Lincoln Climate Research Group

Lincoln Climate Research Group (LCGR)

Through our wide-ranging and transdisciplinary research into climate science, impacts and policy, the Lincoln Climate Research Group directly address the following key themes:

“Sustainability: Tackling climate change and reversing environmental degradation are among the most important tasks facing the world in the 21st century. University of Lincoln researchers are developing innovative solutions to the challenge of sustainability through inter-disciplinary research in key areas, including climate science, impacts, adaptation, policy and governance.

The University has declared a climate emergency and is working with partners locally and globally on a range of short- and longer-term interventions to safeguard the future of our planet.”

LCRG addresses the physical, social, environmental and political causes and drivers of climate variations over a range of temporal and spatial scales in the Global North and Global South. The interdisciplinary nature of this research group also feeds into other key themes within the University, such as “Rurality” (e.g. through climate impacts on agricultural production) and “Communities” (e.g. through climate-change impacts of and adaptation to floods and droughts, migration and cities).

Members of the School’s Climate research group have key roles in the newly formed Lincoln Climate Commission, whose mission is to harness the collective energy, vision and ambition of key stakeholders across Lincoln and Lincolnshire to deliver a step-change in its response to the climate emergency. For example, they have invited members of the Lincolnshire Flood Risk and Water Management Partnership steering committee, providing advice on flood resilience for Lincoln City Council and East Lindsey District and Boston Borough Councils.

Lincoln Climate Research Group falls under the auspices of LCWPH and capitalises on our existing specialist research strengths in climate science, impacts, governance and policy. It is a very timely initiative in view of our close involvement in and co-founding of the Lincoln Climate Commission.

LCRG Funding

NERC grant NE/V001787/1 “Northwest European seasonal weather prediction from complex systems modelling” £650,000 to Prof. Edward Hanna

British Academy and BEIS “A New Civil Politics of Climate Change? An examination of contemporary climate communication, actions and policies in the UK” £10,000 awarded to Dr. Andrew Kythreotis

Natural England to investigate “Habitat and Geomorphological development of Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire” awarded to Dr Mark Schuerch

NERC, National Environmental Isotope Facility (NEIF # 2229.0320) funding on ‘Disentangling Southern Hemisphere climate and environmental interactions of the late Pleistocene’ to Dr. Kristen Beck and collaborators

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (New Zealand) Endeavour Fund award to Prof. Mark Macklin for “Smarter Targeting of Erosion” $750,000 (New Zealand Dollars).

LCRG Objectives

Recognise, support and develop areas of research excellence in climate science, impacts, adaptation, governance and policy, building on our existing national and international track record with high-quality research outputs and significant external income.
Hold active (generally monthly) research discussion meetings and seminars in close collaboration with the LCWPH.
Encourage collaborative research in the fields of climate science, impacts, adaptation, governance and policy.
Strengthen bids for external research funding and demonstrate a proven and ongoing record of successful bidding, effectively building on our recent grant successes [e.g. British Academy, BEIS, NERC, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (New Zealand) Endeavour Fund].
Support the implementation of research delivery as set out by the Strategic Plan and in line with University, College and School research ambitions.
Support both emerging and established individual researchers, as well as research students, e.g. through peer review of draft papers and research funding proposals.
Provide a coherent picture of research excellence to the wider external research community and the public.
Present a well-structured and up-to-date website to showcase the Group's work.
Cultivate and encourage research-based engagement, impact and knowledge exchange activities in the fields of climate science, impacts, adaptation and policy.
Actively strengthen the University's community of research postgraduate students and postdoctoral research associates.
Work to strengthen the links between research and teaching activities in the fields of climate science, impacts and policy.