Professorship of Hydrology: New appointment and retirement
At the meeting on 5 and 6 March 2025, the ETH Board appointed numerous professors at the request of ETH President Joël Mesot, including Paola Passalacqua for the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering. She succeeds Professor Paolo Burlando, who will retire at the end of July 2025.
Departure
Professor Paolo Burlando (*1960), currently Full Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources Management in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, is to retire at the end of July 2025. Paolo Burlando joined ETH as an associate professor in 1997 and was promoted to full professor in 2000. His research focuses on general questions of hydrology at the interface with earth sciences, geosciences, climate sciences and ecology. He has made significant contributions to hydrology and water resources management, among which directing innovative research on precipitation modelling and stochastic methods for downscaling climate scenarios. Paolo Burlando is a very dedicated member of the scientific community who has driven forward the strategic development of the Department by taking on many different functions at ETH Zurich, including that of Head of Department.
New appointment
Professor Paola Passalacqua (*1977), currently Full Professor at the University of Texas, Austin, USA, as Full Professor of Hydrology and River System Science in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering. Paola Passalacqua’s research lies at the intersection of water management, geomorphology and hydrology. Her work covers four main areas: the structure and dynamics of river deltas, hydrological connectivity, flood risks and their increasing repercussions. She is committed to modern, research-oriented teaching. With the appointment of Paola Passalacqua, the Department and Eawag are starting a new chapter in the highly topical area of hydrology and river system science, which is becoming increasingly important with climate change.