Ruth Williams
- Email: kbcf0548@leeds.ac.uk
- Thesis title: Modelling Climate Adaptation Futures in the Arctic
- Supervisors: Professor James D. Ford, Dr Nick Malleson, Dr Ishfaq Malik
Profile
I am a PGR in the Ecology and Global Change research group, working on the ETHNO-CLIM project funded by an ERC Advanced Grant. My research examines how climate change impacts informal trail use in Arctic Canada and evaluates the effectiveness of adaptation strategies. These trail networks are essential to communities for accessing hunting grounds, community connectivity and the preservation of cultural heritage. A key component of this work will be developing an agent-based model to assess how different adaptation strategies can offset increasing travel risks under varying climate scenarios for different trail users. This research involves an ethnographic approach, working with local communities to integrate Indigenous Knowledge with scientific approaches.
Prior to my PhD, I graduated with a BSc in Geography from Durham University which included a year abroad studying at the University of Calgary, Canada.
Research interests
- Polar Regions
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Risk Management
- Indigenous Communities
- Sea Ice
- System Modelling and Remote Sensing
Qualifications
- BSc Geography, Durham University