Benjamin J. Wallis
- Position: Research Fellow
- Areas of expertise: Remote sensing; synthetic aperture radar; ice-ocean interactions; ice sheets; ice dynamics; Antarctica
- Email: B.J.Wallis@leeds.ac.uk
- Website: Googlescholar | ORCID
Profile
I am a Research Fellow in the Satellite Ice Dynamics research group at the School of Earth and Environment’s Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science.
I completed my PhD at the University of Leeds in 2024, with the thesis title: Patterns and drivers of ice dynamic variability on the Antarctic Peninsula from satellite data and deep learning. Prior to this, I graduated in 2017 with MPhys Physics from the University of Oxford, where I specialised in Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Physics and before commencing my PhD I worked for three years in the S&T sector, primarily working on maritime science and remote sensing.
My research focusses on using satellite data to study the evolution and causes of ice dynamic change in Antarctica. I have a particular interest in the Antarctic Peninsula, one of the most rapidly changing regions of the Cryosphere, and the ice-ocean interactions which drive change here.
Another component of my research is to work collaboratively between the School of Computing and the School of Earth and Environment to develop applications of AI and machine learning techniques to Earth observation glaciology. My experience in this area includes a 1-year placement on the Alan Turing Institiute’s PhD Enrichment Scheme in 2021. By applying these methods to synthetic aperture radar and other satellite datasets I aim to improve measurements of ice velocity and mass balance, informing predictions of sea-level rises and the climate impact of a changing cryosphere.
Alongside my research, I take a keen interest in the science-policy interface. This includes a placement on the UKRI Policy Internship scheme at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero from August to December 2023. In this role, I supported the UK government’s engagement with the climate science research community and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Research interests
- Remote sensing of the cryosphere
- AI, Machine Learning and data science
- The Antarctic Ice Sheet
- Mass balance and ice velocity
- Ice-ocean interactions
- Syntheic aperture radar