Most of the contributions in this special issue are the results of research undertaken in the framework of the SWITCH project. Water managers are confronted with many challenges, such as climate change and ecological degradation. This special issue aims to up-date our understanding of urban water governance. Water governance implies an integrated approach, necessary because of the interrelated nature and complexity of issues like drinking water availability, sanitation, surface water quality and flooding problems and the need to manage and coordinate the processes for identifying, sharing and solving these problems in a multidisciplinary way (including public administration and legal experts, anthropologists, economists and political scientists) and involving all stakeholders concerned. The shift in the dominant water governance paradigm will be analyzed, in particular the one from the often more hierarchical government initiated integrated urban water management (IUWM) paradigm to the adaptive eco water management paradigm advocated by the SWITCH project.

Fons Stams of the Laboratory of Microbiology received an ERC Advanced Grant to investigate anaerobic microorganisms at Wageningen University and at the University of Minho (Braga, Portugal) where is visiting scientist since 2010 for 3 months a year.

Two fellowships, for up to US$ 20, 000 each, are available for 2013 to carry out research, from 3 to 12 months, on a wide range of biophysical, economic and social themes related to the conservation and use of plant genetic resources in developing countries. The deadline for applications is 11 November 2012.

IIASA’s annual 3-month Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) offers research opportunities to talented young researchers whose interests correspond with IIASA’s ongoing research on issues of global environmental, economic and social change. From June through August accepted participants work within the Institute’s Research Programs under the guidance of IIASA scientific staff.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Chance (IPCC) has opened a call for applications for the second round of awards under the IPCC Scholarship Programme.