MESM 2022
Bio
Brendan McGovern graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2012 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and History. Fascinated by environmental science, Brendan was interested in how environmental stressors might exacerbate conflict within and between countries. Upon graduating, he moved to Washington D.C. and worked for the Stimson Center, an international security think tank, in their Environmental Security Program. During this time, he assisted with a project to analyze and facilitate more effective transboundary water management of the Indus River Basin between India and Pakistan. Through this experience, he became increasingly interested in understanding the hydrologic and climatic mechanisms affecting the basin. Aiming to delve further into these topics, he began work with the Water Science and Technology Board at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. As a research associate, Brendan worked at the intersection of water science and policy at regional, state and federal levels across the U.S. Through this work, he gained exposure to numerous water science issues, such as graywater and stormwater reuse, groundwater recharge, large scale ecosystem restoration and reservoir systems operation. While at Bren, Brendan plans to specialize in Water Resources Management and Economics and Politics of the Environment. He hopes to use the tools he acquires at Bren to more effectively manage water quantity and quality in the Western U.S. under a changing climate.