Emeritus Professor Chris Baker CEng, FICE, FIHT, FHEA, FRMetS

Chris Baker

School of Engineering

Contact details

Address
Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education
Gisbert Kapp Building
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Chris Baker graduated from his doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge, before beginning a Research Fellowship there at St Catharine’s College and the Department of Engineering. In the early 1980s he worked in the Aerodynamics Unit of British Rail Research in Derby, before moving to an academic position in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Nottingham.

He remained there till 1998 where he was a lecturer, reader and professor with research interests in vehicle aerodynamics, wind engineering, environmental fluid mechanics and agricultural aerodynamics. In 1998 he moved to the University of Birmingham as Professor of Environmental Fluid Mechanics in the School of Civil Engineering.

In the early years of the present century he was Director of Teaching in the newly formed School of Engineering and Deputy Head of School. From 2003 to 2008 he was Head of Civil Engineering and in 2008 served for a short time as Acting Head of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. He was the Director of the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education 2005-2014. He undertook a 30% secondment to the Transport Systems Catapult Centre in Milton Keynes, as Science Director from 2014 to 2016. He retired at the end of 2017 and took up an Emeritus position.

Qualifications

  • Certificate in Theological and Pastoral Studies, University of Nottingham, 1988
  • PhD, University of Cambridge, 1978
  • MA, University of Cambridge, 1978
  • BA Engineering, 1st Class with distinction, St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge, 1975

Teaching

Teaching Programmes – on Civil Engineering programmes

Prof Baker has no current teaching duties. In the past he has lectured on all aspects of Civil engineering Fluid Mechanics to both undergraduates and postgraduates, as well as delivering courses in Wind Engineering and aspects of Railway Engineering.

Postgraduate supervision

To find the PhD students supervised by Professor Baker during his career, please visit his PhD Students Document [PDF], together with links to their theses where available.

Research

Research themes

  • Transport and Climate Change 
  • Vehicle Aerodynamics 
  • Wind Engineering 
  • Agricultural Aerodynamics 
  • Environmental Fluid Mechanics

The research grants awarded to Professor Baker during his career are listed in the Research Grants Document [PDF], including grants from research councils, the EU, industry and other bodies. A full list of students can be found in the Research Students Document [PDF].

Professor Baker’s research presentations, invited seminars and keynote lectures can be found within the Presentations Document [PDF]. If copies are required, please contact him directly on c.j.baker@bham.ac.uk.

Other activities

Prof Baker’s activities in reviewing, research assessment, higher degree examination, conference organisation and on various committees can be found listed within his Other Activities Document [PDF].

Publications

Professor Baker’s paper and report output can be found at the links below. Where possible, links are given to online sources. If copies are required for personal use, please contact him at c.j.baker@bham.ac.uk.

Journal Papers [PDF]

Conference Papers [PDF]

Reports and Other Writings [PDF]

View all publications in research portal