Chennat Gopalakrishnan

Chennat Gopalakrishnan is a Professor of Natural Resource Economics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, affiliated with the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. With over four decades of academic and research experience, he has held visiting positions at the University of Southern California and the University of Wyoming.

• Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics (Natural Resource Economics specialization) from Montana State University
• M.A. and B.A. in Economics from Kerala University, India

Research Interests focus on natural resource economics and policy, particularly in water resources, marine economics, and energy systems. His work explores institutional constraints, economic impacts of pollution, and technology transfer dynamics in both developed and developing contexts.

• Key research areas: Water conservation in agriculture, Groundwater pollution economics, Ocean resource governance, Energy price impacts

Scientific Awards include:

• Ka Pouhana (Mentor) Award (2003)
• Outstanding Researcher Award, Gamma Sigma Delta (1980)
• International Award for Distinguished Service, Gamma Sigma Delta, Hawaii Chapter (1989)
• Fellowships for Ethics Institute (1990) and Law Institute (1986)

Advising & Grants span mentoring 10+ Ph.D. candidates and securing $200,000+ in research grants from USDA, NOAA, and Sea Grant. Notable funded projects: 'Water Conservation in Western Irrigated Agriculture' and 'Economic Impacts of Groundwater Pollution in Hawaii'.

Labs & Teams include leadership roles in the Law of the Sea Institute and collaborative research with institutions like Argonne National Laboratory and the Gas Research Institute.