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Kate Donovan

DR

 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7360-4556

Personal profile

Biography

I am a Senior Lecturer in Climate Risk and Resilience and a UKRI Policy Fellow on secondment to the UK Govt Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (2026-2027). I am the Policy Director for ClimateXchange. CXC is Scottish Government's Centre of Expertise for climate change research for policy making. Between 2024-2026 I was Co-Director of the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute.

I have worked as an applied researcher, project manager and practitioner in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) within the UK and internationally.

I used to work for NIWA in New Zealand in hazard and risk research, and prior to that I worked for CAFOD as a DRR advisor. I like to work collaboratively and welcome the opportunity to share knowledge with others.

My broad research interests cover a range of DRR and CCA topics including risk assessment methods and tools for decision makers; disasters and culture; indigenous knowledge; social vulnerability and capacity; Resilience frameworks/measurement; science communication and knowledge exchange.

I am also a member of Scottish Scientific Advisory Committee and UK Allience for Disaster Research. 

Websites

Google Scholar Research page

Edinburgh Climate Change Institute - Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) (edinburghcentre.org)

The Scottish Science Advisory Council | The Scottish Science Advisory Council

UKADR  - Member of steering group, check out our annual conference!

Check out my research blog on cultural heritage and climate change adaptation: https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/climate_culture/

Teaching

I teach Master's level courses on climate change and supervise a range of dissertations throughout the academic year. I also supervise MRes students and PhD students.

Current projects examine the role of science and research for Disaster Risk Reduction policy making, as well as mechanisms to consider Climate Change Adaptation and DRR together. I am also involved in research that examines the role of cultural hertiage for CCA and DRR. 

Current Research Interests

Adaptation (how we can accelerate adaptation and ensure widespread uptake)

Cultural Heritage and Climate Change Adaptation

Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment and Reduction

 

Education/Academic qualification

GeoSciences, Doctor of Science, Cultural Responses to Volcanic Hazards in Indonesia, University of Plymouth

Award Date: 1 Jan 2010

Geophysical Hazards, Master in Science, University College London

Award Date: 1 Sept 2006

Geological Hazards, Bachelor of Science, University of Portsmouth

Award Date: 30 Jun 2005

External positions

Member, Scottish Science Advisory Committee

Member of UKADR Steering Committee, UKADR, UK Alliance for Disaster Research

External Examiner, University College London

Keywords

  • G Geography (General)
  • Climate change
  • Cultural Heritage
  • Adaptation
  • Resilience
  • Risk
  • Energy
  • Disaster Risk Reduction
  • Policy
  • Evidence Synthesis

Research Themes and Networks

  • College of Science and Engineering Research Themes

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