MESM 2021
Bio
Patrick Byrne graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering. A firm believer in interdisciplinary education, he deliberately went beyond his degree requirements by studying topics such as climatology, microbiology, policy analysis, and U.S. environmental regulation. He also practiced conducting independent research as a member of Professor Daniel Wright’s Hydroclimate Extremes Research group, working on projects such as extreme value analysis of rainfall in Wisconsin. He found his calling, however, while researching the Cape Town water crisis for a hydroscience class. While learning about the threat of climate-change-induced water scarcity, Patrick realized his interdisciplinary background made him well-suited to help solve these problems. In looking to broaden his non-technical knowledge, he decided to pursue a graduate degree, and was drawn to the Bren School. While at Bren, he plans to pursue the Economics and Politics of the Environment specialization and learn about closing the scientist-practitioner gap in western water management by reconciling public policy with hydrologic reality. He hopes to fit his work into larger conversations about how human societies can best adapt to climate change and become sustainable for centuries into the future.