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Marcela Brugnach

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Marcela Brugnach


  • Position:
     Borrar - Ikerbasque Professor
  • Main Research Field:
    Collective decision-making under uncertainty and knowledge coproduction
  • BC3 Research Line:
    4. Research Line Adaptation Lab
  • Contact information:
    Email address: marcela.brugnach@bc3research.org
    Contact phone: +34 944 014 690 ext 118
  • Scopus Author ID: 55943343700
  • ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8522-8650
  • Download CV:  CV-Brugnach2024 

Short CV

I joined BC3 in August 2019 as an IKERBASQUE Research Professor specializing in collective decision-making processes under uncertainty. My educational background is multidisciplinary, encompassing doctoral studies in Ecology and Bioresources Engineering at Oregon State University, USA (2003), and Computer Sciences at the MSc level at Universidad Nacional del Centro, Argentina (1991, Cum Laude). In addition to my academic achievements, I bring over two decades of international experience, having actively participated in interdisciplinary projects that bridge engineering, modeling, social sciences, and their intersection with policy and decision-making.

My primary research focus centers on the complex dynamics of uncertainty within collective decision-making processes, specifically within the realm of managing and governing common pool resources. Additionally, I explore the coproduction of knowledge and the intersections between art and sciences. These topics are approached comprehensively, encompassing both theoretical frameworks and practical applications, often in collaboration with an outstanding group of scholars.

At present, I am engaged in several noteworthy research projects, including UNDUE (AEI PID2020-114944RB-I00), MENDindi (PIBA_2022_1_0043), ReAshore (NWO-domein Exacte en Natuurwetenschappen, Netherlands), and PALIMPSEST (HORIZON-CL2-2022-HERITAGE-01-10).

Before joining BC3, my professional journey led me to the University of Twente (Netherlands, 2009-2019), University of Osnabrück (Germany, 2005-2009), and the University of California Davis, USA (2004). My past projects include contributions to the 6th EU Framework Program NeWater, AquaStress, EcoShape Building with Nature (BwN) programme, MEDUWA INTERREG Vecht(e) Deutchland-Nederland, and Beyond Technologies (Van Braun Stiftung).

I have an extensive publication record. This includes 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and over 50 conference proceedings, along with numerous reports and professional publications. Noteworthy journals such as Global Environmental Change, Environmental Modelling & Software, Environmental Science and Policy, and Ecology & Society have featured my work.

In addition to my research pursuits, I have a robust background in education and mentorship. I have designed and delivered courses on Integrated and Adaptive Water Management, and Water Governance at both the bachelor's and master's levels, contributing to the academic programs at the University of Osnabrück and the University of Twente. Furthermore, I have guided and supervised more than 30 students across different academic levels (BSc, MSc, and PhD), and have served as an external referee in several PhD committees.

For further insights into my research group, ongoing projects, and publications, please visit https://www.sciencecollab.org/.

