University of Liverpool homepage

Professor

James Cooper

Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor and Professor of Hydrology

Geography and Planning

Orcid identifier0000-0003-4957-2774
  • Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor and Professor of Hydrology
    Geography and Planning

ABOUT

Personal Statement
Professor of Hydrology: My expertise lies in monitoring and forecasting environmental hazards within fluvial, hillslope and estuarine environments. A major focus of my work is the assessment of the climate resilience of critical infrastructure to these hazards, working with stakeholders to forecast weather-related risk and advise on mitigation. My more fundamental research focuses on the mechanics of flooding, erosion and the transport of contaminated sediment.

I am Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Liverpool, leading the Faculty of Science & Engineering's delivery of Global Engagement and Partnerships. In addition to leading the Faculty’s Global Engagement strategy (research-led partnerships and transnational education), I provide oversight of all international partnerships within the Faculty and ensure appropriate governance, systems and processes are in place for target setting, monitoring and accountability.

I have worked as a consultant and expert witness, advising on hydrology, climate risk, flooding and erosion for major utility companies, such as National Grid, United Utilities, Welsh Water and Yorkshire Water, and engineering, construction and legal firms.

In education, I have acted as consultant for ECCTIS Ltd, on behalf of the UK National Information Centre for Global Qualifications and Skills, and as external examiner for degree programmes at Durham, Leicester and Brighton, and for numerous PhD programmes at national and international universities,

Previously I was Dean for Postgraduate Research at the University of Liverpool, providing academic leadership across three faculties (8 Schools and 4 Institutes) for over 3000 PhD students.

My other roles have included being Faculty Director of Postgraduate Research, providing academic leadership across four Schools within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Chair of the Faculty PGR Committee.

I have strong interests in digital learning and authentic assessment, having received a University Learning and Teaching Fellowship, a University Sir Alastair Pilkington Award for Teaching Excellence, and two Faculty Learning and Teaching Awards. I teach hydrology, hydraulics and soils and slope processes.

I work across the environmental science-civil engineering interface, having a mixed background in Geography (BSc) and Civil Engineering (PhD). I have previously worked as a PDRA at Sheffield, an ARCO Research Fellow in Environmental Fluid Dynamics at Hull and a Lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Bradford. I was Chair of the UK Chapter of the International Association of Hydro-Environment Engineering & Research.

UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL ORGANISATIONAL UNITS MEMBERSHIP

UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

  • 13 Climate Action
  • 14 Life Below Water
  • 15 Life on Land
  • 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

RESEARCH AREAS