Roland Barthel

Roland Barthel serves as Professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Gothenburg's Faculty of Science and concurrently holds the position of Vice-Dean for the Faculty Office of Natural Sciences and Technology. Previously Head of Department (2018-2022), he specializes in groundwater resources within the context of climate change impacts across Sweden and Europe.

His research integrates hydrological science with socioeconomic factors to address critical water challenges including drought, scarcity, and extreme weather events. Barthel emphasizes the societal dimensions of water management, particularly regarding unregulated private wells that constitute a significant portion of Sweden's drinking water supply. His interdisciplinary approach bridges natural and social sciences to develop implementable solutions requiring consideration of economic, political, and social frameworks alongside physical system understanding.

Analysis of his publication record reveals a dominant focus on data-driven methodologies for groundwater dynamics assessment, drought propagation analysis, and climate adaptation strategies. His work consistently emphasizes regional-scale studies in temperate and high-latitude environments, with increasing attention to interdisciplinary collaboration frameworks.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Student Union's Pedagogical Award (2014)
• Student Union's Pedagogical Award (2016)

As an educator, Barthel pioneered hydrology instruction at the university by developing the master's course Applied Hydrology (GVG460) and undergraduate Hydrology and Hydrogeology (GV2002). He leads Earth Sciences thesis supervision, chairs the program committee, and contributes to multiple geoscience courses. His teaching excellence earned three consecutive pedagogical award nominations with wins in 2014 and 2016. He currently participates in an EU Erasmus+ project developing digital teaching tools with European partners, addressing high market demand for groundwater specialists in Swedish infrastructure and environmental sectors.