ProfPatricia Saco

Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Patricia Saco is an internationally recognized leader whose research in water resources, ecohydrology and eco-geomorphology has led to groundbreaking contributions. Patricia obtained a master’s degree from the Univ. of Illinois and a PhD, also from the Univ. of Illinois, in 2003. She then joined the Univ. of Newcastle as research associate (2003-2004) and Vice-Chancellor Postdoctoral Fellow (2004-2006), where she later continued her academic career until she joined UTS as Professor in early 2024.

Prior to joining UTS in 2024, Patricia was the Director of the Centre for Water Security and Environmental Sustainability at UoN (2016-24) that encompassed a large team of senior and junior researchers from 2 Faculties (Eng. and Sciences). She has supervised and mentored 11 postdoctoral fellows (including 1 Fulbright Fellow), 4 of which are currently ongoing academics at Univ. of Barcelona, Univ. of Southampton, Istanbul Technical Univ., and Deakin University, and 4 with current leading positions in Industry/government.

Patricia’s internationally recognized research in ecohydrology, water resources and eco-geomorphology, has led to numerous publications in high-quality journals and prizes. She received a National Research Council Research Associates Award from the US National Academies (2002), the Univ. Council in Water Resources award (UCOWR, USA) in Engineering (2004) and the Lorenz Straub Medal for best international thesis in Hydraulics and Hydrology (2005). She obtained a Fellowship from NASA, 2 Fellowships from the University of Newcastle, and several grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC) as lead CI, including the very prestigious ARC Future Fellowship (2014-2018).

Patricia is also currently working on several applied projects in Australia with DPE & WaterNSW, with the focus of bridging the gap between science advances and practical applications, particularly given the current effects of climate and anthropogenic pressures on water resources. Patricia has also led projects in the South Pacific Islands in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Ireland Trust Fund for Building Climate Change and Disaster Resilience in Small Island Developing States (BCCDR) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) for resilience and adaptation of coastal ecosystems to climate and development pressures. The islands are global hotspots for climate change impacts and their coastal ecosystems are already experiencing the devastating consequences of raising sea levels, cyclones, deforestation, and human development, with dire consequences for the communities that depend on them. Focusing on catchment to coast processes, Patricia’s team has developed predictive tools and guidelines for the management of critical resources, like the Ramsar listed Qoliqoli Cokovata site in the Great Sea Reef in Fiji and the Moata’a Mangroves in Samoa.

Patricia’s work has contributed to science education, societal awareness of environmental issues and better management of natural resources. Her work has been published in encyclopedia type reference material, featured in media outlets (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, National Broadcasting Network TV), policy documents (Our freshwater 2020) and a highlight of selected research projects by the Australian Research Council (Making a difference: Outcomes of ARC supported research 2017–18).

Throughout her career, Patricia has made substantial contribution to the international science community. She is currently an external member of the UNESCO sponsored Centre for Hydro-environmental Research Rosario (CURIHAM), Argentina, and has participated in the International Working Group of the Hydrology Synthesis Team of CUAHSI (Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science), the ARC-NZ Research Network for Vegetation Function and NASA’s Earth System Scholars Network.  She has actively contributed to the organization of numerous professional meetings. Since 2013 she is Editor of Hydrology and Earth System Sciences journal (flagship publication of EGU) and Associate editor of Water Resources Research (AGU).