Visiting Fellow Program Hosts First In-Person Scholar in Years: Dr. Xialin Wang Explores Water-Food-Energy Nexus in Central Asia

With the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Visiting Fellow Program (VFP) welcomed its first scholar, Dr. Xialin Wang, to the headquarters of the CAREC Institute (CI). She is the first in several years to participate in in-person academic exchanges with CI’s research team under the VFP initiative. Specializing in agricultural economics, Dr. Wang presented her research report titled Water-Food-Energy Nexus: Adaptive Responses to Uncertain Climate in a Transboundary River Basin at the CI office.

Dr. Vladislav Zavadskiy, Dr. Wang’s supervisor for the VFP, introduced her academic background and research focus at the start of the presentation. Her research focuses on the Irtysh River Basin, a transboundary river originating in China and flowing through Kazakhstan and Russia before reaching the Arctic Ocean. Utilizing the “Water–Food–Energy Nexus” framework, the study analyzes the interactions and trade-offs between sectors, examines climate trends in the basin, and evaluates the regional WFE Nexus system. It highlights the impacts on agricultural production, water use, and energy consumption in response to climate change, offering insights into adaptation policies essential for sustainable management.

CI management and experts engaged in a productive dialogue during the presentation. In the Q&A session, the research team provided constructive feedback on topics like data collection, model variables, and sample selection. The event was a successful academic exchange under the VFP, showcasing CI’s commitment to practical research and its role in shaping policy development and economic integration in Central Asia.