System complexity and stakeholder needs: ensuring river basin models for climate change adaptation are fit-for-purpose: report of researcher exchange May 2019

The India-UK Water Centre (IUKWC) promotes cooperation and collaboration between the complementary priorities of NERC-MoES water security research. This report documents and discusses activities carried out under a Senior Researcher Exchange funded by the India-UK Water Centre (IUKWC) on the topic of “System complexity and stakeholder needs - ensuring river basin models for climate change adaptation are fit-for-purpose.” This exchange enabled Prof. Ian Holman from Cranfield University, UK, to conduct a two week exchange hosted by Prof. Rajendra Singh at the Agricultural & Food Engineering Department of the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India, from 11th to 24th May 2019. This report provides background on the rationale for conducting the research exchange on the topic of the utility of river basin models for informing adaptation response to climate change, as well as a review of the objectives. This is followed by a description of the activities carried out under the exchange and a brief summary of themes and outcomes arising from an academic webinar and stakeholder-workshop conducted on the topics of systems modelling, user engagement and model evaluation. The report is intended for India-UK Water Centre members and stakeholders.