Professor Dave Reay (FRSGS, SFHEA, FEAUC)

Chair in Carbon Management & Education

Biography

Background

Professor David Reay is Chair in Carbon Management and Education in the School of Geosciences at the University of Edinburgh. David's national and international contributions to climate action and education have been recognised by the University of Edinburgh through the award of the University's highest recognition of sustained contributions to teaching - the Chancellor's Award for Teaching. His contributions to climate education have also been recognised with the award of Senior Fellow of the HEA and being appointed as a Fellow of the EAUC. For his work on national and international climate action he was made a Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and awarded its President's Medal.

David has worked on climate change for over 30 years, spanning research in the Southern Ocean assessing the impacts of warming on carbon and nitrogen cycles, through to examining the fluxes and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions across forests, agriculture and food systems in Scotland, the UK, in Europe and across South Asia. He has published over 150 research papers and articles, and authored 6 books, on climate change. His research grants have spanned work on diffuse nitrogen pollution, forest management, greenhouse gas mitigation and renewable energy and currently total over £15m in funding. Over this time David has been at the forefront of climate change communication, sharing his work through myriad media appearances and interviews, ranging from working on climate change films with Sir David Attenborough to appearing on stage with comedians Jason Bourne, Eddie Izzard and Dylan Moran.

In 2008 David created and launched the world's first MSc In Carbon Management, aimed at integrating the science, business, economics and policy of climate change. The great success of the programme led to his creation and launch on the online MSc in Carbon Management in 2014, aimed at allowing mature students in work or with caring responsibilities to access the programme from anywhere in the world. For his teaching on this programme, David was awarded the PwC Teaching Employable Skills Award. Over the past 5 years David has led the creation and delivery  of a suite of open access climate change course for mass audiences (MOOCs) including collaborating with colleagues in India, Mexico and Malawi to provide bespoke climate change courses in their national languages.

Within the University of Edinburgh David has held a range of leadership roles including as Assistant Principal for Global Environment and Society. In January 2020 he was appointed as executive director of Edinburgh Climate Change Institute where he oversaw a wide range of research, policy and applied climate change programmes and, in 2021, hosted Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Princess Royal.

Outwith the university, David is an established advisor on climate change action to governments, agencies and public bodies. He sat on the Green Jobs Taskforce for the UK Government, was chair of the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan for the Scottish Government, and also chaired the Climate Change Committee's expert advisory panel on skills for net zero. David is also a regular expert witness for parliamentary committees in Holyrood and Westminster. In September 2023 David was appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero as co-chair of the Just Transition Commission.

 

Responsibilities & affiliations

 

  • Co-chair Just Transition Commission
  • Executive Director at Edinburgh Climate Change Institute
  • Policy Director at ClimateXChange
  • Climate Change Plan Advisory Group, Scottish Government
  • NSET Skilled Workforce Programme Board, Scottish Government
  • Green Jobs Taskforce, UK Government
  • Chair, Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) Implementation Steering Group, Scottish Government
  • Chair, Workforce & Skills Advisory Group, UK Climate Change Committee
  • Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) Expert Group, Skills Development Scotland
  • Academic Advisor on Rural Policy and Climate Change, Scottish Government
  • Fellow, EAUC
  • Local Capacity and Capability sub-group, Green Jobs Delivery Group, UK Government
  • Sustainable Renewal Advisory Group, Scottish Government
  • Cross-Party Group on Climate Change, Scottish Parliament
  • Sustainability & Climate Change Working Group, UK Department for Education
  • UK Universities Climate Network Steering Group (Education & Skills)
  • Edinburgh Climate Commission
  • Scotland’s Climate Assembly
  • ‘Farming 1.5’ Inquiry
  • EarthShot Prize Nominator (2020-23)
  • Climate Emergency Response Group (CERG)
  • Scottish Water Net Zero Advisory Panel
  • NFUS Climate Change Advisory Panel
  • Cairngorms National Park Heritage Horizons Advisory Group
  • South of Scotland Net Zero Commission
  • Climate Change Educational Partnership, STEM Learning
  • Sustainable Futures Advisory Group, WWF
  • University of Edinburgh PI: GCRF South Asia Nitrogen Hub (SANH) 
  • NERC Peer Reviewer
  • Expert witness, Scottish Parliament TICC, ECCLR, NZET and RAI committees
  • Expert witness, House of Lords Environment & Climate Change Committee
  • Expert witness, House of Commons  EFRA and EAC committees
  • Co-chair, Working Group on Climate and Sustainability in Curricula, University of Edinburgh
  • Steering Group and head of delegation, University of Edinburgh, COP26
  • Short-life Working Group on Embedding Climate and Sustainability in Curricula, University of Edinburgh
  • Renewable Energy & Low Carbon (RELCO) steering group, University of Edinburgh
  • UNA Europa
  • Carbon Sequestration Programme Board, University of Edinburgh
  • Carbon Sequestration Learning, teaching and research sub-group, University of Edinburgh
  • Net Zero Steering Group, University of Edinburgh
  • Exam Board Chair, Global Health Challenges, University of Edinburgh
  • Programme director of the online MSc in Carbon Management at University of Edinburgh (2014-2019)
  • Assistant Principal, University of Edinburgh (2014-17)
  • Programme director of the on campus MSc in Carbon Management at University of Edinburgh (2008-2015)
  • Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy
  • Principal Investigator, ClimateXChange (2019-2023)
  • Zero Waste Scotland Decoupling Advisory Group
  • Postcode Lotteries Green Challenge Jury
  • Reviewer for the journals Nature, Nature Geoscience, Nature Climate Change, Nature Reports Climate Change, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Atmospheric Environment, Global Change Biology, FEMS Microbiology Letters, Environmental Research Letters, Plant and Soil, Environmental Science and Technology, PLoS, Climate Research, Global Environmental Change, Journal of Environmental Quality, Water, Air and Soil Pollution
  • EPIS academic mentor
  • External reviewer for DEFRA, the Natural Environment Research Council, the Royal Society, the National Science Foundation, the British Council, the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Economic and Social Research Council
  • Reviewer and columnist for the Times Higher Education Supplement
  • Expert reviewer, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (AR6, AR5, SR1.5, AR4, SRLCC, Emission Inventories)
  • Expert reviewer, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP, N2O)
  • External examiner, University of Oxford (2014-17)
  • External examiner, University of Aberdeen (2011-14)
  • Climate change consultant for Learning and Teaching Scotland
  • Climate change consultant for the Life Centre, Newcastle, UK
  • Author for the Encyclopedia of Earth, National Council for Science and the Environment
  • Reviewer for CABI Publishing
  • Reviewer for Earthscan Publishing
  • External reviewer, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Advisor, ‘Reducing Scottish greenhouse gas emissions’. Audit Scotland.
  • Advisory committee, British Council Scotland (2008-2014)
  • Member of the British Council
  • Member of the Forum on Science and Technology for Sustainability
  • Member of the British Association for the Advancement of Science
  • Lead author, European Nitrogen Assessment
  • Editorial board, Carbon Management
  • Editorial board, Atmosphere (2017-19)
  • Editorial board, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

