Rachel is a Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Geography and Environment with an interest in river geomorphology and flood risk. Prior to beginning her PhD, she worked for many years as a fluvial ecologist, working closely with hydrogeomorphologists and river engineers to manage flood risk across Northern England and the East Midlands. She has also played an active role responding to live flood events.
Rachel read Geography (BSc) at Durham University and Ecological Consultancy (MSc) at Newcastle University.
Innovative geomorphic approaches to support better management of flood risk and ecosystem health
PGR Supervisors: Dr. Edwin Baynes (Loughborough University), Dr. Tim Marjoribanks (Loughborough University), Dr. Richard Jeffries (Environment Agency), Dr. Fiona Caithness (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency)
River systems are being put under increased strain from environmental and anthropogenic pressures. Increased development located on floodplains, and more extreme weather events due to climate change, are significantly changing river responsiveness and a community’s resilience to flood events. Rachel’s project will use existing literature, datasets and maps to better understand the interactions between river geomorphology and catchment pressures.
Her research will determine to what extent changes to a river’s geomorphology could be used as a means of managing flood risk. This is a FLOOD-CDT project.