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Paul Block

Paul Block

Associate Professor

Our research group creatively addresses critical water resources management challenges in local to international trans-boundary capacities through stakeholder and decision-maker collaborations. We work at the intersection of engineering and socio-economics to enhance management, adaptation, and sustainability of water resources by leveraging across the sciences. Our research themes are centered on a systems-based approach, bridging models and methods across climate science, hydrology, management, the environment, economics, and policy.

Department

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Contact

1269D, Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Dr
Madison, WI

  • PhD 2006, University of Colorado
  • MS 2004, University of Colorado
  • BS 1995, Valparaiso University

  • Methods, models, and tools for managing climate variability and change
  • Hydrologic forecasting and integration into decision models
  • Addressing water quality and quantity extremes
  • Hydro-economics and policy mechanisms
  • Risk, reliability, and uncertainty
  • Sustainable approaches

  • 2023 Nelson Institute’s Center for Climatic Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Reid A. Bryson Distinguished Professorship of Climate, People, and Environment
  • 2021 Environment and Water Resources Institute (ASCE), Elected Fellow
  • 2020 Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, Best Research-Oriented Paper Award
  • 2020 University of Wisconsin-Madison, Teaching Academy Fellow
  • 2020 Fulbright Program, Fulbright Teaching and Research Scholar
  • 2020 University of Wisconsin-Madison, Emil Steiger Distinguished Teaching Award
  • 2014 Polygon, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Outstanding Engineering Faculty Teaching Award
  • 2012 Drexel University, Career Development Award
  • 2010 Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, Best Reviewer Award
  • 2008 National Science Foundation, DISCCRS Scholar
  • 2006 NCAR, Invited Participant, NCAR Colloquium on Climate & Health
  • 2006 Joint Assembly Student Grant Awardee
  • 2005 IFPRI/USAID Fellowship, Fellowship
  • 2005 University of Colorado at Boulder, Graduate Teacher Program Teacher Training Certificate
  • 1995 Valparaiso University, Distinguished Student Award
  • 1995 Valparaiso University, Tau Beta Pi – National Engineering Honor Society

  • Beal, M. R., Özdoğan, M., & Block, P. (2024). A machine learning and remote sensing-based model for algae pigment and dissolved oxygen retrieval on a small inland lake. Water Resources Research, 60(3), e2023WR035744.
  • Beal, M., Osorio, J., Ciuoderis, K., Hernandez-Ortiz, J. P., & Block, P. (2024). Hydroclimatic Forecasting to Inform Anticipatory Action for Dengue Virus in Colombia. Copernicus Meetings.
  • Block, P., Southard, K., Lee, D., & Bazo, J. (2023). Emerging Opportunities and Challenges of Anticipatory Actions for Disaster Preparedness. In EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts (pp. EGU–4574).
  • Block, P., Cai, X., Moradkhani, H., & Watkins, D. W. (2023). Water and Society: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Hydroclimatic Forecasts for Water Resources Decision-Making I Poster. In AGU23.
  • Gari, Y., Block, P., Steenhuis, T. S., Mekonnen, M., Assefa, G., Ephrem, A. K., Bayissa, Y., & Tilahun, S. A. (2023). Developing an Approach for Equitable and Reasonable Utilization of International Rivers: The Nile River. Water, 15(24), 4312.
  • Yang, G., & Block, P. (2023). Enhancing season-ahead streamflow forecasts with GCMs, climate indices, and their interactions. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 149(10), 04023055.
  • Block, P., Hietpas, K., & Quinn, J. (2023). Evaluating Season-ahead Hydrologic Forecasts for the Upper Colorado River Basin. AGU23.
  • Roland, H. B., Curtis, K. J., Malecki, K. M., Lee, D., Bazo, J., & Block, P. (2023). Geographic isolation and vulnerability across Peru’s ecological regions: the influence of regional contexts of extraction. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 113(9), 2126--2148.
  • Lala, J., Regassa, M. D., Zhang, Y., You, L., & Block, P. (2023). Incorporating seasonality into an agroeconomic model of Ethiopia. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 149(2), 05022018.
  • Beal, M. R., Wilkinson, G. M., & Block, P. (2023). Large scale seasonal forecasting of peak season algae metrics in the Midwest and Northeast US. Water Research, 229, 119402.

  • CIV ENGR 494 - Civil and Environmental Engineering Decision Making (Spring 2025)
  • CIV ENGR 515 - Hydroclimatology for Water Resources Management (Spring 2025)
  • CIV ENGR 699 - Independent Study (Spring 2025)
  • CIV ENGR 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Spring 2025)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Spring 2025)
  • CIV ENGR 919 - Seminar-Hydraulic Engineering and Fluid Mechanics (Spring 2025)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Spring 2025)
  • ENVIR ST 990 - Research (Spring 2025)
  • CIV ENGR 494 - Civil and Environmental Engineering Decision Making (Fall 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 699 - Independent Study (Fall 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Fall 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 919 - Seminar-Hydraulic Engineering and Fluid Mechanics (Fall 2024)
  • ENVIR ST 990 - Research (Fall 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Summer 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Summer 2024)
  • ENVIR ST 990 - Research (Summer 2024)
  • INTEGSCI 299 - Independent Study (Summer 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 416 - Water Resources Systems Analysis (Spring 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Spring 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Spring 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 919 - Seminar-Hydraulic Engineering and Fluid Mechanics (Spring 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Spring 2024)
  • ENVIR ST 990 - Research (Spring 2024)
  • ZOOLOGY 682 - Senior Honors Thesis (Spring 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 494 - Civil and Environmental Engineering Decision Making (Fall 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 515 - Hydroclimatology for Water Resources Management (Fall 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Fall 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 919 - Seminar-Hydraulic Engineering and Fluid Mechanics (Fall 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Fall 2023)
  • ENVIR ST 990 - Research (Fall 2023)
  • ZOOLOGY 681 - Senior Honors Thesis (Fall 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Summer 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Summer 2023)