Wolfgang Kinzelbach
Wolfgang Kinzelbach is Professor Emeritus of Hydromechanics at ETH Zurich, where he served from 1996 until his retirement in 2014. Originally trained in physics in Mainz and Munich, he shifted to environmental engineering during a study period at Stanford University. He earned his doctorate from the University of Karlsruhe and completed his habilitation at the University of Stuttgart, holding prior academic positions at the universities of Kassel and Heidelberg.
Kinzelbach’s research focuses on flow and transport processes in the environment, particularly in groundwater systems. He has published extensively and received numerous honors, including the Henry Darcy Medal, the Prince Sultan International Prize for Water, and the Muelheim Water Award. His work has had a significant impact on water resource management and environmental protection.
After retiring, he led the Sino-Swiss groundwater project addressing over-extraction in arid regions of China, and he served as ETH Zurich’s confidant for research integrity. His contributions continue to influence both science and policy in hydrology and environmental engineering.