Susanne Schmeier appointed Professor of Water Cooperation, Law and Diplomacy
Susanne Schmeier has been appointed professor by special appointment of Water Cooperation, Law and Diplomacy from 1 June 2025 to 1 June 2030 at the department of Sustainable Development of the Faculty of Geosciences. Dr. Schmeier is the Head of the Water Governance Department at IHE Delft and has a background in international law, international relations, diplomacy, and water management, from both an academic and a policy perspective.
“Understanding what makes actors cooperate over water is crucially important, not only for the water sector but for the international community as a whole”, Susanne Schmeier explains. “It is very important to understand why and how people, communities, and countries cooperate over water and the environment, and what makes such cooperation successful. This is crucial not only for the water sector but for the international community as a whole, as increasing pressure on water resources is coinciding with decreasing interest in multilateral cooperation.”
Convinced that in an increasingly complex world, water cooperation is more critical than ever, Schmeier researches legal and institutional mechanisms to prevent and mitigate conflict over shared water resources and encourage cooperative, sustainable, peaceful, and equitable governance. Her research combines global quantitative analyses with in-depth case studies.
If the world’s most precious resource is not managed cooperatively and sustainably across boundaries, more than just water is at risk
Marc Bierkens, Dean of the Faculty of Geosciences, is pleased with her appointment: “Susanne’s appointment will strengthen the ties between Utrecht University and IHE Delft. Being a water scientist myself, I know all too well that rivers and groundwater are shared across national borders, and that water scarcity tends to fuel international conflict. Her knowledge on water diplomacy and cooperation will complement our faculty’s expertise on global water assessments and water governance. This provides a strong inter-disciplinary basis to work on solutions.”
About Susanne Schmeier
Besides being Head of the Water Governance Department at IHE Delft, Susanne Schmeier also serves as the International Waters Panel Member in the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is affiliated to universities in the US (Oregon) and China (Wuhan), and served on several national and international advisory groups on water and climate conflict and cooperation. She has been working in the public sector for national governments and international organizations, including the German Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the World Bank, and the Mekong River Commission. She holds a PhD in Transboundary Water Governance from the Free University of Berlin/the Hertie School of Governance, in collaboration with Oregon State University, an LLM in International Law from the University of London, and a MA in International Law and International Relations from the University of Leipzig in collaboration with Sciences Po Paris.