Undergraduate teaching

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) – Climate Change

Climate Solutions: Mexico (English)

Climate Solutions: Mexico (Spanish)

Climate Solutions: India (English)

Climate Solutions: India (Hindi)

Climate Solutions: Malawi (English)

Climate Solutions: UAE (English)

Climate Solutions: Egypt (English)

Climate Solutions: Egypt (Arabic)

Climate Solutions: UK (English) – EdX

Climate Solutions: UK (English) – Coursera

Climate Solutions UAE (English)- Coursera

 

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) – Nitrogen

Nitrogen: A Global Challenge (English)

Nitrogen Management Essentials (English)

The Nitrogen Challenge from a Social Science Perspective  (English)

Nitrogen: A Global Challenge (Chinese)

Nitrogen: A Global Challenge (Hungarian)

Nitrogen: A Global Challenge (Hindi)

Nitrogen: A Global Challenge (Nepalese)

Nitrogen: A Global Challenge (Sinhalese)

Nitrogen: A Global Challenge (Urdu)

Nitrogen: A Global Challenge (Dari)

Nitrogen: A Global Challenge (Bengali)

Nitrogen: A Global Challenge (Dhivehi)

Nitrogen: A Global Challenge (Bhutan)

Postgraduate teaching

Programmes, courses and roles

Course organiser, Climate change impacts & adaptation (2025-)

Director, online MSc in Carbon Management (2015-2019)

Director of Postgraduate Teaching (2012-2015)

Director, MSc in Carbon Management (2008-2015)

Co-director, FCO and British Council Chevening Fellowship Scheme ‘Finance and Investment in a Low Carbon Economy’, 2008-2010

Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation (MSc, Course director).

Sustainability & Social Responsibility [online] (Course director).

Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation (Online MSc, Course director).

Human Dimensions of Environmental Change (MSc). Communicating climate change science. Nitrogen: panacea or pollutant.

Global Environmental Change (MSc). Communicating climate change science.

Outdoor education (MSc)

Law and climate change (LLM)

All postgraduates. Funding your research.

Science postgraduates (PhDs). Communicating science to non-specialists.

Forest Geosciences (MSc). Global climate change.

Sustainability & Social Responsibility [online] (All years, Course director).

Economics (1st year)

Current issues in Ecology (4th year)

  • Climate Change: the Scientific Basis
  • Nitrogen as Pollutant and Panacea

Sustainability, Society and Environment (Ist Year).

  • Climate Change: the global perspective
  • Climate Change: the local perspective

Climate Change Mitigation [online] (MSc, Course director).

Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation (Online MSc, Course director).

Environmental Problems and Issues (4th Year).

Climate Change Management (MSc, Course director).

Environmental Protection and Management (MSc). Climate change science and mitigation.

Environmental Sustainability (MSc). Climate change policy.

External examiner. University of Oxford (2015-2018).

External examiner. University of Aberdeen (2011-2014).

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

No

Current PhD students supervised

Galina Toteva SANH PhD (2019-)

Jess Arnull SANH PhD (2019-)

Past PhD students supervised

 

Claudia Steadman. SANH Post-doctoral research assistant (2019-2024). SANH GCRF Hub.

Erika Warnatszch. Climate Solutions Open Access Courses & Online MSc Carbon Management programme developer (2014-2024).

Andrea Moring. SANH & NEWS Post-doctoral research assistant (2016-2023). Newton NEWS ProgrammeSANH GCRF Hub

Will Brownlie. CEH Edinburgh joint post, OPF (2018-2023)

Nicole Read. CEH Edinburgh joint post, INMS (2018-2020)

Stephen Porter. University Teacher, Climate Change (2014-2019)

Hannah Ritchie. NEWS MOOC Fellow and online sustainability (2016-2018)

Meredith Corey. Disaster Risk Reduction online developer and online sustainability (2016-2019)

Erika Thompson . PhD (2016-2019) Climate change impacts on food spoilage and human health in Sub-saharan Africa. [Lead supervisor]

Juliette Maire . PhD (2016-2019) Scaling reactive nitrogen mitigation in grassland systems. [co- supervisor]

Daniele Ferraretto. PhD (2015-2018) Impacts of nitrogen deposition on the forest carbon and nitrogen cycle. [co- supervisor]

Hannah Ritchie . PhD (2016-2018) Climate change mitigation and human nutrition [Lead supervisor]

Jeremy Turk. PhD (2014-2017) The carbon intensity of US and UK energy supply: hydraulic fracturing, fuel switching, and future carbon lock-in. [Lead supervisor]

Stephen Porter. PhD (2013-2019) Climate change mitigation and global food waste. [Lead supervisor]

Dr Clare Howard. ENA post-doctoral fellow (2008-2012), ECLAIRE post-doctoral fellow (2012-2016) European Nitrogen Assessment, INMS (2014-17)

Rachel Chisholm. GESA Academic Facilitator (2014-17).

