1. Faculty of Environment
  2. School of Earth and Environment
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Dr C. Scott Watson

Dr C. Scott Watson

Profile

I am a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow leading the project: Glacial Lake Observatory for Flood Hazards Impacted by Changing Climate (GLO-FHICC). I investigate lake development processes, glacier change, and glacier-related flood hazards to enhance disaster preparedness and increase water security across High-Mountain Asia. The project integrates satellite data, numerical modelling, and fieldwork to provide the foundations for systematic and open access glacial lake monitoring.

Previous posts include:

  • 2019-2024: Centre for Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics (COMET) Research Fellow in Earth Observation and Geoinformatics. University of Leeds, UK. Leading the analysis of earth observation data for the GCRF Urban Disaster Risk Hub ‘Tomorrow’s Cities’. I also supported COMET’s national capability science on natural hazards and web-based tools for data dissemination and analysis.
  • 2017-2019: Research Scientist. University of Arizona, USA. Earth observation and field-based research supporting two NASA High Mountain Asia projects investigating glacial lakes and landslide hazards.
  • 2017: GIS and modelling consultant for the United Nations Development Programme’s Safeguarding lives and livelihoods against flood and GLOF risks in Nepal.

Research interests

  • Glacier mass loss and glacial lake development. As glaciers disappear, thousands of glacial lakes are forming. Yet their location in high-altitude and logistically challenging environments means observations are sparse, including essential measurements of water storage and potential hazard.
  • Fieldwork: I co-developed the Guidelines for Safe, Inclusive and Equitable Research Fieldwork and code of conduct. I have led and supported seven field trips to mountainous regions in Nepal and collaborated with researchers in the Nepal Development Research Institute, Practical Action, and the National Society for Earthquake Technology.
  •  Interdisciplinary research: I have led interdisciplinary teams to develop methods using satellite data to identify disaster risk reduction strategies for urban planning. This includes work on greenspaces, the generation and analysis of high-resolution topography, and flood hazard modelling.

PhD and Master's by Research (MRes) Supervision
I welcome PhD and Master's by Research (MRes) applications, including those self-funding and from overseas (international) in the following areas:

  • Glacial lakes
  • Glacial lake outburst floods
  • Flood hazard modelling
  • Glacier geomorphology and mass balance
  • Generation and analysis of high resolution topography
  • Earth observation applications for disaster risk reduction
<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Some research projects I'm currently working on, or have worked on, will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • PhD, University of Leeds
  • MSc, River Basin Dynamics and Management with GIS, University of Leeds
  • BSc, Geography, University of Leeds

Professional memberships

  • Mountain Training - Mountain Leader, Climbing Instructor
  • Paddle UK - Paddlesport Safety and Rescue, Paddlesport Leader (training)
  • Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr) - CMI
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • British Society for Geomorphology

Student education

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Research groups and institutes

  • River Basin Processes and Management
  • water@leeds
<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>