The Social Science of Water: Beyond Hydrology ft Trevor Birkenholtz | Water Data Podcast

What does water have to do with power, caste, labor, and economic policy?

In this episode of the Water Data Podcast, Professor Trevor Birkenholtz (Penn State University) explains how political ecology helps us understand groundwater, irrigation, and large-scale water infrastructure in India.

Trevor Birkenholtz is a political ecologist and development geographer with regional interests in South Asia and the United States. His empirical interests are in water-supply development, water infrastructure, wetlands and the politics of environmental change.

This conversation explores how water systems are shaped not just by engineering, but by power, history, caste, labor, and policy decisions. How do subtle reservoir rule changes dispossess farmers? And why is urban “drinking water” often an industrial demand?

This episode is essential listening for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working at the intersection of water, agriculture, and development.

For all references and further readings related to the episode, visit https://welllabs.org/wdp-trevor-birkenholtz/ 

The Water Data Podcast is a talk show on the science, systems, and stories of water hosted by Veena Srinivasan. 

For all references and further readings related to the episode, visit Subscribe to The Water Data Podcast on your favourite podcast app – and catch video episodes on the WELL Labs YouTube channel @welllabs.

Subscription links: Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Audible, Castbox, and wherever you get your podcasts! 

Recording by Vraj Acharya and Nabina Chakraborty. Video editing by Vraj Acharya. Graphics and artwork by Aparna Nambiar and Kanishka Goyal. Audio mixing and mastering by Vijay Doiphode. Podcast production and management by Nabina Chakraborty and Pavan Srinath.