Lettice Hicks. PhD (2012-2015) Soil carbon dynamics in the Peruvian rain forest biome. [co- supervisor]

Nick Cowan. PhD (2012-2015) Measurements of nitrous oxide fluxes at the farm and field scale. [with CEH]

Bill Bealey. PhD (2008-2015). Environmental pollution and global change. [with CEH]

Sam Jones. PhD (2009-2012) Trace gas emissions from tropical Andean soils and their biological composition. [co- supervisor]

Quincy Seale. PhD (2014-2016) Fugitive methane emissions from fracking in the Barnett Shale and their mitigation. [Lead supervisor]

Dr Nick Berry. Post-doctoral research fellow (2011-2014). I-REDD – reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Jeremy Turk. Teaching fellow in Climate Change (2012-2014).

Teri Angst. PhD (2009-2012) Evaluating the impacts of biochar on the fate and dynamics of organic amendement in agriculture. [co- supervisor]

Sean Case. PhD (2009-2012) Assessing biochar for climate change mitigation in agri-ecosystems. [with CEH]

Rachel Howell. SAGES PhD (2009-2012) Potential for Climate Change Mitigation Through Education [Lead supervisor]

Willena McAuley. PhD (2006-2009). Diffuse nitrate pollution: Improving mitigation and reducing pollution swapping. [Lead supervisor]

Anthony Bloom. PhD (2007-2010). Global Methane Budgets. [co-supervisor]

Nancy Burns. SAGES PhD (2007-2010). Temperature sensitivity of soil carbon decomposition. [co-supervisor]

Dr Wesley Fraser. Post-doctoral researcher assistant (2009-2012). Methane emissions from vegetation [co-I].

Dr Casey Ryan. Post-doctoral researcher, i-REDD.

Hamish Miller. Community benefits of micro hydro power.

Ina Bloemer. Peatland restoration and MRV.

Sara Harper. Climate vulnerability and resilience in US National parks.

Joanna Wright. Climate change and heat stress risks in UK businesses.

Kevin Palmer. Coal-fired power generation and carbon and human health implications in Turkey.

Tipu Jibran-Zafar. Climate change safety barriers in the oil and gas industry.

Andrew Franciscus. Decarbonisation scenarios for the electricity sector in Indonesia.

Richard Cuthbert. Climate change vulnerability and adaptation by the Sami

Valeria Nikolaeva. Climate-Smart potato production in Bulgaria.

Georgina Wade. Product carbon labelling and consumer behaviour.

Holly Morgan. Sustainable agriculture in Kenya.

Kevin Meier. Climate vulnerability of the coastal zone in Barbados.

Robyn Lockyer. Life-cycle GHG emissions of Scottish salmon and mitigation options.

Kirsten Leggatt. Climate-smart historic buildings.

Elisabeth Muratori. Mental health in climate change adaptation planning.

Rita Laurent-Desmyter. Decision-support tools for climate-smart agriculture.

Tom Speller. Potential of wheat varieties for climate change adaptation and mitigation in Europe.

Dhiah Karsiwulan. Greenhouse gas reduction from use of oil palm residues as a biofuel.

Samantha Metaxas. Addressing food waste and c;climate change through food resale.

Erin Miller. Entomophagy and climate change mitigation.

David Jackson. Climate change impacts and adaptation for food production in Malawi.

Tom Fredriksson. Economic benefits for rural users of solar home systems: A case study from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Deri Thomas. How can reductions of post harvest losses of maize in Kenya contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions?.

Hannah Ritchie. Convergence stabilisation and contraction: A new model for emissions quality.

Marek Soanes. The impact of climate change energy demand in India: A regional study.

Caterina Margiotta. An assessment of impacts from projected climate change on current mitigation techniques used in nitrogen vulnerable zones: Ythan catchment case study.

Karl Hsu. Climate change effects on Scottish peatland carbon dynamics and reductions in carbon loss through peatland management.

Katelin Hanson. An implementation of the ECCI sustainable island framework in Hawai’I for decarbonizing the energy system.

Mark Ockendon. RIIO-ED1 plans of the UK DNOs – does it add up?.

Fiona Graham. Carbon Management Potential of Blue Carbon Sinks in Scotland – Size of Sinks & Drivers of Change in Future Climate Scenarios.

Kandila Ramotar. Integrated Assessment of Climate Change Impacts o Guyana’s Low Coastal Plain

Anastasia Roussou. Integrated Water Resource Management and Climate Change in Small Island Developing States: A Case Study for Mauritius.

Yuzhou Zheng. North China Plain Agricultural Nitrogen Fluxes and its Environmental Impacts.

Soraya Abdel Wahab. The potential use of second-generation biofuels in aviation and its impact on carbon emissions.

Bruce Leishman. The effects of increased dissolved oceanic carbon on the growth rates of North Sea fishes.

Sang Feng. The global freshwater carbon sink: how big and can we make it bigger?.

Siobhan Pereira. Re-use Consumerism: the climate change benefits of large-scale distribution of used products and an exploration of the cultural perceptions of second hand goods.

Philippe Artner. Market Assessment Study to Support the Creation of a Social Sustainable Energy Consultancy and Investment Unit in Malawi.

Rachel Burn. Social vulnerability to climate change in the Isle of Islay.

Damien Canning. The impact of electronic reading devices upon the emissions of the UK print industry, past and future; an analysis of Newspapers, Magazines and Books.

Alison Hunter. Projected Climate Change in Spain and Britain: the push and pull of British tourist travel patterns.

Rosalie Marsden. An assessment of the additional adaptation costs and benefits that could result from mitigation projects that induce the protection and restoration of mangroves in Kenya.

Kt Michaelson. An assessment of climate change and land use impacts on methane production of termites in tropical forests.

Stephen Porter. Black Carbon: The direct and indirect impacts of the 2012/13 bush fires in Australia.

Manu Ravishankar. Reducing conventional energy use and GHG emissions through Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) irrigation pumps for rice cultivation in Tamil Nadu- A preliminary assessment.

Christopher Stephenson. Citrifine Plantations Ltd. (CPL): A feasibility study on access to the CDM and voluntary carbon markets for a medium-scale, sustainable forestry business in Malawi.

