Robert Berrens

Robert Berrens is a Regents Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of New Mexico since 1994. He has held roles including Department Chair (2008-2012 and 2016-present), Special Assistant to the Dean of Arts & Sciences (2012-2013), and Director of the Water Resources Program (2013-2016). His research focuses on environmental economics, water resources, ecosystem services, and climate policy. He has advised over 50 graduate students and published extensively in journals like Ecological Economics and Environmental Management. Awards include the Regents Lecturer title and leadership roles in academic governance.

• Education: PhD in Economics (not explicitly stated but implied by academic rank).
• Affiliations: Nepal Study Center, Science Impact Lab, Water Resources Program, and multiple UNM institutes.

Research interests include non-market valuation, wildfire risk mitigation, and sustainable development. His work addresses policy challenges in energy, environmental health, and natural resource management. Over 150 publications and grants from NSF, EPA, and others highlight his impact.

Grants/Awards:

• National Science Foundation
• US Environmental Protection Agency
• UNM Budget Leadership Team member since 2012

His interdisciplinary approach bridges economics with environmental science, addressing real-world issues like Bitcoin’s environmental costs, fracking impacts, and wildfire smoke health effects.