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      1. SEI
      2. People
      • Image of David Purkey

        David Purkey

        Centre Director

      • Role(s): Senior Scientist
      • Expertise: WEAP, water sector, aquatic ecosystems, integrated Water resources management
      • david.purkey@sei.org
      • @dpurkey1
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      David Purkey is the Centre Director for SEI Latin America, based in Bogotá, Colombia.

      Previously, David led the Water Group within the US Center, with staff located in both the Somerville, Massachusetts and Davis offices.

      Much of his work centers around the development, dissemination and application of SEI’s Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system. His research interests include understanding the potential impacts of and adaptation to climate change in the water sector and aquatic ecosystems, integrated water resources management that focuses on linking the management of surface water and groundwater to meet a broad spectrum of objectives, and equitable management of transboundary water resources.

      David and his team are experienced in applying a range of hydrologic, hydraulic, and planning models in setting as diversion as California, the US-Mexico border, the Great Lakes, West and Southern Africa, and Latin America.

      David has previously served as the theme leader of Managing Environmental Systems.

      David received his Ph.D. in hydrology from the University of California, Davis in 1998 and holds a B.A. in Geology from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.

      Interview

      View of a city with shorter houses in the front and tall buildings behind, and much taller mountains in the background.

      Q&A with David Purkey on the launch of SEI Latin America

      From 20 March, SEI will have a new permanent presence in Latin America based in Bogotá, Colombia. Find out more in this Q&A with Centre Director David Purkey.

      • Feature
      • 19 March 2018

      Publications by David Purkey

      • Exploring the Water-Energy Nexus in California via an Integrative Modeling Approach
      • The application of soft systems thinking in SDG interaction studies: a comparison between SDG interactions at national and subnational levels in Colombia
      • Untangling the effects of climate variability and irrigation management on water levels in Lakes Titicaca and Poopó
      • Bioeconomía subnacional: Visiones y hoja de ruta en el Valle del Cauca, Colombia
      • Delving into the Divisive Waters of River Basin Planning in Bolivia: A Case Study in the Cochabamba Valley
      View more

      Perspectives by David Purkey

      • Water, climate change and peace: Lessons from 3 years in Colombia
      • Collaborative approach needed to manage groundwater

      Featured stories with David Purkey

      • World Water Day 2022
      • SEI launches SDG Synergies official website
      • SEI lanza el sitio web oficial de SDG Synergies
      • Bolivia WATCH: an integrated approach to ensuring both clean and available water
      • Bolivia WATCH: un enfoque integrado para garantizar la limpieza y disponibilidad del agua
      View more

      Projects and tools with David Purkey

      • Community climate resilience in critical mineral supply chains
      • SDG Synergies (Coherencia de políticas)
      • SDG Synergies
      • ¿Cómo están contribuyendo los proyectos del Banco Mundial a lograr la Agenda 2030?
      • How are World Bank projects contributing to achieve 2030 Agenda?
      View more
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