Aine Lane. What are the plausible adaptation strategies that the cocoa market in West Africa can take to ensure the sustainable supply of cocoa to the chocolate confectionary industry, with particular reference to Fairtrade mechanisms?

Quincy Seale. Fugitive Methane Emissions for U.S. Shale Gas.

Trinh Thang Long. Analysis of land use options and climate change impacts in a village in the Lower Mekong delta, Vietnam.

Danielle Eiseman. Feasibility of an interactive map to increase PEB in Scotland.

Ummah Khan. Transboundary Impacts on Riverine Floods in Bangladesh at regional and national level.

Corinne Boddy. Energy Efficiency in Asset Management: Opportunities and Barriers in the Scottish Residential Care Sector

Jeremy Turk. Fugitive Methane Emissions from Global Shale Gas Procurement

Antonio Guiso. Gas Flaring in Nigeria: quantitative analysis, impacts and possible solutions.

Azra Hussain. Wedge analysis of typical building design in the UAE by adopting a vernacular concept

Kritika Singh. ‘Examining the potential for reducing methane emissions from India’s landfill sites using wedge analysis ’

Brian Derham. “Adaptation Strategies for Kiribati under different Scenarios of projected Sea Level Rise”

Kun Zhang. Commercialization Potential of Algae-based Third Generation biofuel Production in the Chinese Transport Sector .

Kirsty Macleod. MSc Carbon Management 2010/11. The greenhouse gas mitigation potential of a rail-based intermodal freight network in Scotland.

Jon Campbell-Copp. MSc Carbon Management 2010/11. The carbon abatement and finance potential of chemical fertilizer replacement with bio-slurry in Vietnam.

Jonathan Mcelhatton. MSc Carbon Management 2010/11. Lighter-than-air: A solution to value chain emissions? A case study of Tesco Pla.

Natalia Faryna. MSc Carbon Management 2010/11. Mitigation potential of the coal mine methane emissions in Poland.

Seb Rae. MSc Carbon Management 2010/11. The ‘greening of the CAP’: the catalyst for a new emissions trajectory for the agricultural sector in Scotland?.

Alex Ebert. MSc Carbon Management 2010/11. Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation in a Chilean city.

Caroline Sindrey. MSc Carbon Management 2010/11. Barriers to the Uptake of Anaerobic Digestion in Scotland.

Craig Thom. MSc Carbon Management 2010/11. An investigation into the impacts of climate change and the various adaptation strategies available for the Scottish whiskey industry with an in-depth case study analysis of Tullibardine Distillery, Blackford, Scotland.

Greg Bishop. MSc Carbon Management 2010/11. Quantifying methane emissions from constructed Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) wetlands in the UK. .

Jennifer Gregory. MSc Carbon Management 2010/11. Listed Building and Conservation Area Legislation: A Constraint on Climate Change Mitigation in Existing Buildings?g.

Brandon Ware. MSc Carbon Management 2010/11. Climate change impacts and adaptation in the golf industry.

Joe Nightingale. MSc Carbon Management 2010/11. Wood waste and GHG emissions in the UK.

Yasmin Bushby. MSc Carbon Management 2009/10. Biochar and N2O.

Laura Fidao. MSc Carbon Management 2009/10. US domestic energy use and emission reductions.

Yunzhi Li. MSc Carbon Management 2009/10. CDM project development in China.

Cheong Shuen Chan. MSc Carbon Management 2009/10. Carbon implications of road construction and use.

Shivani Kanodia. MSc Carbon Management 2009/10. Methane hydrates: climate risks and exploitation potential.

Katie Molyneaux. MSc Carbon Management 2009/10. Cryospheric archaeology and climate change impacts.

Rachel Sachs. MSc Carbon Management 2009/10. Climate adaptation and land use by indigenous peoples.

Doug Campbell. MSc Carbon Management 2009/10. The legal basis of carbon capture and storage.

Jeremy Kemp. MSc Carbon Management 2009/10. Transboundary climate change impacts and vulnerability.

Storm Steenkamp. MSc Carbon Management 2009/10. Methane emissions in South African and Australian coal mining.

Brandon Ware. MSc Carbon Management 2009/10. Climate change impacts and adaptation in the golf industry.

Mark McFarland. MSc Carbon Management 2009/10. Methane mitigation from livestock.

Mike Passway. MSc Carbon Management 2008/9. Assessing the Carbon Footprint of a distillery.

Kevin Houston. MSc Carbon Management 2008/9. Are GHG emissions from rapidly emerging Virtual world technologies like second life adding to carbon stocks or do they offer emissions reduction opportunities by reducing business travel?.

Ikenna Ikejiofor. MSc Carbon Management 2008/9. GHG emissions from and health impacts of diesel generators in Nigeria and their mitigation.

Aphra Morrison. MSc Carbon Management 2008/9. REDD and indigenous rights: can the lessons leart from forest-carbon projects be successfully incorporated into the REDD framework.

Michael Schmitt. MSc Carbon Management 2008/9. Low carbon transport in the US.

Le Wang. MSc Carbon Management 2008/9. CDM project of wind energy in China and analys wind energy developing potential in China through CDM projects analysis.

Erika Warnatsch. MSc Carbon Management 2008/9. A low carbon future electricity supply in the US.

Andrew Wright. MSc Carbon Management 2008/9. Decarbonisation options for the transportation infrastructure of large geopolitically united areas.

Sunitha Pangala. MRes Global Change (2007-2008). Inhibition of wetland greenhouse gas emissions.

Hilda GaltBSc Honours Year (2007-2008). Corn ethanol as a biofuel for US transportation: net climate forcings.

Graham Paul. MRes Global Environmental Change (2006-2007). Wetland Methane Emissions.

Amanda Korane. MSc Environmental Sustainability (2006-2007). Greenhouse gas emissions from US households.

Marjan van de Weg. MRes Global Environmental Change (2005-2006). Nitrogen interception and greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands and ponds.

