2025: A Year of ideas, collaboration and impact
2025 has been a busy and rewarding year for WaterCentre@KTH. From lively lunch seminars and international visitors to new collaborations and well-deserved recognition, the year has been filled with activities that strengthened our community and advanced our work on water and climate challenges.
It's been an eventful and productive year for WaterCentre, marked by a rich programme of activities – including no fewer than 15 lunch seminars. Throughout the year, we welcomed speakers from KTH, water Wise Societies and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, as well as guests from the University of Texas, Vienna University of Technology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Curtin University in Western Australia, and Leipzig University.
Lunch seminars and cooperations
On World Water Day in March, six experts from WaterCentre@KTH and the KTH Climate Action Centre gathered at KTH Library to answer students’ questions on water-related challenges, creating an engaging forum for dialogue and curiosity.
In April, researchers from KTH met with officials from the City of Stockholm at the city’s offices on Fleminggatan. The aim was to deepen mutual understanding of how both organisations can benefit from closer cooperation in research and development – a key step in strengthening the long-term partnership between KTH and the City of Stockholm.
From April 16 to July 26, 2025, Zaini Ujang – Professor Emeritus of Environmental Sustainability in Malaysia – embarked on a 100-day global journey, visiting 40 universities including MIT and Harvard. During this tour, he made a special stop at KTH and WaterCentre to deliver an inspiring lunch seminar in May.
In August, we jointly hosted a lunch seminar with the Climate Action Centre featuring Stockholm Water Prize Laureate Günter Blöschl. The event was introduced by KTH’s President, Anders Söderholm.
In December, Anders Söderholm hosted a visit from the President of the University of California, James Milliken. Zahra Kalantari was invited to speak about WaterCentre, and President Milliken expressed strong interest in learning more.
Strengthening the organisation
We have also strengthened our organisation during 2025: Amir H. Payberah has stepped in as the new Research Theme Leader for the Digitalised research theme, and Erik Karlsson, strategist at Svenskt Vatten, has joined the WaterCentre steering committee.
And not least – 2025 was also the year our Director, Zahra Kalantari, was appointed Vice Chair of the new SIWI board and recognised as a Frontiers Planet Prize International Champion.
Looking ahead
We've also received information that WaterCentre can continue it's work with funding from KTH for three more years. Good news that makes it possible for us to keep planning ahead. Zahra Kalantari will continue as the centre's Director.
”As 2025 comes to a close, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all our partners and colleagues for a year of collaboration and impact. Together, we have advanced research and developed solutions that strengthen resilience, support sustainable development, and address the climate and water challenges faced by the most vulnerable.
Looking ahead to 2026, WaterCentre @ KTH remains committed to pushing the frontiers of water and climate knowledge. Our success depends on working together, and my wish for the new year is for continued innovation and impact-oriented collaboration,” says Zahra Kalantari.
Text: Åsa Karsberg