I am currently the Head of the School of Natural and Built Environment, and a Professor of Hydraulics and Water Engineering.  Water is the key to life: too much of it (floods) and humanity struggles to survive, too little of it (droughts) and we die.  I have accumulated over 30 years of experience in research, developing and delivering teaching across all aspects of Civil Engineering hydraulics.   I have a track record of research funding from the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC), EU FP7, Innovate UK and Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).  I currently lead on EPSRC funded research on saline intrusion (SI) into potable freshwater coastal aquifers.  With the increase in global population, and the shift of communities to coastal zones,  a shortage of water exists in many areas and prevention of salt contamination will directly address the global challenge of water supply.  My research is aimed at delivering methodologies and technologies to prevent contamination from occurring and is fundamental to the health and economy of many countries on the DAC list of ODA recipients, some of whom are collaborators on SI research.

My research encompasses the major areas of water research that impacts humanity.  The provision of fresh potable water to many growing coastal communities is essential for the preservation of life.  My work on Saline Intrusion into freshwater coastal aquifer addresses this fundamental problem.  The research that I undertake into flooding and flood damage, directly links to the development of Sustainable Drainage Schemes (SuDS) and to scour protection for the bridges that form the backbone of our transport infrastructure. I hold research funning in all these areas ranging from EPSRC to industrially sponsored KTP programmes. I have published extensively in the major journals in my field, hold and have held editorial panel membership for several journals and am currently academic advisor to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.  I currently supervise 6 PhD students, four as first supervisor, three research staff and have supervised 22 previously successful PhD students.

As past Director of Education for Civil Engineering, and then for the School of Natural and Built Environment, I have extensive experience of both the delivery of teaching, the planning and accreditation of programmes and the development of innovations to improve the student’s educational experience.  I have taught at both UG and PGT levels on all aspects of Civil Engineering hydraulics and water engineering.  I have supervised design teams at stage 3 and 4 of our UG course and shared my research experience with students at both UG project and MSc dissertation levels.  I commissioned and developed the first learning glass studio (with picture in picture facilities) at QUB, an innovation in teaching that is being used by staff and that will be rolled out to students. I always seek to embrace teaching innovation and continue to work to make sure the student experience at Queens is second to none.