David Dawson

Profile

David is an Associate Professor in Sustainability and Resilience in the School of Earth, Environment & Sustainability, based in the Sustainability Research Institute. His work brings together climate science, spatial analysis and decision-support tools to help governments and organisations respond to climate change and build more resilient futures. With over 17 years’ experience, David specialises in developing practical, evidence-based approaches that support climate adaptation and long-term resilience. He is particularly passionate about applied, impact-driven research, and about translating scientific insights into clear, actionable guidance for policy and practice at local and national levels. He holds a PhD and first class (hons) in Geography (University of Plymouth & University of Liverpool respectively), and is an Associate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers (AMICE).

He has worked closely with the UK Government, contributing to the development of guidance and responses on climate resilience, and recently co-led the methodology of the UK’s 4^th Climate Change Risk Assessment.

At the University of Leeds, he is an active member of the Climate Change Adaptation, Vulnerability & Services research group, water@leeds and the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures, collaborating with colleagues to address pressing societal challenges.

Potential PhD applicants from around the world: Please contact me if you have already secured, or will be able to secure, an international scholarship to come to the UK to study and are interested in undertaking a PhD in one or more topics including: climate risk assessments, adaptation economics, flood/heat risks assessments, cascading risks, adaptation pathways, and infrastructure resilience. I am happy to speak with you about supervising your PhD and to discuss and design a suitable project with you. If you are eligible to apply for a CSC (China Scholarship Council) or Commonwealth Scholarship, I can help you apply.

Potential Postdoctoral researchers. If you have completed your PhD or are nearing it’s completion, I am happy to speak with you about writing a Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship application.

Responsibilities

• Programme Lead: Sustainable Cities (MSc)

Research interests

David has worked across environmental, engineering, and social science systems with multi-disciplinary teams cumulating in cross-UKRI research experience to over £8 million of research projects. David’s work spans interdisciplinary collaborations supported by EPSRC, ESRC, NERC and Leverhulme, with roles ranging from Principal Investigator to Co‑Investigator, and includes international fellowships and policy secondments.

He has led and contributed to a diverse portfolio of funded research and innovation projects focused on climate resilience and infrastructure adaptation. This includes leading/contributing to regional initiatives such as the West Yorkshire Flood Innovation Programme, UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund projects, and delivering applied impact research with partners including local authorities, the Met Office and national government.

Qualifications

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

Professional memberships

• JSPS Alumni
• BSI Adaptation Committee Member (SES/1/7)
• Institute of Civil Engineers (Associate Member)

Student education

David is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy with extensive teaching experience across engineering and environmental disciplines. His approach focuses on helping students apply their knowledge and skills to real-world challenges through research-led teaching, blended learning, and engagement with external practitioners to enhance career relevance. He currently lead the MSc Sustainable Cities programme, an interdisciplinary degree delivered across the Schools of Earth, Environment & Sustainability, Geography, and the Institute for Transport Studies, alongside teaching modules in transport, infrastructure resilience, and sustainability.