Dr. Kurt Schwabe’s research focuses on economic issues associated with water use and water affordability, agricultural production, urban water conservation, ecosystem services, and environmental regulation. He currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California Water Policy Center, where he helps identify, develop, and carry out research priorities important to the state of California in its efforts to address water scarcity. His work has been published in journals including Nature Sustainability, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and the Journal of the American Water Resources Association.

Dr. Schwabe was recently appointed to the Advisory Board of the Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy, a global network of water management researchers and professionals dedicated to reducing conflict and promoting cooperation in water resource management. His international work also includes serving as an Australian Fulbright Scholar and recipient of the 2023–24 Fulbright Distinguished Chair Fellowship in Science, Innovation, and Technology. During his fellowship, he conducted research in the Murray–Darling Basin in Australia, collaborating with scientists and water managers to explore how to better capture and store water as the planet warms. He brings his global perspective to a local setting through his role as chair of the board of directors for Feeding America Riverside San Bernardino (FARSB), where he provides insight on issues central to food and water sustainability, in alignment with FARSB’s mission to alleviate hunger and improve access to nutritious food.