What drew you to the law?
I have always been fascinated by the structures and mechanisms that law and policy can create for societies, especially as they apply to people and the natural environment. At the same time, I was frustrated with many of the existing processes and legal outcomes, as they appeared devoid of scientific foundation or logic. Having a science background, I saw an opportunity to enter the law and become engaged in reshaping existing paradigms and building new ones that were more balanced and responsive to the needs of people and the environment, and also that incorporated scientific knowledge in decision-making.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
The most enjoyable part of teaching is the interactions and collaborations I have with my students. While they may not always know the law, they often have a sense of wrong and right that is tied to creativity of new ideas and approaches. And it’s that creativity that energizes me to teach as well as to learn from my students.
What do you hope students gain from your courses?
The law is not static. It’s a dynamic tool that must be wielded and applied with great care and respect. However, it is also a mechanism that constantly must be reexamined, revised and occasionally discarded in response to changing needs and circumstances.
What did you do prior to entering academia?
I first worked as a trial attorney, primarily on toxic tort and asbestos cases. Thereafter, I served as in-house counsel for a trade association representing the pesticide and crop science industry. Throughout, I consulted on global water and environmental issues to various international organizations.
What are you passionate about outside of the law?
Spending time with my family, traveling and exploring new places, and Middle East politics, especially those involving Israel (where I was born).
What are your research interests?
My research interests broadly address water and environmental issues. Most recently, I have been exploring pharmaceutical contamination of fresh water supplies, climate change implications for global water resources and international law for transboundary ground water resources.
Professor Gabriel Eckstein served as a legal commentator at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences Seminar on the Human Right to Water held at the Vatican.
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