Research summary

 

  • Just transitions
  • Climate change mitigation in agriculture and food systems
  • Climate change skills and education
  • Greenhouse gas sinks and interactions
  • Climate change impacts and mitigation through individual action
  • Nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture (IPCC input: revision of EF5) Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories)
  • Methane oxidation and production in soils
  • Communicating climate change to the public
  • Microbial ecology, incl. that of methanotrophs, methanogens, nitrifiers and denitrifiers
  • Diffuse water pollution
  • Land use impacts on greenhouse gas fluxes
  • Climate change impacts on land use and adaptation strategies
  • Carbon dioxide emission from soils and biomass
  • Global methane budgets
  • Temperature dependence of microbial activity and nutrient uptake

Knowledge exchange

Dave Reay – Knowledge Transfer and Outreach (no longer updated)

Conference Talks

Nitrogen and Climate Change.

    1. Planetary health Conference, Edinburgh (May 2018)

Climate change Mitigation and Resilience. Network Rail Leaders Conference, Keynote, Coventry (March 2018)

Climate science: state-of-the-art Carbon Trust Scotland Public Sector Conference, Keynote, Glasgow Caledonian University (June 2017)

Climate-smart agriculture Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Royal Society of Edinburgh (November 2016)

Low Carbon Education A Shared Responsibility, EAUC, Edinburgh (November 2015)

Soils and Climate Change Soil, the Earth’s Tender Skin, Edinburgh (September 2015)

The climate change mitigation potential of tackling global food waste Sustainable Intensification: The pathway to low carbon farming?, Edinburgh (September 2013)

Greenhouse gas fluxes in managed ecosystems: threats and opportunities European Geophysical Union, Keynote, Vienna (April 2013)

Microbes as Climate Engineers Society for Applied Microbiology, Royal Society, London (January 2012)

Microbes and Methane Mitigation Methane Hack, Keynote, Geological Society of London (December 2011)

Methane and Climate Change MethaneNet Keynote, Open University (March 2011)

Managing land use and climate change The Oatridge Conference, ScotGrow, Oatridge College (November 2009)

Communicating the European Nitrogen Challenge European Nitrogen Assessment, Brussels (September 2009)

Climate Change Science and the Failure of Kyoto Perspectives on post-Kyoto Climate Change, Edinburgh (October 2008)

Microbes as Climate Engineers Society for General Microbiology, Edinburgh (March 2008)

Novel Quantification of Methane Emission from a Constructed Wetland Agriculture and the Environment, SAC SEPA Biennial Conference, Edinburgh (March 2008)

Indirect N2O Emissions from Agriculture NitroEurope Conference, Ghent (February 2008)

Local Government and Climate Change Sustainable Scotland Network Conference (November 2007)

Tackling Climate Change in the Urban Jungle Natural History Museum (July 2007)

Nitrogen pollution swapping in a constructed wetland Plenary, 15th N Workshop, Lleida, Spain (May 2007)

Climate Change In Scotland British Council Western Europe and North America Conference, Edinburgh (May 2007)

Communicating the Uncertainties of Climate Change Plenary Talk, BA and Royal Society Science Communication Conference, London (May 2007)

Changing Climate Change Creative Science Communication, Edinburgh Science Festival and British Council (April 2007)

Climate Change: the causes and effects SCIS Geography Conference, Edinburgh (February 2007)

Is the UK doing enough to tackle climate change? Natural History Museum (July 2006)

Climate Change: recent developments and communication SPU Teachers’ Conference (July 2006)

Climate Change: the greatest challenge facing Scotland and the world? Royal Society of Edinburgh ( 2005), includes video of lecture

Indirect N2O Emissions Fourth International Symposium on Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases, Utrecht, the Netherlands (July 2005)

Revising the indirect N2O emission factor GANE, Heriot-Watt University, UK (2003)

Pollution Swapping (Work Group Leader). ‘Controlling Nitrogen Flows and Losses’, 12th Nitrogen Workshop, Exeter, UK (2003)

Indirect N2O emissions from agriculture. GANE, Nottingham, UK (2002)

Impact of Land-use on the Soil Methane Sink Ecological Dynamics and Genes, BES/NERC, Oxford, UK (2001)

Physical Determinants of Methane Oxidation in a Temperate Soil Sixth International Conference on Air-Surface Exchange of Gases and Particles, Edinburgh, UK (2000)

Impact of tree species on methane oxidation potentials Ecological Dynamics and Genes, London, UK (1999)

 

Government

    1. The Climate Change Bill and Net Zero. ECCLR Committee, Scottish Parliament (2019)

The Climate Change Bill and Agriculture. ECCLR Committee, Scottish Parliament (2018)

IPCC 1.5 degrees Special Report. Scottish Parliament (2018)

Nitrate Inquiry. Environmental Audit Committee, House of Commons (2018)

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Crops. Houses of Parliament (Jan 2015)

Scotland’s Climate Change Targets. Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee. Scottish Parliament (Oct 2014)

The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report and Implications for Scotland. Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee. Scottish Parliament (Nov 2013)

Microbes and Climate Change. House of Lords (Oct 2010)

Carbon Management in the Scottish Parliament. Scottish Parliament (Feb 2010)

Scotland at COP-15 Scottish Parliament (Dec 2009)

Holyrood Climate Change Debate: MSc Carbon Management Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee (March 2009)

Inquiry into the Future of the UK Water Sector All Party Parliamentary Water Group (January 2008) [Written evidence]

Climate Change: The Citizen’s Agenda Eighth Report of session 2006-2007. House of Commons Environment Committee Inquiry (September 2007)

The IPCC 4th Assessment Report: an Overview Scottish Parliament Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee (August 2007) [Oral evidence]

Climate Change: The Citizen’s Agenda House of Commons Environment Committee Inquiry (December 2006) [Written and oral evidence]

European Commission?s Green Paper on a Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy Policy Scottish Parliament (2006) [Written evidence]

 

Business, Schools and Institution Lectures

Wonderstuff – nitrogen and us

    1. TedX Edinburgh (May 2017)

Water, water everywhere – climate change adaptation and flooding Scotland Rocks and RSGS (March 2015)

Climate change – evidence versus controversy Glow, Education Scotland (January 2012)

Standing Up for Science Royal Society of Edinburgh (November 2010)

Climate Change: the Solutions. Our Changing World, University of Edinburgh (October 2010).

