David Feldman is a Professor of Urban Planning and Public Policy and Political Science at the University of California, Irvine and the Director of Water UCI. Located in the School of Social Ecology, Water UCI connects researchers, educators, government and the water industry to advance policy solutions to critical water problems facing the state, nation, and world.

Feldman specializes in water resources management and policy, global climate change policy, ethics and environmental decisions, adaptive management, and sustainable development. His current research is focused on the sources of value conflicts over allocation and distribution of water, and the difficulties in achieving institutional reform to promote equity in water management in the U.S. and elsewhere.