Journal Articles

  • 2025
  • Agramont, A., Villafuerte Philippsborn, L.D., Peres-Cajias, G., Martinez, A.B., Griensven, A.v., Craps, M., Brugnach, M.F. 2025. Navigating ambiguous waters: a relational approach to nested conflicts in the Katari River Basin, Bolivia. Ecology and Society. 30. (2) DOI (10.5751/ES-16028-300215).
  • Bakhshianlamouki, E., Augustijn, E.W., Brugnach, M., Voinov, A., Wijnberg, K. 2025. Agent-based modelling of beach visitation patterns: insights for sustainable coastal design and management. Environmental Research Communications. 7 (4) DOI (10.1088/2515-7620/adc353).
  • Brugnach, M., Ruiz, I., Zafra-Calvo, N., Vivas, L.D., Sanz, M.J. 2025. Advancing decision-making amid uncertainty in water governance and management under climate change. Plos Climate. 4 (5) DOI (10.1371/journal.pclm.0000617).
  • 2024
  • Bakhshianlamouki, E., Augustijn, E.W., van den Heuvel, J., Terpstra, T., Brugnach, M., Voinov, A., Wijnberg, K. 2024. Balancing recreation and flood safety for integrated coastal management: Understanding beach visitors' types of attitude and behaviour in sandy anthropogenic shores. Ocean and Coastal Management. 258. DOI (10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2024.107407).
  • Brugnach, M., Sato-Bajracharya, S., Kranz, L., Bilbao-Barrenetxea, N., Faria, S.H. 2024. A multidimensional approach to knowledge coproduction in glaciology. Journal of Glaciology. 70. DOI (10.1017/jog.2024.74).
  • Ruiz, I., Alloza, J.A., Sanz, M.J., Zafra-Calvo, N., Lliso, B., Brugnach, M. 2024. Recycling the rain: Exploring forest management practices in a western Mediterranean watershed to recouple the atmospheric and terrestrial water cycle. Science of the Total Environment. 954. DOI (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176212).
  • 2023
  • Bakhshianlamouki, E., Augustijn, E.W., Brugnach, M., Voinov, A., Wijnberg, K. 2023. A participatory modelling approach to cognitive mapping of the socio-environmental system of sandy anthropogenic shores in the Netherlands. Ocean and Coastal Management. 243. DOI (10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106739).
  • Brugnach, M., Hoek, R.v.d. 2023. Embracing ambiguity in climate change adaptation for more effective responses to new uncertain shorescapes conditions. Marine Policy. 152. DOI (10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105626).
  • Cabello, V., Brugnach, M. 2023. Whose waters, whose nutrients? Knowledge, uncertainty, and controversy over eutrophication in the Mar Menor. Ambio. 52. (6) 1112-1124. DOI (10.1007/s13280-023-01846-z).
  • Droz, L., Brugnach, M., Pascual, U. 2023. Multilingualism for pluralising knowledge and decision making about people and nature relationships. People and Nature. 5 (3) 874-884. DOI (10.1002/pan3.10468).
  • 2022
  • Van Cauwenbergh, N., Dourojeanni, P.A., van der Zaag, P., Brugnach, M., Dartee, K., Giordano, R., Lopez-Gunn, E. 2022. Beyond TRL – Understanding institutional readiness for implementation of nature-based solutions. Environmental Science and Policy. 127. 293-302-302. DOI (10.1016/j.envsci.2021.09.021).
  • 2021
  • Brugnach, M., de Waard, S., Dubois, D., Farolfi, S. 2021. Relational quality and uncertainty in common pool water management: an exploratory lab experiment. Scientific Reports. 11. (1) DOI (10.1038/s41598-021-94517-6).
  • Craps M., Brugnach M. 2021. Experiential Learning of Local Relational Tasks for Global Sustainable Development by Using a Behavioral Simulation. Frontiers in Sustainability. DOI (https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2021.694313).
  • Craps, M., Brugnach, M. 2021. Experiential Learning of Local Relational Tasks for Global Sustainable Development by Using a Behavioral Simulation. Frontiers in Sustainability. 2 DOI (10.3389/frsus.2021.694313).
  • Karandish, F., Nouri, H., Brugnach, M. 2021. Agro-economic and socio-environmental assessments of food and virtual water trades of Iran. Scientific Reports. 11. (1) DOI (10.1038/s41598-021-93928-9).
  • 2020
  • Cortes Arevalo, V.J., Verbrugge, L.N.H., Sools, A., Brugnach, M., Wolterink, R., van Denderen, R.P., Candel, J.H.J., Hulscher, S.J.M.H. 2020. Storylines for practice: a visual storytelling approach to strengthen the science-practice interface. Sustainability Science. 15. (4) 1013-1032-1032. DOI (10.1007/s11625-020-00793-y).
  • Nouri, H., Stokvis, B., Chavoshi Borujeni, S., Galindo, A., Brugnach, M., Blatchford, M.L., Alaghmand, S., Hoekstra, A.Y. 2020. Reduce blue water scarcity and increase nutritional and economic water productivity through changing the cropping pattern in a catchment. Journal of Hydrology. 588. DOI (10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125086).
  • Wöhler, L., Hoekstra, A.Y., Hogeboom, R.J., Brugnach, M., Krol, M.S. 2020. Alternative societal solutions to pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. Journal of Cleaner Production. 277. DOI (10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124350).
  • 2019
  • Brugnach, M., Özerol, G. 2019. Knowledge co-production and transdisciplinarity: Opening Pandora's box. Water Switzerland. 11. (10) DOI (10.3390/w11101997).
  • Leskens, J.G., Brugnach, M., Hoekstra, A. 2019. How do interactive flood simulation models influence decision-making? An observations-based evaluation method. Water Switzerland. 11. (11) DOI (10.3390/w11112427).

