhD in Civil Engineering in 1993. His distinguished career spans multiple prestigious roles including Associate Professor positions at both the Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo and the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature from 2002 to 2003. From 2016 to 2021, he held the significant international positions of Senior Vice-Rector at the United Nations University and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, demonstrating his expertise in global water governance and sustainable development.
Professor Oki pioneered the Total Runoff Integrating Pathways (TRIP) system, a groundbreaking global river routing model now used worldwide for climate applications and water resource assessments. His seminal 2006 Science paper established fundamental connections between the hydrologic cycle, renewable water resources, the global economy, and sustainability through innovative virtual water trade concepts. His development of realistic global terrestrial water cycle simulations has become the new standard for quantitative estimates of Earth's hydrologic cycles, shaping international climate adaptation strategies. With over 46,000 citations, his interdisciplinary research bridges hydrology, climate science, and socioeconomic factors to address pressing water challenges at planetary scales.
As the 2024 Stockholm Water Prize laureate, Professor Oki's work has catalyzed sustainable water management practices across governmental and international institutions worldwide. He served as coordinating lead author for the IPCC WGII AR5 Chapter on Freshwater Resources and continues to influence global water policy through his visionary emphasis on integrating scientific hydrology with water policy and social considerations. His leadership as President of the Japan Society for Hydrology and Water Resources (2022-2024) and membership in the Club of Rome and Science Council of Japan underscores his multidisciplinary approach to sustainability challenges. Professor Oki remains committed to advancing the future of hydrology through interdisciplinary research that addresses the complex water challenges of the Anthropocene era.
