Diego
Sesma Martín

At the end of 2015, I was granted an FPI predoctoral fellowship by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness to conduct doctoral research in Economics at the Public University of Navarre. My doctoral research included international research stays at Lund University (Sweden) in 2017 and at the Water and Environment Documentation Center of Zaragoza (Spain) in 2018. I obtained my PhD in Economics with international recognition in 2019, presenting a thesis structured as a compendium of research articles. The dissertation quantifies the water footprint of the Spanish thermoelectric sector in the second half of the 20th century, a topic of special relevance given that Spain is considered the most arid country in Europe and we are in a current context of climate change and energy transition. The first paper was published in Water Policy (Q4, JCR), the official journal of the World Water Council. The second paper appeared in Ecological Economics (Q1, JCR, first decile in the “Economics” category), and the third one in Water (Q2, JCR). In addition to these papers, I have published seven other research articles in JCR indexed journals and two book chapters (another book chapter forthcoming 2025). My postdoctoral training included a research stay at the University of Twente in the Netherlands and a subsequent fellowship with the "History and Economics" research group at the Public University of Navarre. I have presented my research in more than 20 national and international conferences and I have participated in several research projects funded by institutions such as the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (HAR2014-53825-R, HAR2017-86086-R), the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (PID2023-146159OB-I00) and the Government of La Rioja (Afianza 2023/07). Additionally, I have actively contributed to academic events, being part of the scientific and organizing committees of the Workshop de Jóvenes Investigadores en Economía y Empresa (2018, 2021, 2024) and co-organizing the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Symposium (2019-2024). In addition, I have acted as guest editor for two special issues of the Water journal and served as a reviewer for high-impact journals such as Water Resources and Economics, Science of the Total Environment, The Energy Journal, and Water, among others. I have carried out knowledge transfer and dissemination activities, including participation in an OTRI contract for the creation of a database, digitization and mapping of the Inventory of Small Hydroelectric Power Plants of Navarre (OTRI 2018 903 109). This work was commissioned by the Government of Navarre. I have also been an invited speaker at public outreach events such as the World Water Day, organized by the Water and Environment Documentation Center of Zaragoza (2019). My contributions to science communication include collaborations with platforms such as The Conversation, Global Water Forum, Traductor de Ciencia, iAgua Magazine, RETEMA: Revista Técnica de Medio Ambiente, and De qué vais? #LosEconomistas. As a co-organizer of workshops and conferences, I have provided platforms for knowledge sharing and professional growth. My editorial activities, including guest editor roles and peer review, have further enhanced my contributions to the academic community. I have consistently worked to bridge the gap between science and society, raising awareness of the interconnections between water and energy. My interdisciplinary approach and international collaborations have strengthened my ability to effectively address complex global challenges. I am currently co-directing a doctoral thesis, aimed at fostering the training of young researchers and contributing to their professional development.