Roger C. Bales

Roger C. Bales is a Distinguished Professor of Engineering at the University of California, Merced, and an Adjunct Professor at UC Berkeley. His research focuses on hydrology, climate science, and sustainable water management. He leads the Mountain Hydrology Research Group and contributes to initiatives like the Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory (SSCZO) and the Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project (SNAMP). Bales holds degrees from Purdue University (B.S. Civil Engineering), UC Berkeley (M.S.), and Caltech (M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering Science). He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union, American Meteorological Society, and American Association for the Advancement of Science.

His work bridges academic research with practical solutions for climate adaptation, including forest restoration, hydropower optimization, and water policy. Recent projects address solar energy over canals, wildfire mitigation, and university carbon neutrality. Bales advises on state and federal climate policy and collaborates with agencies, NGOs, and policymakers to implement climate solutions in California.

• Education: B.S. Purdue, M.S. UC Berkeley, M.S./Ph.D. Caltech
• Key Projects: SSCZO, SNAMP, GEOSummit, ITASE
• Research Themes: Mountain hydrology, climate impacts, forest-water interactions

Notable scientific awards include his Fellowships in AGU, AMS, and AAAS. He contributes to interdisciplinary teams addressing climate change and water security through publications, grants, and outreach.