Our Adaptation and Resilience theme aims to understand how societies and ecosystems can adapt to the impacts of climate change. Adaptation can take many forms, from incremental changes to more transformative shifts that challenge business-as-usual approaches. At the heart of this research is the need to build capacity for coping with uncertainty, responding swiftly, and acting in an informed, sustainable way.
We focus on generating new technologies and policy measures that address the barriers preventing individuals and communities from effectively adapting to climate change. Taking an interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary approach, we bring together diverse academic disciplines to develop solutions that are both innovative, practical and equitable.
Working closely with policymakers, practitioners, businesses, and communities we ensure that our research is grounded in real-world challenges and opportunities. By fostering these partnerships, we aim to strengthen the capacity of individuals and communities to adapt to the changing climate and create more resilient, sustainable futures.
Through our research, we hope to make a meaningful impact on the ways in which adaptation strategies are developed and implemented, fostering a more equitable and resilient societies at the national and global levels.
Meet our BISCA Affiliates who are working within this theme.
Associate Professor of Glaciology
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Staff profile for Dr Nicholas Barrand, Lecturer in Geosciences. Nick is a glaciologist, specialising in mass balance and dynamics of the Earth's glaciers and ice sheets.
Assistant Professor of Environmental Economics
Dr Allan Beltran joined the Department of Economics in September 2018 as a Lecturer in Environmental Economics. Research interests include environmental economics and the economics of climate change.
Reader in Managerial Economics
Sami Benassi is a Reader in Managerial Economics at Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham.
Assistant Professor in Responsible Business & Sustainability
Dr Nana Osei Bonsu is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for Responsible Business at Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham.
Associate Professor in Applied Geoscience
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Profile page of Dr Jon Carey, Associate Professor in Applied Geoscience
Associate Professor
Caroline Chapain is an Associate Professor and senior tutor at Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham.
Assistant Professor in Atmospheric Science
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Staff profile for Dr Ying Chen, Assistant Professor in Atmospheric Science
Assistant Professor
Department of Public Administration and Policy
May Chu, Institute of Local Government Studies, School of Government, University of Birmingham
Reader in Political Geography
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Staff profile for Dr Julian Clark, Senior Lecturer in Geography at the University of Birmingham and Research Theme Lead for Human Geography. His research focuses upon the state, and the governance of natural resources.
Professor of Economics
Robert J R Elliott is a Professor of Economics at Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham
Birmingham Professorial Fellow
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Vincent Gauci
Lecturer in Atmospheric Sciences
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Dr Ruth Geen is an atmospheric dynamicist at the University of Birmingham. Her research aims to increase confidence in projections of future regional climate.
Associate Professor
School of Biosciences
Dr Scott Glaberman integrates evolution, physiology, and molecular biology to investigate how organisms respond to environmental stressors
Teaching Fellow in Urban and Regional Planning
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Profile for Dr Charles Goode, Teaching Fellow in Planning and Geography at the University of Birmingham
Assistant Professor in Hydrology and Water Resources
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Dr Shasha Han is a Lecturer in Physical Geography (Hydrology and Water Resources) in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham.
Professor of Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Judaism
Department of Theology and Religion
Biographical and contact information for Professor Charlotte Hempel in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham.
Research Fellow
Staff profile for Dr David Jaroszweski, Research Fellow in the School of Metallurgy and Materials. .
Professor of Languages, Cultures and Societies
Department of Modern Languages
Biographical and contact information for Professor Sara Jones in the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Birmingham
Assistant Professor in Arabic Cultural Studies.
The academic profile of Dr Niveen Kaseem, University of Birmingham Dubai
Senior Lecturer in Theological Ethics
Department of Theology and Religion
Biographical and contact information for Dr Jeremy Kidwell, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theology and Religion, University of Birmingham.
Chair in Regional Economic Development
Professor Fumi Kitagawa holds Chair in Regional Economic Development at City Region Economic and Development Institute (City-REDI), Birmingham, Business School, University of Birmingham
Professor of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Professor Dr Stefan Krause, Professor of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry. His is investigating the impact of global environmental change on hydrological fluxes, biogeochemical cycling & ecohydrological feedback function
Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Dr Endrit Kromidha is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham.
Associate Professor in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
College of Medicine and Health
Dr Alan M Jones, Associate Professor in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the the University of Birmingham.
Professor of Meteorology and Climatology
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Prof Gregor Leckebusch is an internationally foremost experts in the field of linking natural science research on meteorological and climatological extreme events.
Professor of Theatre and Performance
Department of Drama and Theatre Arts
Biographical and contact details for Dr Adam Ledger, Professor of Theatre and Performance, at the University of Birmingham.
Senior Fellow with the Birmingham Leadership Institute
Department of Public Administration and Policy
Staff profile for Dr Rachel Lilley, research fellow at the Centre of Urban Wellbeing.
Professor of Electroacoustic Composition and Practice
Department of Music
Biographical and contact information for Professor Annie Mahtani, Professor of Electroacoustic Composition and Practice at the University of Birmingham.