Climate change and Edinburgh. Carlyle Circle, University of Edinburgh (June 2010)

Climate science and policy outlook. Stop Climate Chaos AGM (June 2010)

Climate change and Edinburgh. Carlyle Circle, Royal Society (May 2010)

Climate science and the media. Science Media Centre, Edinburgh (March 2010)

The Road Beyond Copenhagen Royal Meteorological Society (March 2010)

Climate science and the media. Science Media Centre, Edinburgh (March 2010)

Standing Up for Science Royal Society of Edinburgh (November 2009)

Your Planet Needs You! Winchburgh Primary School, Scotland (June 2009)

Microbes and Climate Change. Interdisciplinary Microbiology Group, University of Edinburgh (April 2009)

The Anthropocene, with Mark Lynas and Jan Bebbington, National Geographic and Fairmont (April 2009)

Biospheric Carbon Management Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Edinburgh (February 2009)

Standing Up for Science Royal Society of Edinburgh (November 2008)

RCUK Climate Change in the Classroom Science Learning Centre, Durham (July 2008)

Climate Change Begins in School Dumbarton Academy, National Science and Engineering Week (March 2008)

Your Country Needs You Northern Ireland Schools Climate Change Day, W5, Belfast (February 2008)

Climate Change: Impacts and Mitigation Scottish Climate Change Business Development Group (February 2008)

Climate Change Begins at Home James Clerk Maxwell Lecture series 2008, Edinburgh Academy (January 2008)

Schools Climate Change Conference Keynote, Edinburgh Zoo (September 2007)

YoungEdinburgh Climate Change Conference Edinburgh City Halls (June 2007)

Climate Change, the Science and Mitigation Liverpool College (April 2007)

Greening Gillespie’s Climate change seminar, James Gillespie High School, Edinburgh (April 2007)

Climate Change Day, Lewisham The Sydenham School, London (March 2007)

Climate Change Goes to School National Science Week events at Winchburgh and Low Port Primary Schools, Scotland (March 2007)

Climate Change: Science and Solutions Royal Dublin Society and British Council Ireland (March 2007)

The Science of Climate Change The Sacred Heart School, Harrow (September 2006)

Communicating Climate Change Nature Publishing Group, London (September 2006)

The Science of Climate Change Castle and Marlwood Secondary Schools, Thornbury Arts Festival (April 2005)

 

Festivals and Public Events

Climate change

    1. March for Science, Edinburgh (April 2017)

Climate-smart Food Our Changing World, University of Edinburgh (November 2016)

The Burning Question: Fossil Fuels and Climate Change Edinburgh International Science Festival (April 2016)

Bugs, drugs and Rock ‘n Roll Edinburgh International Science Festival (April 2012)

Microbes and Climate Change Cheltenham Science Festival (June 2011)

Bugs, Bombs and Blooms: Why Nitrogen isn’t Dull Edinburgh International Science Festival (April 2011)

RSE Climate Change Inquiry Royal Society of Edinburgh (May 2010)

Your Planet Needs You! Edinburgh International Science Festival (April 2010)

Tackling Climate Change Edinburgh (January 2009)

Climate Change Begins at Home Public Meeting, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Linlithgow (March 2008)

The Big Green Challenge NESTA, Edinburgh (December 2007)

Climate Change Begins at Home Wigtown Book Festival, Wigtown (October 2007)

What cliff? The tipping points of climate change BA Science Festival, York (September 2007)

The Outsider Festival Can We Walk Our Green Talk? Rothiemurchus, Scotland (June 2007)

Life in 2020 Centre for Life, Newcastle (June 2007)

Carbon Neutral Biggar Climate change science and mitigation, Biggar, Scottish Borders (April 2007)

Busting the Myths of Climate Change Edinburgh Science Festival (April 2007)

Green Houses: Carbon Free Living? National Science Week, Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh (March 2007)

Climate Change Begins at Home Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (October 2006)

Climate Change Festival Victoria University, Wellington, NZ [via video link](November 2006)

The Morality and Mitigation of Climate Change Edinburgh International Book Festival (August 2006)

Who’s Climate is it Anyway? Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh Festival of Politics (August 2006)

Climate Change Begins at Home Royal Institution (July 2006)

Climate Change Begins at Home Cheltenham Science Festival (June 2006)

Climate Change Begins at Home Bristol Festival of Nature (June 2006)

Climate Change Begins at Home BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and Cambridge Science Festival (March 2006). To see a video of this talk click here.

 

British Council

Climate Change in Mexico and the World

    1. British Council Mexico [via video link] (June 2009)

Climate Change Begins at Home British Council Philippines [via video link](June 2008)

The Ugly Truths of Climate Change Edinburgh Science Festival with Quentin Cooper (BBC) and British Council (March 2008)

Climate Change Begins at Home Cafe Scientifique with British Council Greece and British Council Serbia [via video link](December 2007)

Are we at risk from a >1m global sea level rise? Videoconference with Martin Siegert (speaker) and British Council Russia (February 2007)

Climate Change: Cafe Scientifique British Council Malaysia and British Council Singapore [via video link](January 2007)

Climate Change Begins at Home Cafe Scientifique with British Council Slovakia and British Council Poland [via video link](November 2006)

Climate Change Begins at Home British Council Northern Ireland and University of Ulster, Coleraine (September 2006)

Climate Change Cafe Scientifique British Council Yemen, British Council Oman, British Council Bahrain, British Council UAE and British Council Kuwait [via video link](March 2006)

Climate change: the science and the politics British Council Scotland, British Council Russia and British Council Nigeria [via video link](February 2006)

Cafe Scientifique: Climate change science and policy British Council Ukraine and British Council Hungary [via video link](November 2005)

Climate Change and Citizenship British Council Scotland, British Council Lithuania and British Council Malawi [via video link](September 2005)

Cafe Scientifique: Zero Carbon City British Council Germany (May 2005)

 

Exhibitions

Our Future: Climate Change

    1. Centre for Life, Newcastle (June 2007 onwards)

Climate Change Science and ImpactsVideo interview, Scottish Seabird Centre (2006 onwards)