Affiliation previous to BC3

Lepenies R, F Hüesker, S Beek and M Brugnach. Discovering the Political Implications of Coproduction in Water Governance. Water, 10 (10):1475 (DOI: 10.3390/W10101475)

Wester SJ, R Grimson, PG Minotti, MJ Booij and M Brugnach. 2018. Hydrodynamic modelling of a tidal delta wetland using an enhanced quasi-2D model. Journal of Hydrology, Volume 559: 315-326

Brugnach M. 2017. The space in between: where multiple ways of knowing in water management meet. Special Issue on Helen Ingram’s contributions to water, environment, and policy scholarship. Journal of the Southwest, 59 (1): 34-59

Warmink J, M Brugnach, J Vinke de Kruijf, R M J Schielen and D C M Augustijn. 2017. Coping with uncertainty in river management: challenges and ways forward. Water Resources Management, 1-14

Giordano R, M Brugnach and I Pluchinotta. 2017. Ambiguity in problem framing as a barrier to collective actions: some hints from groundwater protection policy in the Apulia Region. Group Decision and Negotiation, 1-22

Brugnach M, M Craps and A Dewulf. 2017. Including indigenous peoples in climate change mitigation: addressing issues of scale, knowledge and power. Climatic Change, DOI 10.1007/s10584-014-1280-3

Hassenforder E, M Brugnach, B Cullen, N Ferrand, O Barreteau, KA Daniell and J Pittok. 2016. Managing frame diversity in environmental participatory processes - Example from the Fogera Woreda in Ethiopia. Journal of Environmental Management, 177, 288-297

Leskens JG, M Brugnach and AY Hoekstra. 2014. Application of an Interactive Water Simulation Model in Urban Water Management, a case study in Amsterdam. Water Science and Technology, 70(11)1729-1739

Van den Hoek RE, M Brugnach, JPM Mulder and AY Hoekstra. 2014. Uncovering the origin of ambiguity in nature-inclusive flood infrastructure projects, Ecology and Society, 19(2): 51. http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-06416-190251

Van den Hoek RE, M Brugnach, JPM Mulder, AY Hoekstra. 2014. Analyzing the cascades of uncertainty in flood defense projects: How “not knowing enough” is related to “knowing differently”. Global Environmental Change, 24: 373–388

Leskens JG, M Brugnach, A Hoekstra and W Schuurmans. 2014. Why are decisions in flood disaster management so little supported by information from flood models? Environmental Modelling & Software, 53: 53-61. Best PhD paper of the year 2015 award of the Twente Water Centre

Brugnach M and H Ingram, 2012. Ambiguity: The challenges of knowing and deciding together. Environmental Science and Policy, 15: 60-71

Van den Hoek RE, M Brugnach and AY Hoekstra, 2012. Shifting to ecological engineering in flood management: introducing new uncertainties in the development of a Building with Nature pilot project, Environmental Science and Policy, 22(1): 85-99

Henriksen H-J, P Zorrilla-Miras, A de la Hera, and M Brugnach. 2012. Use of Bayesian networks for dealing with ambiguity in integrated groundwater management. Integrated Environmental Assessments and Management, 8(3): 430-444

Brugnach M, A Dewulf, HJ Henricksen and P van der Keur. 2011. More is not always better: Coping with ambiguity in natural resources management. Journal of Environmental Management, 92(1):78-84

Pahl-Wostl C, P Jeffrey, N Isendahl and M Brugnach. 2011. Maturing the new water management paradigm: Progressing from aspiration to practice. Water Resources Management, 25(3)837-856. DOI: 10.1007/s11269-010-9729-2

