Rodriguez-Iturbe wins Stockholm Water Prize for hydrology research

Early last Monday morning, University professor Ignacio Rodriguez-Iturbe, the Theodora Shelton Pitney Professor in Environmental Sciences, received a phone call demanding that he keep secret the news he was about to hear, even from his children.

The news: He had been selected as this year's Stockholm Water Prize recipient.

Rodriguez-Itrube's initial response was one of skepticism. "How do I know this isn't a joke my older brother is playing on me?" he asked.

But he soon realized that the caller was serious. The following Friday morning, he received another call at 5 a.m. from a press conference in Sweden to officially announce he had won the prize, which is commonly known as the "Nobel Prize of water."

The Stockholm Water Prize, which carries a $150,000 monetary award, is considered the equivalent of a Nobel prize in the field of hydrology. It was started by the Stockholm Water Foundation in 1991.

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden will present the award to Rodriguez-Itrube in a ceremony at the Stockholm City Hall in Sweden on August 15.

"It was a wonderful surprise," Rodriguez-Iturbe said. "It was like a dream."

Rodriguez-Iturbe was selected by the Foundation for his pioneering contributions to the field of surface hydrology. His colleague, Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Peter Jaff, characterized Rodriguez-Iturbe as a forward-looking scientist.

"He can really come up with new, original ideas," Jaff said. "[He] sets the agenda and sets the directions in research for hydrology, things that in 10 years become mainstream," he said.

Surface hydrology is the study of water dynamics on the surface of the earth. According to Rodriguez-Iturbe, it is crucially important because of its role in the cycle of water through the atmosphere, oceans and continents.

"[Surface hydrology] dramatically impacts all human activities," he said.

The Stockholm Water Foundation said in a press release Rodriguez-Iturbe has exceptional contributions to both the theoretical aspects and application of the field. His work has included the designing of hydroelectric dams in Venezuela and modeling of river basin structures.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

University CEE professor Eric Wood, whom Rodriguez-Iturbe advised on a doctoral thesis during his time at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, also commented on the inventive nature of Rodriguez-Iturbe's research.

"He is perhaps the most creative research hydrologist active today," Wood said.

Currently Rodriguez-Iturbe holds joint positions as a CEE professor and the director of the Princeton Environmental Institute. A native of Venezuela, he is the first South American to win the award. A University faculty member since 1999, Rodriguez-Iturbe previously held positions at universities across the United States and in Venezuela.

When Rodriguez-Iturbe travels to Stockholm in August, his wife and five children will be with him. He said he is quite excited about the proceedings, which will include the ceremony, banquet and a ball for 800 people.

"I am prepared to be very impressed," he said.