Polioptro F. Martinez-Austria received his Ph.D. from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He has been General Director of the Mexican Institute of Water Technology and Vice President of the UNESCO International Hydrological Program. He is currently Professor and Director of the UNESCO Chair on Hydrometeorological Risks at Universidad de las Américas Puebla. He is the author of 192 academic publications, including 165 scientific and technological articles, author or co-author of 13 books and 22 book chapters. He has also been editor of 15 books. He is co-author of five patents. He has received several national and international awards. He is a member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences, of the Academy of Engineering of Mexico, of which he was secretary; of the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research, of the International Water Resources Association and of the Mexican Association of Hydraulics, of which he was its president.