Projects per year
Personal profile
Research
I am particularly interested in developing collaborations and postgraduate projects around the following themes (in no particular order):
- Hazards and risks associated with deglaciation (e.g. glacial lake outburst floods [GLOFs], landslides)
- The cryosphere as a water resource (glaciers, permafrost, snow).
- Geomorphological responses to deglaciation
- Glacial erosion and sediment transfer
- Public communication of geohazard and risk science
Current and former postgraduate students
- Santiago Hidalgo Sulca, PhD (Co-supervisor, University of Dundee), September 2025 - Present. Leveraging gridded population data products for enhancing geohazard risk assessment.
- Esther Mabedi, PhD (Co-supervisor, University of Dundee), September 2023 - Present. Hydrogeologic influences on contamination risks from pit latrines to rural community water supplies.
- Dr Alex Scoffield, PhD (Co-Supervisor, based at University of Leeds), January 2022 - October 2025. Ice-contact lakes and their influence on Himalayan glacier evolution.
- Dr Tanya Jones, PhD (Co-Supervisor, University of Dundee), September 2019 – September 2025 (part-time). The potential for restorative justice to address the impacts of climate change in deglaciating environments.
- Jamie Macmanaway, MSc by Research (Lead supervisor, University of Dundee), May 2022 - May 2024 (part-time). Monitoring glacier evolution and evaluating glacial lake outburst flood hazard in the Bolivian Andes: A GIS approach.
- Dr Saule Akhmetkaliyeva, PhD (Co-Supervisor, based at Manchester Metropolitan University), September 2017 – May 2022. Quantifying and characterising organic carbon and microbes in newly developed soils following glacier retreat in northern latitudes.
- Dr Anne Stefaniak, PhD (Co-Supervisor, based at Nottingham Trent University), January 2016 - June 2021. Debris-covered glaciers: Assessing dynamics of European Alpine and Nepalese Himalayan examples.
- Dr Jamal Hassan, PhD (Co-Supervisor, based at University of Dundee), August 2018 – June 2021. Observed and Predicted Climate Change Impact on Water Resources of the Upper Indus Basin.
- Ethan Lee, MRes (Co-Supervisor, based at Leeds University), September 2018 – September 2019. Himalayan glacier change since the Little Ice Age.
- Dr Maria Loroño-Leturiondo, PhD (Co-Supervisor, based at Manchester Metropolitan University), September 2016 - September 2019. Improving public engagement with air pollution: exploring two-way communication formats, public perception, and the voices of women.
- Dr Ioannis Kougkoulos, PhD (Lead Supervisor), January 2016 – January 2019. Glacier change and glacial lake outburst flood hazard in the Bolivian Andes.
- Dr Mario Toubes Rodrigo, PhD (Lead Supervisor), September 2014 – October 2017. Geomicrobiology of glacier basal ice.
Teaching
I teach on the following modules (* denotes module leader):
- EV21001* Earth Systems and Resources
- EV22002* Earth System Function and Measurement
- GE32025* Advanced Field Research (Iceland Fieldcourse)
- GE32026 / GE42024* (Advanced) Polar Environments
- GE31021 Data-driven Geography: Statistics in R
- GE31020 Field and Laboratory Skills in Physical Geography
- GE31025 Quaternary Envrionmental Change
- GE52033 Climate Change: Processes and Impacts
- GE52024 Applied GIS and Geospatial Data Analysis
Biography
I am a geoscientist with interests in glaciology, geohazards and the geomorphology of mountain environments. Much of my work focuses on understanding the mechanisms that shape landscapes (including glacial, fluvial and mass movement processes), as well as the response of glacial environments to climate change, including geohazards and risks posed by deglaciation (e.g. glacial outburst floods, landslides and water resource issues). You can follow me on LinkedIn, Bluesky or Researchgate for updates on my work.
Education/Academic qualification
PGCert THE, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Award Date: 1 Jun 2015
Doctor of Philosophy, Keele University
Award Date: 1 Jul 2007
Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science, University of Greenwich
Award Date: 1 Aug 2003
External positions
SAGES (Scottish Association for Geoscience, Envrionment & Society) Executive Committee Member
1 Oct 2018 → …
Publications Secretary , British Society for Geomorphology
1 Sept 2015 → 31 Aug 2018
Reviews Editor
GAPHAZ member
Keywords
- G Geography (General)
- Glaciology
- GE Environmental Sciences
- Geohazards
- GB Physical geography
- Climate Change
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SDG 13 Climate Action
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SDG 14 Life Below Water
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SDG 15 Life on Land
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Can Restorative Justice Create Process of Restorative Climate Justice Applicable to Adaptation Needs of Those Affected by Deglaciation?