Van der Keur P, M Brugnach, A Dewulf, JC Refsgaard, P Zorilla, M Poolman, N Isendahl, GT Raadgever, HJ Henriksen, JJ Warmink, M Lamers and J Mysiak. 2010. Identifying Uncertainty Guidelines for Supporting Policy Making in Water Management Illustrated for Upper Guadiana and Rhine Basins. Water Resource Management, 24(14):3901-3938

Rupp DE, RF Keim, M Ossiander, M Brugnach, and JS Selker. 2009. Time Scale and Intensity Dependency in Multiplicative Cascades for Temporal Rainfall Disaggregation. Water Resour. Res., 45, W07409, doi:10.1029/2008WR007321

Isendahl N, A Dewulf, M Brugnach, G François, S Möllenkamp and C Pahl-Wostl. 2009. Assessing framing of uncertainties in water management practice. Water Resources Management, 23(15): 3191

Hart Q, M Brugnach, B Temesgen, C Rueda, S Ustin, K Frame. 2009. Daily reference evapotranspiration for California using satellite imagery and weather station measurements interpolation. Civil Engineering and Environmental Systems. http: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10286600802003500

Brugnach M, A Dewulf, C Pahl-Wostl and T Taillieu. 2008. Towards a relational concept of uncertainty: about knowing too little, knowing too differently and accepting not to know. Ecology & Society, 13(2). http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol13/iss2/art30

Van der Keur P, HJ Henriksen, JC Refsgaard, M Brugnach, C Pahl-Wostl, A Dewulf and H Buiteveld. 2008. Identification of Major Sources of Uncertainty in Current IWRM Practice Illustrated for the Rhine basin. Water Resources Management, 22:1677–1708. DOI 10.1007/s11269-008-9248-6

Holtz G, M Brugnach and C Pahl-Wostl. 2007. Specifying “Regime” - A Framework for defining and describing Regimes in Transition Research. Technological Forecasting and social change. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625

Brugnach M, A Tagg, F Keil, and W de Lange. 2007. Uncertainty matters: computer models at the science-policy interface. Water Resources Management, 21:1075-1090

Brugnach M, C Pahl-Wostl, KE Lindenschmidt, JAEB Janssen, T Filatova, A Mouton, G Holtz, P van der Keur and N Gaber. 2007. Complexity and uncertainty: rethinking the modelling activity. Environmental Modelling and Software and Decision Support - Developments in Integrated Environmental Assessment (DIEA) - Vol – 3.

Brugnach M. 2005. Process level sensitivity analysis for complex ecological models. Ecological Modelling, 187:99-120

Kittel TGF, NA Rosenbloom, JA Royle, C Daly, WP Gibson, HH Fisher, P Thornton, DN Yates, S Aulenbach, C Kaufman, R McKeown, D Bachelet, DS Schimel, VEMAP2 Participants. 2004. VEMAP Phase 2 bioclimatic database. I. Gridded historical (20th) century climate for modeling ecosystem dynamics across the conterminous USA. Climate Research, 27(2):151-170

Brugnach M, J Bolte and G Bradshaw. 2003. Determining the significance of threshold uncertainty in rule-based classification models. Ecological Modelling, 160:63-76

Bachelet D, M Brugnach and RP Neilson. 1998. Sensitivity of a biogeography model to soil properties. Ecological Modelling, 109:77-98

Affiliation previous to BC3

Brugnach M and H Ingram. 2017. Ways of Knowing and the co-Production of Blended Knowledge. In Science and Scientists in the Contemporary Policy Process: Changing Context, Changing Science and the Challenge of Science Impact, E. Weber, D. Lach and B. Steel. Eds. Oregon State University Press.

Craps M and M Brugnach. 2015. A relational approach to deal with ambiguity in multi-actor governance for sustainability, Management of Natural Resources, Sustainable Development and Ecological Hazards IV, Vol (199), 233 pages. WIT press Publisher.