Professor in Collaborative Education
School of Biosciences
Professor Julia Myatt's research interests include morphology-behaviour-habitat interfaces in non-human great apes and the collective behaviour of group-living animals
Associate Professor in Strategy and International Business
Knut is an Associate Professor in Strategy and International Business at Birmingham Business School at the University of Birmingham.
Professor of Environment and Development
International Development Department
Fiona Nunan is a Professor of Environment and Development at the University of Birmingham
Professor of Evolutionary Systems Biology and Environmental Omics
School of Biosciences
Dr Orsini applies high throughput sequencing technologies and AI to understand the impact of environmental change on freshwater ecosystems.
Professor of Atmospheric Science
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Staff profile for Professor Francis Pope. Francis is an environmental scientist with wide ranging interests in the atmospheric sciences, human health and sustainable cities. University of Birmingham
Professor of Indigenous and Environmental History
Department of History
Biographical and contact information for Professor Joy Porter, Professor of Indigenous and Environmental History at the University of Birmingham.
Professor in History
Department of History
Biographical and contact information for Professor Charles Prior, Department of History, University of Birmingham.
Professor in Energy Systems and Policy
Staff profile for Professor Jonathan Radcliffe, University of Birmingham
Research Fellow
Dr Juliane Schwarz, Research Fellow in Birmingham Business School at the University of Birmingham.
Lecturer in Water Engineering
Dr Soroosh Sharifi's staff profile. Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham
Associate Professor in History of Energy and Environmental Humanities
Department of History
Biographical and contact information for Dr Hiroki Shin, Associate Professor in History of Energy and Environmental Humanities at the University of Birmingham.
Associate Professor in Strategy and International Business
Dr Veselina Stoyanova is an Associate Professor in Strategy and International Business in the Department of Strategy & Intenational Business, Birmingham Business School.
Professor of Zoology
School of Biosciences
Professor Thorpe's expertise lies in ecmorphology. Her research is about understanding how organisms get built, consequences of their design, interactions with other species, and patterns of evolution.
Associate Professor of Transformative Technologies, Innovation and Global Affairs
Department of Political Science and International Studies
Dr. Martin Wählisch's work explores how emerging technologies and futures thinking can advance international relations, enhance peace processes, and drive sustainable development.
Professor of Energy
Profile of Professor Sara Walker, Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham
Research Fellow in Water Sciences
Dr James Christopher White is a global leader in guiding ecologically sustainable water management operations and river management solutions.
Associate Professor
School of Social Policy
Mary joined the University of Birmingham as a 125th Anniversary Fellow and Associate Professor of International Social Policy in 2024
Chair in Operations Management
Yufeng Zhang is a Chair in Operations Management at Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham.
Reader in Railway and Civil Engineering
Profile of Dr Sakdirat Kaewunruen, Civil Engineering at the University of Birmingham
MTC Manufacturing Futures Fellow
Profile of Dr Shoaib Sarfraz, Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham
Assistant Professor in Whole Energy Systems Analysis
Staff profile for Dr Neha Mehta.
Teaching and Research Fellow
Staff profile of Dr Kylee Goode, Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham
Assistant Professor
Profile for Dr Omid Doustdar, Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham
Professor of Environmental Law
Birmingham Law School
Academic profile of Dr Aleks Cavoski, Senior Lecturer at Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham
Co-Director of the Centre for Responsible Business
Caroline Moraes is Professor of Marketing and Consumer Research at Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, UK.
MTC Manufacturing Futures Fellow
Profile of Dr Natanael Bolson, Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham
Research Fellow
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Dr Peng Zhang is an environmental scientists and toxicologist who has multidisciplinary expertise including environmental chemistry, toxicology, and material science.
Professor of Biogeochemistry
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Staff profile for Dr Sami Ullah, Senior Lecturer in Biogeochemistry and Physical Geography in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham.
Professor in Economics
Professor James Rockey is a Senior Lecturer in Economics in Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, UK.
Professor of Sustainable Polymer Chemistry
Staff profile for Andrew Dove, Professor in Chemistry at the University of Birmingham.
MTC Manufacturing Futures Fellow
Dr Edward Cant is an MTC Manufacturing Futures Fellow in the Sustainable Manufacturing Group, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham
Associate Professor
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Staff profile for Dr Mike Cassidy, Associate Professor in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham.
Assistant Professor in Paleobiology
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Shan is a macroecologist interested in understanding broad-scale biodiversity dynamics in space and time, particularly about the role of history in shaping the biota.
Professor of Sustainable Transport
Staff page for Professor Simon Blainey of the University of Birmingham Department of Civil Engineering, and Director of BCRRE.
Assistant Professor
Biographical and contact information for Dr Louis Dawson, Assistant Professor at Birmingham Law School in the University of Birmingham.
Associate Professor
Staff profile for Dr Xinfang Wang at the University of Birmingham
