Barbara J. Lence

Dr. Barbara J. Lence is a Professor in Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC), part of the Faculty of Applied Science. She has been a Full-time Faculty member since 1997 and currently serves as Director of the UBC Master of Engineering Leadership in Integrated Water Management. Her research focuses on optimizing water resources projects, managing water quality under uncertainty, and climate change adaptation. She teaches courses such as CIVL 301 (Optimization and Decision Analysis) and CIVL 554 (Water Resource Management).

Dr. Lence holds a doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where her research addressed water pollution control policies and emissions trading. Before joining UBC, she was an Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba. Her work bridges engineering, environmental science, and policy, emphasizing decision-making frameworks for sustainable infrastructure.

Key research interests include hydraulic systems, water distribution optimization, and ecological risk assessment. Her awards include the 1980 Walter E. Deuchler Environmental Engineering Award and the M. E. Meade Memorial Scholarship. She has contributed to over 20 peer-reviewed publications since 2012, focusing on algorithmic advancements in water resource systems and disaster resilience strategies.