Mallika Nocco, assistant professor and extension specialist in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, was selected to receive the 2025 Early Career Award for Extension/Outreach/Engagement from the University Council on Water Resources (UCOWR). She accepted the award during a recognition ceremony at UCOWR’s annual conference on June 4.

UCOWR gives a nice description of Nocco’s contributions and accomplishments in their award announcement:

Dr. Mallika Nocco is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin—Madison. Her areas of expertise are in agrohydrology, irrigation, soil-plant-water conservation, crop water use physiology, soil physical health, and thermal/multispectral aerial imagery for crop water stress evaluation across the United States. She has delivered >80 extension events, produced >100 extension products, and published 25 scientific publications. Mallika is a 2014 EPA STAR Fellow and 2017 David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellow who is passionate about policy-relevant science and communication. She works with growers, policymakers, and water districts to develop irrigation management strategies that balance farm livelihoods, soil health, and water conservation. She is the co-host of the Water Talk Podcast and director of the Conservation Irrigation Lab.