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Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy
Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy


Home > Personnel > Staff > Robert Varady

Staff

Steve CornellRobert G. Varady, Ph.D.
Deputy Director and Director of Environmental Policy Programs
Research Professor of Environmental Policy and of Arid Lands Studies
Adjunct Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources

Address: 803 E. First St., Tucson, AZ 85719
Phone: (520) 626-4393
E-mail: rvarady@u.arizona.edu

Curriculum Vitae [pdf]


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Robert Varady is deputy director and director of environmental policy programs at the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy at The University of Arizona.  He also is a research professor of environmental policy at the Udall Center, research professor of arid lands studies, and adjunct professor of hydrology and water resources. Varady obtained his Ph.D. in 1981 in modern history from The University of Arizona, and holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in mathematics from the City College of New York and the Polytechnic University, respectively.

At the Udall Center since 1989, Varady's work mostly has addressed environmental and water-management policy in arid regions, with an emphasis on transboundary issues, especially along the U.S.-Mexico border. He spent a sabbatical year (2003-04) in Paris at UNESCO's International Hydrological Programme, studying the history, evolution, and significance of global water initiatives. In a subsequent sabbatical in 2010-11, he investigated transboundary aquifer governance. Relatedly, he is a consultant to UNESCO and FAO on a GEF (Global Environmental Facility)-funded global groundwater governance project and in that capacity is lead author of a paper on groundwater policy.

Varady is past president of the International Water History Association (IWHA). He has published essays on environmental history and policy, agricultural development, information management, and transportation systems. He also has directed environmental and agricultural projects in West Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.


CURRENT PROJECTS

projects and funding sources

> Global Water Initiatives
> NOAA Climate and Societal Interactions Project (U.S.-Mexico Border Region)
> Use of Climate Diagnostics for Adaptive Water Management

PUBLICATIONS

For information about the publications listed here, including how to obtain copies if you are unable to access them via the links provided, contact Robert Varady at rvarady@u.arizona.edu or Emily McGovern at emcgove@u.arizona.edu.

BOOKS

Shared Borders, Shared Waters:  Israeli-Palestinian and Colorado River Basin Water Challenges (in press)
Megdal, SB, RG Varady, and S Eden, eds. Delft and London: UNESCO-IHE Press and Taylor-Francis.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Moving Forward from Vulnerability to Adaptation: Climate Change, Drought, and Water Demand in the Urbanizing Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico (2012)
Wilder, M, CA Scott, N Pineda-Pablos, RG Varady, and GM Garfin, eds. 2012.  Tucson: Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy. 170 pp.  English and Spanish.
> book pdf
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Conservation of Shared Environments: Learning from the United States and Mexico (2009)
López-Hoffman L, ED McGovern, RG Varady, and KW Flessa, eds. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. 320p.
> book webpage


BOOK CHAPTERS

Moving forward from vulnerability to adaptation: Theory, methodology, and context (2012)
Wilder, M, RG Varady, and GM Garfin. In Moving Forward from Vulnerability to Adaptation: Climate Change, Drought, and Water Demand in the Urbanizing Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico, ed. M. Wilder et al., 3-16. Tucson: Udall Center.
> pdf
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Old and new: Changing paradigms in arid lands water management (2009)
Hutchinson CF, RG Varady, and S Drake. In Water and Sustainability in Arid Regions: Bridging the Gap Between Physical and Social Sciences, ed. G Schneier-Madanes and MF Courel, 311–32. New York: Springer.
> book webpage
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Finding mutual interest in shared ecosystem services: New approaches to transboundary conservation (2009)
López-Hoffman L, RG Varady, and P Balvanera. In Conservation of Shared Environments: Learning from the United States and Mexico, ed. L López-Hoffman, ED McGovern, RG Varady, and KW Flessa, 9–22. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
> book webpage
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Integrating science and policy for water management (2009)
Richter H, DC Goodrich, A Browning-Aiken, RG Varady. In Ecology and Conservation of the San Pedro River, ed. JC Stromberg and B Tellman, 388–406. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
> book webpage
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Global water initiatives: What do the experts think? Report on a survey of leading figures ... (2009)
Varady RG, and M Iles-Shih. In Impacts of Megaconferences on the Water Sector, ed. Asit K. Biswas and Cecelia Tortajada, 15–68. London: Springer Verlag.
> book webpage
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Transboundary conservation in the borderlands: What drives environmental change? (2009)
Varady RG, and ER Ward. 2009. In Conservation of Shared Environments: Learning from the United States and Mexico, ed. L López-Hoffman, ED McGovern, RG Varady, and KW Flessa, 9–22. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
> book webpage
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¿Cuánto cuesta? Development and water in Ambos Nogales and the Upper San Pedro basin (2004)
Varady RG, and BJ Morehouse. In The Social Costs of Industrial Growth in Northern Mexico, ed. K Kopinak, 205–48. San Diego: Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, UCSD.
> book webpage
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Moving borders from the periphery to the center: River basins, political boundaries, and water ... (2003)
Varady, RG, and BJ Morehouse. In Water: Science, Policy, and Management, ed. by R Lawford, D Fort, H Hartmann, and S Eden, 143-59. American Geophysical Union Water Resources Monograph 16. Washington, DC: American Geophysical Union.
> book webpage
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For information about the publications listed here, including how to obtain copies if you are unable to access them via the links provided, contact Robert Varady at rvarady@u.arizona.edu or Emily McGovern at emcgove@u.arizona.edu.