Dewulf A, M Brugnach, C Termeer and H Ingram. 2013. Bridging knowledge frames and networks in climate and water governance. In Water Governance as Connective Capacity Edelenbos J, Bressers N and P Scholten Eds. Ashgate, ISBN 978-1-4094-4746-7.

Brugnach M and H Ingram. 2012. Rethinking the role of humans in water management: towards a new model of decision-making. In Water, cultural diversity and environmental change: emerging trends, sustainable futures? B Rose Johnston, Editor-in-chief, Springer, ISBN 978-94-007-1773-2.

Brugnach M, P van der Keur, H-J Henriksen and J Mysiak. 2009. Uncertainty in adaptive water management. NeWater Synthesis Product # 2. http://www.newater.info/index.php?pid=1045

Brugnach M, P van der Keur, J Mysiak, H-J Henriksen. 2009. Uncertainty in water management. In The Adaptive Water Resource Management Handbook. Edited by Jaroslav Mysiak, Hans Jørgen Henrikson, Caroline Sullivan, John Bromley and Claudia Pahl-Wostl. Earthscan, pp216. ISBN 9781844077922.

Brugnach M and C Pahl-Wostl. 2007. A broadened view on the role for models in natural resource management: Implications for model development. In Pahl-Wostl C, Kabat P and J Möltgen. 2007. Adaptive and Integrated Water Management. Coping with Complexity and Uncertainty, Springer Verlag, 184-203.

Other Publications

  • 2023
  • Paula Zuluaga-Guerra, Violeta Cabello Villarejo, Paula Novo, Marcela Brugnach, María Mancilla-García, Josune Urrutia Asua. 2023. Ecotono(s): Diálogos compartidos.

Affiliation previous to BC3

Brugnach M. 2016. Knowledge co-production: a new trend in global assessments? September issue of TIAS Newsletter (http://www.tias.uni-osnabrueck.de)

Brugnach M, H Nieße, C Varela and C Pahl-Wostl. Modeling transitions to adaptive management: considering values and beliefs in decision making. 2009. Deliverable of the EU 6th FP NeWater project (www.newater.info).

Dewulf A, G François, M Brugnach, N Isendahl, T Taillieu, C Pahl-Wostl, S Moellenkamp. 2008. The role of uncertainty, ambiguity and framing in transition to adaptive management. About knowing too little, accepting not to know and knowing too differently. Deliverable of the EU 6th FP NeWater project (www.newater.info).

Brugnach M and C Pahl-Wostl. 2007. Putting uncertainty into context: implications of model purpose in dealing with uncertainty. Global Assessments: Bridging Scales and Linking to Policy. GWSP, Issues in Global Water System Research. Report 2: 108-113.

Pahl-Wostl C, P Jeffrey, M Brugnach and J Sendzimir. 2007. Adaptive water management: How to cope with uncertainty. NeWater 6th framework program. Policy Brief. CAIWA International Conference on Adaptive and Integrated Water Management - Coping with Complexity and Uncertainty. Basel, Switzerland.

Brugnach M and C Pahl-Wostl. 2007. Development of a model to analyze transitions to adaptive management regimes: Incorporating the role of humans and culture in decision making. Report on the CoMo model summarizing methods and first results. NeWater 6th framework program, Report D1.7.4a.

Pahl-Wostl C, N Isendahl, S Möllenkamp, M Brugnach, P Jeffrey, W Medema and T Tessa de Vries. Paradigms in water management. NeWater 6th framework program, Report D1.1.2.

Van der Keur P, M Brugnach, C Pahl-Wostl and JC Refsgaard. 2006. The importance of uncertainties and how they are addressed in IWRM. In Framework for adaptive water management regimes and for the transition between regimes. NeWater 6th framework program, Report D 1.7.1.

Hart QJ, M Brugnach and SL Ustin. 2005. Calculation of daily reference evapotranspiration for California using goes satellite measurements and CIMIS weather station interpolation. Technical report, California Department of Water Resources.

BC3 Working Papers & Policy Briefings

The opinions expressed at the information included in the personal web pages of the BC3 researchers, are responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3).







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