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Roland Barthel

Professor

Department of Earth Sciences
Telephone
+46 766-18 19 53
Mail
roland.barthel@gu.se
Visiting address
Medicinaregatan 7 B
41390 Göteborg

Pro-Dean

Faculty Office of Science and Technology
Telephone
+46 766-18 19 53
Mail
roland.barthel@gu.se
Visiting address
Medicinaregatan 7 B
41390 Göteborg
Postal address
Box 466
40530 Göteborg

About Roland Barthel

Research

My research primarily focuses on the impacts of climate change on water resources and water supply, with a particular emphasis on groundwater. My current projects address issues such as drought, water scarcity, and extreme weather events in Sweden and other parts of Europe.

Although I have a natural science background in geology and hydrology, my research interests have gradually expanded toward societal aspects, engagement with external stakeholders, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Natural sciences provide essential knowledge and tools, but the development and implementation of effective solutions also require an understanding of economic, political, and social dimensions. My research therefore aims to integrate knowledge of physical systems with insights into how individuals and decision-makers respond to change and uncertainty in these systems.

A clear example is private wells, which constitute an important part of Sweden’s drinking water supply but are largely unregulated and often overlooked by both authorities and researchers.

I lead and participate in several research projects addressing water scarcity and drought from both natural and social science perspectives, with the aim of developing a more integrated understanding and supporting sustainable water resource management in the long term. One Formas-funded project, in collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology and Uppsala University, focuses on the situation in Sweden. Another project, the transnational initiative GroundedExtremes, involves partners in Sweden, Norway, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium, and compares different case studies across Europe. In addition to natural science analyses and modelling, the research includes interview studies, surveys, and stakeholder workshops.

I am also involved in projects addressing geotechnical challenges related to climate change, such as landslides and ground subsidence (PIGALL), as well as projects examining interactions between urban climate, vegetation, and water in urban environments (COOL). Within an Erasmus+ project (iNUX), we further develop and evaluate digital teaching tools in hydrogeology.

As a parallel line of research, I also investigate the conditions for interdisciplinary research as a bridge between natural and social sciences.

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=CQqFCR4AAAAJ&hl=en

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2004-6199

Teaching

My teaching focuses on hydrology and hydrogeology, two subjects that were not offered at the University of Gothenburg before I joined in 2012. I have developed two courses: Applied Hydrology (GVG460) at the advanced (Master’s) level and Hydrology and Hydrogeology (GV0340/GV2002) at the undergraduate level. In addition, I contribute to several other courses, including the introductory course in geosciences, where I bring in my expertise in hydrology and hydrogeology.

In my teaching, I convey natural science theory and methodological approaches, while consistently emphasizing connections to real-world applications and to the social, cultural, political, and economic dimensions relevant in practice. Hydrogeology is of great importance in Sweden—partly because a large share of the water supply relies on groundwater, and partly due to its strong links to infrastructure projects (tunnels, major constructions, roads, and railways) as well as geotechnical risks such as landslides and ground subsidence. There is a high demand for specialists in groundwater and water resources on the Swedish labor market, particularly in areas such as water supply, environmental contamination, and large infrastructure projects like the West Link (Västlänken).

For many years, I was responsible for the Master’s thesis courses in geosciences and led seminar series for Master’s students. I also serve as Chair of the Programme Committee for Geosciences. In total, I have supervised approximately 65 Bachelor’s and Master’s theses. I have been nominated for the Student Union Teaching Award for three consecutive years and received the award in 2014 and 2016.

I am currently involved in an Erasmus+ project in which, together with TU Dresden, the University of Graz, and the University of Barcelona, we develop and evaluate digital and modular teaching tools in hydrogeology.

In my current role as Vice Dean for Education at undergraduate and advanced levels, I have overall responsibility for more than 50 degree programmes and around 900 courses at the faculty. My goal is to strengthen the status of education within the university and to promote cross-faculty collaboration and pedagogical dialogue. Creating opportunities to learn from one another is, in my view, a central part of this work.

Courses: GVG460, GV2002, GV1410, GE2120, GE5000, GVG430, GVR011, ES1300, GV0415, GV0430, GV0460, GV0401, GV0502, project courses.

Commissions (University of Gothenburg)

Department of Earth Sciences:

Head of Department, Dept. of Earth Sciences, 2018-2022

Program committee for Earth Science Education, chairman, 2022-24

Department council (Institutionsråd), member, 2015-2018

Strategic task force, geovetenskaper, chairman, 2015-2016

Strategic task force, geovetenskaper, member, 2014-2015

Program committee for PhD education (PKFU), member, 2013-2023

Program committee for research (PROF), member 2013-2015

Faculty of Science / Faculty of Science and Technology

Prodean (deputy dean), responsible for first- and second cycle education at the faculty of science and technology

Docenturnämnden, member, 2015-2018