ARTICLES AND ESSAYS

Editorial: Rethinking integrated assessments and management projects in the Americas (in press)
Garfin, GM., P Romero Lankao, RG Varady. In Garfin, G, RG Varady, and P Romero-Lankao (eds.), Special issue of Environmental Science and Policy, “Rethinking Integrated Assessments and Management Projects in the Americas.”
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Hydrosolidarity and beyond: Can ethics and equity find a place in today's water resource management?  (2011)
Gerlak, A, RG Varady, O Petit, and A Haverland. Water International 36(3): 251-65.
> DOI:10.1080/02508060.2011.586552
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Adapting across boundaries: Climate change, social learning, and resilience in the U.S.-Mexico border ... (2010)
Wilder, M, CA Scott, N Pineada Pablos, RG Varady, GM Garfin, and J McEvoy. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 100(4): 917-28.
> DOI: 10.1080/00045608.2010.500235
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Ecosystem services across borders: A framework for transboundary conservation (2010)
López-Hoffman L, RG Varady, KW Flessa, and P Balvanera. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 8(2): 84-91.
> DOI: 10.1890/070216
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Hydrosolidarity and international water conflict (2009)
Gerlak AK, RG Varady, and AC Haverland. International Negotiation 14(2): 311–28.
> DOI: 10.1163/157180609X432842
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Paradigmas para la gestion del agua en el siglo XXI (Paradigms for water management in the 21st century) (2009)
Varady RG, and E McGovern. Hydria 25(October): 11–14.
> article webpage
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Charting the emergence of "global water initiatives" in world water governance (2009)
Varady RG, K Meehan, and E McGovern. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 34(3): 150–55.
> DOI: 10.1016/j.pce.2008.06.004
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Science and socio-ecological sustainability: Examples from the Arizona-Sonora border (2008)
Morehouse BJ, DB Ferguson, G Owen, A Browning- Aiken, P Wong-Gonzales, N Pineda, and RG Varady. Environmental Science and Policy 11: 272–84.
> DOI:10.1016/j.envsci.2007.07.007
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Stregthening global water initiatives to sustain world water governance (2008)
Varady RG, K Meehan, J Rodda, M Iles-Shih, and E McGovern. Environment 50(2): 18–31.
> article permalink
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Climate, water management, and policy in the San Pedro basin: Results of a survey of Mexican ... (2007)
Browning-Aiken A, B Morehouse, A Davis, M Wilder, RG Varady, D Goodrich, R Carter, D Moreno, and ED McGovern. Climatic Change 85(3-4): 323–41.
> DOI: 10.1007/s10584-007-9302-z
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Monsoon region climate applications: Integrating climate science with regional planning and policy (2007)
Ray, AJ, GM Garfin, L Brito-Castillo, M Cortez-Vázquez, HF Diaz, J Garatuza-Payán, D Gochis, R Lobato-Sánchez, RG Varady, C Watts. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 88(6): 933-35.
> DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-88-6-933
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Societal adaptation to decadal climate variability in the United States (2007)
Rosenberg, NJ, VM Mehta, JR Olsen, H von Storch, RG Varady, MJ Hayes, and D Wilhite. CRCES Workshop on Adaptation to Decadal Climate Variability in the United States, 26-28 Apr. 2007, Waikoloa, Hawaii. Eos 88(43): 444.
> pdf
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Upper San Pedro basin: Fostering collaborative binational watershed management (2004)
Browning-Aiken A, H Richter, D Goodrich, B Strain, and RG Varady. 2004. International Journal of Water Resesources Development, 20(3): 353–67.
> DOI: 10.1080/0790062042000248574
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Water-resources management in the San Pedro Basin: Building binational alliances (2003)
Browning-Aiken, A, RG Varady, and D Moreno. Journal of the Southwest 45(4): 611-27.
> pdf
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Public-private partnerships as catalysts for community-based water infrastructure development ... (2002)
Lemos, MC, D Austin, R Merideth, and RG Varady. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 20(2): 281-95.
