David Dawson

Profile

I am and associated professor in sustainability and resilience in the School of Earth & Environment (Sustainability Research Institute). I have 17 years experience in the design/integration of climate science, spatial approaches, & assessment appraisal to support policy/decisions on climate adaptation and infrastructure resilience. I am motivated by applied, or impact, driven research & I am committed to supporting the translation of scientific outputs into public/policy areas to improve climate adaptation & sustainability at local/national scales. I have worked closely with UK Government and has helped develop and deliver guidance & response on climate resilience. I am also a member of the BSI Adaptation Standards Committee. At Leeds: I am a member of the water@leeds and the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures 

Prior to being in Earth & Environment (at Leeds), began my research career in Geographical Sciences (Plymouth), then progressed from researcher to independent researcher to lecturer in the School of Civil Engineering (Leeds). I recently moved faculties to the school of Earth & Environment where I continue to work across engineering, environment, & socio-sciences to seek research outputs that support how society can address current and future climate change. A dominant research topic has been flood risk in coastal, and also urban, environments, sustainable approaches to adaptation, and spatial and appraisal methods to support climate adaptation in a local and national context.  

Responsibilities

• Programme Lead: Sustainable Cities (MSc)

Research interests

I work across environmental, engineering, and social science systems with multi-disciplinary teams cumulating in cross-UKRI research experience to over £8 million of research projects: 

Research Grants: 

 

Year	Project	Funder
2023-2025	West Yorkshire (WY) Combined Authority; WY Flood Innovation Programme springboard projects (Accelerator Lead).	WYCA
2021	Strategic Priorities Fund: Yorkshire Infrastructure Adaptation Forum	UKRI
2020	Strategic Priorities Fund: Climate Resilience & Standards: Co-I: providing finance and economic assessment expertise to JBA led consortium. Link.	Met Office
2018-2020	Impact Grant: Applying system-based resilience framework with Leeds City Council & Infrastructure Investment Group	NERC/ iCASP
2016-2020	Urban Flood Resilience in an Uncertain Future: Principal Investigator: Interoperability: EP/P004261/1 http://www.urbanfloodresilience.ac.uk/	EPSRC
2015-2017	TippingPoint/iBUILD Commissions: Engineering & arts collaboration	ESRC/ EPSRC
2015-2018	Early Career Research Fellowship: (ECF/2014/144). Transport Infrastructure Futures	Leverhulme
2014	Department for Transport Secondment; R29834/CN002;	ARCC/ DfT
2013	JSPS-Short-term Fellowship Award: Potential Infrastructure Mining Systems (PIMS), Nagoya & Ritsumeikan University, Japan.	JSPS
2012	Bridging the Gap: Infrastructure Futures. Co-I and lead investigator: consortium generated iBUILD project EP/K012398/1 – I became Leeds’ Centre Research Fellow	EPSRC

Non academic publications: 

• Department for Transport (2014): Government Response to the Transport Resilience Review, Department for Transport, 27 November 2014  
• Invest in railway lines like one at Dawlish before they wash away. The Conversation. Feb 6 2014,
• Your Road, My Street – An alternative map of Meanwood Road (Leeds), Tipping Point / iBUILD commissions (2017)

Media Spotlights:  

• CIHT Transport Professional on Winter Resilience nov/December 2020 (p8). 
• BBC Radio 4: Costing the Earth show: Disrupted Britain February
• The Times - Hundreds of railway lines could be destroyed, p8: 12th February
• The Conversation. Article; Dawlish rail investment. Feb 6.
• The Reporter (Dec 2013) – University of Leeds, Impact Support at Leeds 
• University of Leeds: LUTube – Research Impact at Leeds
• BBC 2 Southwest programme ‘Down the line’ on 30/10/2008.
• Express and Echo (Exeter) news article: 8th March 2008
• BBC Radio Devon News Bulletin: 12th January 2007  

Awards:

• Nominated for a University Partnership Award: Personal Tutor 
• Nominated for a Highly Commended Paper in the Journal of Flood Risk Managements: Outstanding Paper Award. Volume 12, 2019. Interoperability: a conceptual framework to bridge the gap between multi‐functional and multi‐system urban flood management
• International Mobility Award: Internal funds to boost international activity: UKRI/JSPS grant submitted and journal paper produced/accepted (April 2020). 
• University Recognition Reward Scheme: Nominated by Director of Research for contributions to the school (stratergy/IPE). Successfully awarded. 
• Great Western Research impact award: PhD thesis was runner up (one of 13 selected from 103) in the 2012

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working 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

• FHEA
• PhD Geographical Sciences
• BSc (hons) Geography

Professional memberships

• JSPS Alumni
• BSI Adaptation Committee Member (SES/1/7)

Student education

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and have taught sustainability and resilience across the faculties of engineering & environment. My philosophy is to support students to apply their knowledge/understanding/skills to real world challenges; I focus on research-based learning & blended methods of engagement. I also promote external practitioners in programme & modules for realism and career inspiration. I currently lead the MSc Programme on Sustainable Cities, a innovative programme that is taught across the schools of Earth & Environment, Geography, & Institute for Transport Studies.

2023-present

Programme Lead: MSc Sustainable Cities; ENV5008M: Sustainability Research Project - Module Leade;  ENV3030/5040M: Research Projects; TRAN5110M: Railway Operations, Management and Policy; CIVE5338M – Transport Resilience; CIVE5164M Transport Infrastructure Strategy; PGT Personal Tutor

2019-2023 (Civil Engineering)

Programme Lead: Engineering Project Management; CIVE5338M Transport Resilience - Module Leader; CIVE5170M Project Management Research Projects - Module Leader; CIVE5164M Transport Infrastructure Strategy; TRAN5110M Railway Operations, Management, & Policy; CIVE3750/5750M Research Projects; CIVE2080 Transport Planning & Modelling (UK/Southwest Jiatong); CIVE1116: Sustainability & Architecture; Level 1-3 personal tutor; Industrial Placement Tutor

2007-2011 (Geography)

Demonstrating practical lab skills, statistical skills; GIS practical sessions; Coastal Fieldtrip module: coring and GPS surveying; 

 

 

<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>