ClimateWatchers. BA Science Festival Dublin, Ireland (September 2005)

ClimateWatchers. National Science Week 2005, St Andrews University (March 2005)

ClimateWatchers. Oatridge College (2005)

ClimateWatchers. National Science Week 2005, University of Edinburgh (March 2005)

ClimateWatchers. Environment Day, Almond Valley Country Park (June 2005)

 

Radio and other media (no longer updated)

Irreversible climate change. Radio Sputnik (August 2017)

Trump and Paris Agreement. Radio Sputnik (February 2017)

Arctic Council and Climate Change. BBC Radio Scotland (April 2017)

Paris Climate Agreement. BBC Radio Scotland (November 2016)

Paris Climate Conference. BBC Radio Scotland (November 2015)

Ash dieback and carbon stocks. BBC Radio Scotland (April 2013)

The UK Energy Bill. Material World, BBC Radio 4 (Dec 2012)

Climate change impacts and frozen archaeology. BBC World Service (March 2011)

Climate change impacts. BBC Radio Scotland (Nov 2009)

A Year of Questions on Science Science in Action, BBC World Service (January 2008)

Greenhouse Gases The Instant Guide, BBC World Service (December 2007)

The Future of Climate Change Research Science in Action, BBC World Service (November 2007)

Climate Change Mitigation by Indviduals ORF FM4, Austria (September 2007)

How Business, Government and Communities can Tackle Climate Change Good Morning Scotland, BBC Radio Scotland (August 2007)

Climate Change Mitigation and UK Goverment Policy The Westminster Hour, BBC Radio 4 (July 2007)

Climate Change: the Citizen’s Agenda You and Yours, BBC Radio 4 (February 2007)

Living with Global Warming You and Yours, BBC Radio 4 (December 2006)

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive Sunday Live, BBC Radio Scotland (December2006)

The Stern Report and Climate Change Begins at School Beechgrove Potting Shed, BBC Radio Scotland (October 2006)

Climate Change and Individuals BBC Radio Ulster (September 2006)

Climate Change Report, Beechgrove Potting Shed BBC Radio Scotland (August 2006)

Ecological Footprint Material World, BBC Radio 4 (March 2006)

Raising Children’s Awareness of Climate Change Beechgrove Potting Shed, BBC Radio Scotland (February 26th 2006)

Climate Change and Scotland BBC Radio Scotland (December 2005)

Climate Change in the Garden Beechgrove Potting Shed, BBC Radio Scotland (September 11th 2005)

Forests and Climate Change. You and Yours, BBC Radio 4 (2005)

Landfill Methane and Composting. Beechgrove Potting Shed, BBC Radio Scotland (2005)

Nitrous oxide emissions. Leading Edge, BBC Radio 4 (2003)

Costing Climate Change. Good Morning Scotland, BBC Radio Scotland (2002)

 

Television

 

    1. The Paris Climate Conference and UK Flooding Impacts. News , STV (Dec 2015)

The Climate Making Scotland’s Landscape ,BBC 1 Scotland (Nov 2010)

Climate change impacts Newsnight,BBC Scotland (Nov 2009)

Your Planet Needs You! The Hour, STV (June 2009)

Carbon Management in Scotland News at 6pm, STV (December 2008)

Climate Change Policy in Scotland Politics Now, STV (May 2008)

Environment Policy in Scotland Politics Scotland, STV (February 2007)

Climate Change: the Citizens’ Agenda BBC Parliament (House of Commons Environment Committee, Dec 2006)

Can We Save the Planet? BBC1 (Presented by Sir David Attenborough, May 2006)

Climate Change Begins at School BBC2 and CBBC (Level Up, May 2006)

 

Print Media

Climate Smart Soils. Scotsman and others (April 2016)

UK flooding and climate. Guardian and others (Jan 2016)

Global CO2 stabilisation. InsideClimate and others (Dec 2015)

Paris Climate Conference. RSC and others (Dec 2015)

Paris Climate Conference. Express and others (Dec 2015)

Climate Change in Scotland. Scotsman (May 2015)

Greenest University Course. Herald and others (April 2015)

Global carbon budget. Guardian and others (Sept 2014)

Rising greenhouse gas concentrations. Financial Times and others (Sept 2014)

Ash dieback and carbon stocks. Scotsman, STV, Daily Mail (April 2013)

COP18 and international climate change action Daily Mail (Dec 2012)

Food waste and climate change Independent, Scotsman, ITV, Metro etc (May 2012)

Climate change denial and the Heartland Institute Scotsman (Feb 2012)

Virtual meetings are Green and Lean Scotsman etc. (Nov 2011)

Climate change impacts and frozen archaeology Press Association, Scotsman, Metro, Daily Mail etc. (March 2011)

Chance to change the World The Times (January 2010)

Copenhagen climate change conference The Scotsman (Sept 2009)

Climate Change Bill in Scotland Sunday Herald (June 2009)

Your Planet Needs You The Scotsman (May 2009)

Reap What You Sow Planet Earth, Summer 2009

Climate Skeptics The Scotsman (February 2009)

The Carbon Enlightenment The Scotsman (February 2009)

Carbon Management The Scotsman (December 2008)

Scottish Climate Change Bill The Scotsman (December 2008)

Deforestation, land use and climate change New Scientist (November 2008)

Biodiesel from fungus The Scotsman (November 2008)

Politics and Climate Change Nature (July 2008)

Making the right choices on Climate Change New Scientist (April 2008)

Lead the way in cutting carbon The Sunday Times (January 2008)

Go Green to Save the Planet The Scotsman (January 2008)

The Green Team The Scotsman (January 2008)

Sustainable Science: Greening the Meeting Science, 3138 (5847), 36-38. (October 2007)

N2O emissions from biofuelsThe Times (September 2007)

MSc in Carbon Management Nature (August 2007)

Flooding in the UK Press Association, The Guardian, The Express, Edinburgh Evening News etc. (June 2007)

Climate Change in Scottish Gardens The Herald (May 2007)

