James is an atmospheric chemist by background, with particular interests in the synergies (and somewhat trickier trade-offs) between the Clean Air and Net Zero agendas.
He gained an MSci (Hons) Natural Sciences and PhD Atmospheric Chemistry from the University of Cambridge and, ten years later, a BA (Hons) Architecture from the University of Lincoln – about which his research interests have pivoted. Following six years at the British Antarctic Survey exploring past ‘feedbacks’ between climate, vegetation and atmospheric composition, James’ focus shifted to contemporary air quality and climate in the context of sustainable urban development.
As a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham, James led a five-year programme of knowledge co-production and software innovation regarding the impacts of vegetation on urban air quality in the context of Nature for Climate policy; he secured five NERC grants in partnership with the Greater London Authority, Transport for London, Birmingham City Council, UKCEH, and Trees for Cities. He was later appointed Discovery & Innovation Lead for the TRANSITION Clean Air Network, a UK-wide collaboration between nine HEIs, UKHSA and 20+ cross-sector partners seeking to optimise the air quality and health outcomes of transport decarbonisation.
James thoroughly enjoys developing collaborations in the Climate & Nature space and, where possible, originating research and innovation with stakeholders for impact beyond academia.