> DOI: 10.1068/c12w
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...to the Sea of Cortes: Nature, water, culture, and livelihood in the Lower Colorado River basin and delta ... (2001)
Varady, RG, KB Hankins, A Kaus, E Young, and R Merideth. Journal of Arid Environments 49(9): 195-209.
> DOI: 10.1006/jare.2001.0842
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Managing hazardous materials along the U.S.-Mexico border (2001)
Varady, RG, P Romero-Lankao, and KB Hankins. Environment 43(10): 22-36.
> article permalink
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Hazardous waste and the U.S.-Mexico border region: Toward a binational university-based institutional ... (2000)
Varady, RG, RG Arnold, DE Carter, R Guzmán, and CE Peña. Environmental Practice 2(1): 38-45.
> DOI: 10.1017/S146604660000106X
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Water management options for the Upper San Pedro River basin: Assessing social and institutional ... (2000)
Varady RG, A Moote, and R Merideth. Natural Resources Journal 40(2): 223–35.
> article permalink
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Environmental issues along the US-Mexico border: Drivers of change and responses of citizens and ... (1999)
Liverman DM, RG Varady, O Chavez, and R Sanchez. Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, 24: 607–43.
> DOI: 10.1146/annurev.energy.24.1.607
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Openness, sustainability, and public participation: New designs for transboundary river basin institutions (1999)
Milich L, and RG Varady. Journal of Environment and Development 8 (3): 258–306.
> DOI: 10.1177/107049659900800304
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Managing transboundary resources: Lessons from river-basin accords (1998)
Milich, L, and RG Varady. Environment 40(8): 10-15, 35-41.
> article permalink
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Environmental health and hazardous waste issues related to the U.S.-Mexico border (1996)
Carter, D, C Peña, RG Varady, and WA Suk. Environmental Health Perspectives 104(6): 590-94.
> DOI: 10.1289/ehp.96104590
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The Sonoran Primeria Alta: Shared environmental problems and challenges (1995)
Varady, RG, H Ingram, and L Milich. Journal of the Southwest 37(1): 102-22.
> article permalink
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Transboundary water resources and public health in the U.S.-Mexico border region (1995)
Varady, RG, and MD Mack. Journal of Environmental Health 57(8): 8-14.
> article permalink
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Managing transboundary resources: Lessons from Ambos Nogales (1994)
Ingram, H, L Milich, and RG Varady. Environment 36(4): 6-9, 28-38.
> article permalink
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For information about the publications listed here, including how to obtain copies if you are unable to access them via the links provided, contact Robert Varady at rvarady@u.arizona.edu or Emily McGovern at emcgove@u.arizona.edu.


REPORTS AND WORKING PAPERS

Groundwater Policy and Governance (2012)
Varady, RG, F van Weert, SB Megdal, A Gerlak, C Abdalla Iskandar, and L House-Peters. Thematic Paper No. 5. Groundwater Governance: A Global Framework for Country Action. GEF project 3726. 38 pp.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Guidance on Links Between Water Reclamation and Reuse and Regional Growth (2011)
Scott, CA, A Browning-Aiken, KJ Ormerod, RG Varady, CD Mogollon, and C Tessmer. Report 6-16-1. WateReuse Research Foundation.
> report website
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Urban Water Vulnerability and Institutional Challenges in Ambos Nogales (2011)
Wilder, M, J Slack, RG Varady, O Lai, R Beaty, and E McGovern. Working Papers on Climate Change and Water Resources, No. 1. Udall Center Publications.
> pdf
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Water Policy Research on the San Pedro River Basin: An Annotated Bibliography ... (2006)
McGovern, E.D., R.G. Varady, and A. Browning-Aiken. 2006. Udall Center, 13 pp.
> pdf


For information about the publications listed here, including how to obtain copies if you are unable to access them via the links provided, contact Robert Varady at rvarady@u.arizona.edu or Emily McGovern at emcgove@u.arizona.edu.