Allan, A. (Investigator) & Cook, S. (Investigator)
Project: Research
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PEGASUS: Producing Energy and Preventing Hazards from Surface Water Storage in Peru (with Leeds, Hull and Northumbria Universities)
Cook, S. (Investigator)
10/02/19 → 31/03/22
Project: Research
Research output
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Glacial hazards
Cook, S. J., 3 Mar 2026, Comprehensive Cryospheric Science and Environmental Change. Elias, S. A. & Kelly, R. (eds.). 1 ed. Elsevier, Vol. 1. p. 361-385Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Transboundary outburst floods from giant supraglacial lakes over the Himalayan China–Nepal border
ZHANG, T.-G., WANG, W.-C. (Lead / Corresponding author), Khadka, N., Kougkoulos, I., COOK, S. J., WATSON, C. S., Gao, Y., Li, S.-H., Yang, X., Wang, Z.-Y., AN, B.-S. & YAO, T.-D., 29 Jun 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Advances in Climate Change Research.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Causes, consequences and implications of the 2023 landslide-induced Lake Rasac glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), Cordillera Huayhuash, Peru
Emmer, A. (Lead / Corresponding author), Vilca, O., Checa, C. S., Li, S., Cook, S., Pummer, E., Hrebrina, J. & Haeberli, W., 28 Mar 2025, In: Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. 25, 3, p. 1207-1228 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile9 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)139 Downloads (Pure) -
Glaciers give way to new coasts: Arctic change
Cook, S. J. (Lead / Corresponding author), May 2025, In: Nature Climate Change. 15, 5, p. 469-470 2 p., 12993.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
Open AccessFile64 Downloads (Pure) -
High frequency of moraine-dammed lake outburst floods driven by global warming
Zhang, T., Wang, W. (Lead / Corresponding author), Kougkoulos, I., Cook, S. J., Li, S., Iribarren-Anacona, P., Watson, C. S., An, B. & Yao, T., 17 Dec 2025, In: Nature Communications. 16, 10 p., 11173.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile8 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)23 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Geographical Association Publishers' Awards 2020 - Silver
Cook, S. (Recipient), 27 Apr 2020
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Geographical Association Publishers' Awards 2021 - Silver
Cook, S. (Recipient), 8 Apr 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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The Grove Karl Gilbert Award for Excellence in Geomorphological Research
Cook, S. (Recipient), 28 Feb 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Problems brewing as glacier shrink worldwide
Cook, S. (Speaker)
19 May 2026Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Pint of Science Dundee 2026
Atkinson, R. (Organiser), Callaby, H. (Speaker), Lynch, D. (Speaker), Street-Jeakings, R. (Speaker), Bailey, C. (Speaker), Jackson, G. (Speaker), Shaw, M. (Speaker), Bota, M. (Speaker), Crawley, E. (Speaker), Mossey, P. (Speaker), Nisbet, L. (Speaker), McLean, N. (Speaker), De Paoli, G. (Speaker), Connor, K. (Speaker), Martin, D. (Speaker), Sweeney, C. (Speaker), McKim, S. (Speaker), Finlayson-Sykes, M. (Speaker), Couto Nadais, P. F. (Speaker), Cook, S. (Speaker), Booth, D. (Speaker), Bennett, N. (Speaker), Sacramone, M. (Speaker), Morrice, N. (Speaker), Andrieieva, D. (Speaker), Singleton, S. (Speaker), Moir, J. (Speaker), Koss, D. (Speaker), O'Neill, L. (Speaker), Grigoriou, A. (Speaker), Henstridge, C. (Speaker), Mcfarlane, A. (Speaker), Laszlo, Z. (Speaker), van der Hoorn, D. (Speaker), Katsiavria, A. (Speaker), Mustienes Rando, E. (Speaker), Matsumura, S. (Speaker), Amos, C. (Speaker), Katsiavria, A. (Speaker), Dou, W. (Speaker), Brown, L. (Speaker), Austin, H. (Speaker), Tetley-Brown, L. (Speaker), Southin, E. (Organiser), Knutsson, K. (Organiser), Mccutcheon, A. (Organiser), Finlayson-Sykes, M. (Organiser), Koh, H. X. C. (Organiser), Veluchamy, A. (Organiser), Grigoriou, A. (Organiser) & Katsiavria, A. (Organiser)
18 May 2026 → 20 May 2026Activity: Other activity types › Public engagement and outreach - public lecture/debate/seminar
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Fife Climate Youth Festival
Cook, S. (Participant), Garcia-Wilson, E. (Participant) & Labib, K. (Participant)
24 Sept 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Festival/Exhibition
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PhD External Examiner - University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Cook, S. (Examiner)
30 Sept 2024Activity: Examination types › Examination
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External Examiner MRes Environmental Geoscience Programme, Newcastle University
Cook, S. (Examiner)
5 Nov 2024Activity: Examination types › Examination
Press/Media
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Pakistan Flooding - BBC Radio 4 / BBC World Service 'More Or Less'
7/09/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Other
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Marmolada glacier collapse in Italy kills seven - BBC Radio 4
4/07/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Other
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Marmolada glacier collapse in Italy kills seven - BBC World Service
4/07/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Other
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Nepal to move Everest base camp from melting glacier - BBC News Channel
17/06/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Other
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Al Jazeera News Interview: Catastrophic Flooding in Uttarakhand, India - 8th February 2021
8/02/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Other