Defenders of the Earth: Careers in Environmental Science Etc Magazine, Issue 17 (March 2007)

Last Chance to Save the World Chemistry World, Royal Society of Chemistry (December 2006)

Reaction to the Stern Report. The Guardian and Chemistry World (October 2006)

The Ship: the Art of Climate Change Natural History Museum (May 2006)

Climate Chaos Radio Times (May 2006)

Climate Chaos The Express (May 2006)

How can burning wood help stop global warming? The Guardian (October 2005)

Climate Change: The solutions The Guardian (June 2005)

Shopping to save the world: lifestyle changes can combat global warming Big Issue (2005)

Forest Thinning. The Independent (2005)

 

Online Media

Unaccounted for Greenhouse Gas emissions

    1. iNews (Aug 2017)

Record breaking Greenhouse Gas Concentrations Metro, Times of India, Japan Times etc (Nov 2013)

The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report Science Media Centre (Sept 2013)

Tackling climate change by avoiding food waste Farmers Guardian (Sept 2013)

Frozen archaeology and climate change The Daily Mail (Sept 2013)

Emissions pathways and climate change impacts New Scientist (Jan 2013)

Global financial crisis and greenhouse gas emissions BBC etc. (Dec 2011)

Microbes as Climate Engineers SGM (June 2011)

Halving CO2 emissions by 2030 STV (April 2011)

Climate change and frozen archaeology BBC Online (March 2011)

Mud, Wet and Fears BBC Scotland (November 2009)

Climate Change Impacts BBC Scotland (November 2009)

Climate Change Mitigation by Business and Industry Chemistry World (June 2008)

Zero Emissions New Scientist (February 2008)

Microbes as Climate Engineers Society for General Microbiology (January 2008)

Biofuels and N2O Environmental Science and Technology (December 2007)

IPCC Synthesis Report Natural Environment Research Council (November 2007)

Nitrogen Pollution Swapping Food and Climate Research Network (November 2007)

Wetland methane Feedback National Geographic (September 2007)

Flooding in the UK Guardian, MSN, Metro etc. (June 2007)

IPCC 2007, Climate Change Mitigation Chemistry World (May 2007)

Reaction to draft UK Climate Change Bill Nature Online (March 2007)

Reaction to the IPCC’s 4th Assessment Report BBC Online (February 2007)

Climate Change Impacts on UK Gardens Wiggly Wigglers Podcast (No.32, May 2006)

Cafe Scientifique Cambridge: Climate Change Naked Scientists (November 2005)

Getting Warmer: Climate Change in the Garden ‘Horticultural’ with Jane Perrone (October 2005)

Climate Change Begins at Home: Book Review Popular Science Reviews (September 2005)

Russia and Kyoto. Nature Online (2004)

Saving the planet saves money. Nature Online (2003)

Kyoto begins at home. Nature Online (2002)

Greenhouse Gas Online. Science, Vol 297, Issue 5587, 1615 , (2002)

Project activity

GCRF South Asia Nitrogen Hub (PI). UKRI 2019-2025 (£18.4M).

CWI-UNEP GLOBAL NITROGEN CYCLE TOWARDS INMS (PI). UNEP 2017-2021 (£275,000).

Towards INMS Project Preparation Grant (INMS PPG) (PI). RCUK 2017 (£4,000).

Our Phosphorus Future (OPF) (PI). NERC 2017-2020 (£50,000).

Newton-Bhabha Virtual Centre on Nitrogen Efficiency of Whole-cropping Systems for improved performance and resilience in agriculture (NEWS India-UK) (PI). BBSRC Newton 2016-2019 (£438,000).

Online Disaster Risk Reduction (DEI) (Co-I). Distance Education Initiative, University of Edinburgh 2016-2018 (£115,000).

International Nitrogen Management System (INMSpp) (PI). NERC 2014-2017 (£210,000).

MSc Carbon Management (DEI) (PI). Distance Education Initiative, University of Edinburgh 2014-2016 (£180,000).

PG Cert Climate Change Management (DEI) (PI). Distance Education Initiative, University of Edinburgh 2013-2014 (£56,000).

UN Task Force on Reactive Nitrogen and European Nitrogen Assessment (PI). NERC 2013-2014 (£92,962).

GREENHOUSE – Generating Regional Emissions Estimates with a Novel Hierarchy of Observations and Upscaled Simulation Experiments (GREENHOUSE) (Co-I). NERC, 2013-2017 (£1,275,000).

ECLAIRE – Effects of climate change on air pollution impacts and response strategies for European ecosystems (PI). EU FP7, 2011-2015 (£260,000).

I-REDD – Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (PI). EU FP7, 2011-2015 (£247,000).

Biochar – Opportunities and barriers for Mexico (PI). IKTF/NERC, 2012-2013 (£17,500).

UN Task Force on Reactive Nitrogen and European Nitrogen Assessment (PI). NERC 2008-2012 (£240,000).

e-CIA online learning development grant (PI). University of Edinburgh, 2010-2011 (£10,000).

Mechanisms for aerobic methane production from terrestrial vegetation (Co-I). NERC, 2009-2012 (£480,000).

Grassland N fluxes. NitroEurope (PI). EU 2006-2011 (e300,000).

Communicating the eScience of Climate Change: the two-way street of climate and society (Co-I) . e-Science 2008-2009 (£70,000).

Finance and Investment in a Low Carbon Economy (Co-director) Chevening Fellowships. Foreign and Commonwealth Office and British Council, 2008-2010. (£200,000 per annum).

Diffuse Nitrate Pollution Natural Environment Research Council Fellowship, NERC UK, 2005-2008 (£140,000).

The Renewable Energy Roadshow Partnerships for Public Engagement, 2007-2009. EPSRC, UK (£131,000).

Climate Change Begins at Home: How to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Lewisham Partnership Grant with Sydenham School, London, 2006-2007. Royal Society, UK (£3,000).

Diffuse Nitrate Pollution. Student fieldwork Natural Environment Research Council, UK (2006), (£5,800).

ClimateWatchers National Science Week Award 2005, Research Councils UK (£2,000).

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