Dr Christopher White

Reader

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Personal statement

Dr Chris White is an Associate Dean for Postgraduate Research and the Head of the Centre for Water, Environment, Sustainability and Public Health at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. The Centre undertakes fundamental and applied research that provides novel solutions to some of the most pressing global environmental challenges, including net zero and the circular economy, renewable energy, water and waste, environmental health, and climate resilience.

As a Reader (Associate Professor), he leads the Engineering for Extremes research group that focuses on improving the understanding of extreme weather events and hydro-meteorological hazards such as floods and droughts, focused on complex multi-hazard interactions and cross-sectoral cascading physical and societal impacts in a changing climate.

His research interests are cross-disciplinary, including the emerging fields of multi-hazard risks, compound events and cascading impacts, impact-based forecasting, the application of climate services for improved decision-making and climate resilience, and the prediction and application of predictions on extended-range subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) and climatic timescales.

He leads several projects including the multi-hazard interactions and cascading impacts work package of the MEDiate (‘Multi-hazard and risk-informed system for enhanced local and regional disaster risk management’) project, funded by the Horizon Europe programme of the European Commission. He was also on the Management Committee of the recent European COST Action CA17109 on compound events. He also co-leads the applications sub-project of the World Meteorological Organization’s WWRP/WCRP S2S Prediction Project.

**I have a fully-funded PhD under my supervision open for applications!!**

Title: Nature-based solutions for water resilience: enabling improved water management in Scotland's rural communities (Hydro Nation Scholars Programme)

Summary: This interdisciplinary PhD, funded through the Scottish Government's Hydro Nation Scholars Programme, will work with rural communities in Scotland to develop innovative, nature-based solutions to address the interconnected water resilience challenges of flood and drought in a changing climate. The PhD will examine how targeted support and action research linked to a community of place in rural Scotland can facilitate inclusive nature-based solutions that tackles the multiple water-related risks. The Scholar will work collaboratively to develop innovative, nature-based solutions this dual challenge.

Applications close 10 January 2024!

For further information, including how to apply, please view the advert: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/hydro-nation-scholars-programme-2024-nature-based-solutions-for-water-resilience-enabling-improved-water-management-in-scotland-s-rural-communities/?p164772

If you have any questions, please get in touch with me directly.

Expertise

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Prize And Awards

Resilient Australia Awards: State (Tasmania) 'Commendation' - Tasmanian State Natural Disaster Risk Assessment: Recipient; 2016
Churchill Fellowship: Recipient; 2013
Resilient Australia Awards: National 'Winner' - Climate Futures for Tasmania: Recipient; 2012

More prizes and awards

Publications

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Publications

Reclassifying historical disasters : from single to multi-hazards: Lee Ryan, White Christopher J, Adnan Mohammed Sarfaraz Gani, Douglas John, Mahecha Miguel D, O'Loughlin Fiachra E, Patelli Edoardo, Ramos Alexandre M, Roberts Matthew J, Martius Olivia, Tubaldi Enrico, van den Hurk Bart, Ward Philip J, Zscheischler Jakob; Science of the Total Environment Vol 912 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169120
Reviewing the UK's exploited hydropower resource (onshore and offshore): Kennedy Claire, Bertram Doug, White Christopher J; Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews Vol 189 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113966
Compounding heatwave-extreme rainfall events driven by fronts, high moisture, and atmospheric instability: Sauter Christoph, Catto Jennifer L, Fowler Hayley J, Westra Seth, White Christopher J; Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Vol 128 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1029/2023jd038761
This is the world's hottest autumn on record - and it's impacting the climate system and human society: McGrane Scott, White Christopher J; (2023)
Integrated framework for hydrologic modelling in data-sparse watersheds and climate change impact on projected green and blue water sustainability: Lawal I M, Bertram D, White C J, Jagaba A H; Frontiers in Environmental Sciences Vol 11 (2023); https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1233216
Application of Boruta algorithms as a robust methodology for performance evaluation of CMIP6 general circulation models for hydro- climatic studies: Lawal I M, Bertram D, White C J, Kutty S R M, Hassan I, Jagaba A H; Theoretical and Applied Climatology Vol 153, pp. 113-135 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-023-04466-5

More publications

Teaching

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Teaching

Modules taught:

Hydraulics and Hydrology (CL216)
Water Engineering 1 (CL315)
Water Engineering 2 (CL420)

Research

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Research Interests

My research focuses on natural hazards (including floods, droughts and heatwaves), surface water hydrology and resources, risk management and climate change resilience. I specialise in understanding natural hazards and risk from both physical causative and impacts perspectives, centred on the understanding, modelling and prediction of extreme weather events (in particular, hydrological prediction) on both the extended-range 'subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S)' (e.g. weeks to months) and climate timescales (e.g. up to the end of the century) using regional high-resolution and global climate projections.

Much of my research involves working with end-users to make climate, weather and natural hazards science and information more usable though the exploration of improved applications, communication and promotion of appropriate risk information in support of resource management, emergency management and disaster risk reduction activities.

I am always keen to talk to potential students, collaborators and industry partners about future projects and opportunities.