Kyaw Tha Paw U is a Professor of Atmospheric Science and Biometeorologist in the Agricultural Experiment Station, at the University of California, Davis Department of Land, Air and Water Resources. His research and teaching activities have been recognized by international awards. His team of students and other colleagues studies the turbulent exchange of trace gases, heat, radiation, and momentum between vegetation and the atmosphere. The team uses advanced computer simulations and field experiments to determine plant ecosystem carbon uptake, water transpiration, methane and nitrous oxide release, the fluid physics of turbulent air flow, and the effects of vegetation on regional scale weather.  He and his students teach atmospheric science and plant biology courses. 

Paw U is part of the Women’s Resources and Research Center WISE mentoring program.  His past and current social justice and equity activities include being a member and Chair of the UCD and UC Systemwide Affirmative Action and Diversity Committees; membership on the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Equity and Diversity committee, the University of California President’s Taskforce on Faculty Diversity, and the Campus Council on Community and Diversity; and being a co-PI on a Ford Foundation funded Institute for Women’s Leadership (Rutgers University) grant to UCD (Re-affirming Action: Designs for Diversity in Higher Education) resulting in the co-authored report, “Unprecedented urgency: Gender discrimination in faculty hiring at the University of California,” (West, Lokke, Laky, Paw U and Ham).