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Dr George Adamson

Dr George Adamson

Reader in Climate and Society

Research interests

  • Geography

Biography

Dr George Adamson moved to King's in 2013, having studied and worked in the Geography, History and Earth Science departments at the Universities of Manchester, Brighton and Sussex.

He brings this interdisciplinary background to his research, which focuses on the complex relationships between climate and society. Since 2016, he has also convened King's Climate Research Hub, a multidisciplinary research cluster with a particular interest in cultural perspectives on climate and people.

Research

  • Multi-decadal climate variability, particularly in the tropics
  • Long-term determinants of social vulnerability and adaptation to climate change
  • The use and production of climate knowledge

George's research focuses on the complex relationships between climate and society. As a physical scientist, he tries to understand long-term variability in climate over the last few centuries, particularly in the tropics. As a social scientist, he is interested in the way that societies live within climate variability, particularly how institutions create social vulnerability to climate-related hazards.

Lastly, adopting theories from Science and Technology Studies, he researches how societies 'construct' climate, both through the production of scientific knowledge and through cultural practices that create the 'idea' of climate.

Teaching

Undergraduate

  • 5SSG2047 Field Research in Human & Development Geography (field trip to Kerala)
  • 5SSG2051 Climate Variability, Change and Society (Module Coordinator)
  • 6SSG3070 Climate Change: Past, Present and Future
  • 6SSG3073 Histories and Geographies of Climate Change
  • Study Abroad (incoming and outgoing students)

Postgraduate

  • 7SSG5210 Climate: Science and History (Module Coordinator)

PhD supervision

George would be happy to supervise students in any of the following areas:

  • Politics of climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction
  • History and philosophy of climate science
  • Historical climatology
  • Public understanding of climate change

Further details

See George's research profile

    Research

    earth-banner
    Physical & Environmental Geography research group

    Researching the interactions between the Earth’s hydrological, geomorphological, atmospheric and ecological processes at different geographical scales.

    desert drought
    Risk, Hazard & Society research group

    Advancing understanding of risk and perception, as well as communication and regulation in a range of environmental, social and country contexts.

    climate change hero
    King's Climate Research Hub

    Studying climate change through the relationship between science, policy and culture, particularly in the developing world.

    climate change hero
    Climate researchers at King’s

    King's researchers working across climate and sustainability

    Elemental Adaptation: Water and energy security from artificial ice reservoirs
    Elemental Adaptation: Water and energy security from artificial ice reservoirs

    This project explores the potential of Artificial Ice Reservoirs (AIRs) as alternative water sources, and the implications in mountainous regions.

    Project status: Ongoing

    News

    New installation on the Strand will imagine a climate-positive mythical world

    Acclaimed design studio Superflux and King’s Culture present 'The Quiet Enchanting', an installation inspired by King’s climate and sustainability research

    A stag stands in a pool of light to the left of the image. The floor is rocky, to the right is a tree trunk and in the background a dimly lit grand building.

    Project to limit the impact of melting glaciers on nearby people and systems

    A new research project led by King’s is working to better support the people and systems downstream of glaciers and limit the melting taking place due to...

    Ice Stupa in India

    Immersive art installation will make changes to climate 'real'

    Dr George Adamson, Senior Lecturer in Geography at King’s, has worked with artist Inés Cámara Leret to create the Weather the Weather installation for this...

    Weather the Weather, 2022 Photo by: Max Leighton, In Our Nature

    Transparency around science can help 'Build Back Better' from COVID-19

    New paper led by King’s academics says political and uneven access to scientific knowledge affected public trust and paved the way for ‘alternative knowledge’.

    Coronavirus dashboard

    New podcast on science, policy and culture in climate change

    King’s Climate has launched a new podcast, taking a deeper look at science, policy and culture in climate change.

    Keep calm and follow the science icon

    Seven collaborations launched as part of King's Artists programme

    Throughout the 2019–20 academic year, seven new artists-in-residence will be based in departments across King’s College London.

    A person laying on a black floor with a map of the world drawn in white tape

    Events

    27OctInfographic with blue background, a picture of George Adamson, and purple text "sustainability seminar series #1. bringing climate change home with Dr George Adamson".

    Bringing climate change home

    Join us for this open-access seminar with Dr George Adamson about "bringing climate change home".

    Please note: this event has passed.

    Features

    Are women climate scientists judged for speaking out? Not so much, research suggests

    Research from the Department of Geography at King's College London has suggested that advocacy in the media won’t significantly harm women climate scientists’...

    Woman giving interview

      Research

      earth-banner
      Physical & Environmental Geography research group

      Researching the interactions between the Earth’s hydrological, geomorphological, atmospheric and ecological processes at different geographical scales.

      desert drought
      Risk, Hazard & Society research group

      Advancing understanding of risk and perception, as well as communication and regulation in a range of environmental, social and country contexts.

      climate change hero
      King's Climate Research Hub

      Studying climate change through the relationship between science, policy and culture, particularly in the developing world.

      climate change hero
      Climate researchers at King’s

      King's researchers working across climate and sustainability

      Elemental Adaptation: Water and energy security from artificial ice reservoirs
      Elemental Adaptation: Water and energy security from artificial ice reservoirs

      This project explores the potential of Artificial Ice Reservoirs (AIRs) as alternative water sources, and the implications in mountainous regions.

      Project status: Ongoing

      News

      New installation on the Strand will imagine a climate-positive mythical world

      Acclaimed design studio Superflux and King’s Culture present 'The Quiet Enchanting', an installation inspired by King’s climate and sustainability research

      A stag stands in a pool of light to the left of the image. The floor is rocky, to the right is a tree trunk and in the background a dimly lit grand building.

      Project to limit the impact of melting glaciers on nearby people and systems

      A new research project led by King’s is working to better support the people and systems downstream of glaciers and limit the melting taking place due to...

      Ice Stupa in India

      Immersive art installation will make changes to climate 'real'

      Dr George Adamson, Senior Lecturer in Geography at King’s, has worked with artist Inés Cámara Leret to create the Weather the Weather installation for this...

      Weather the Weather, 2022 Photo by: Max Leighton, In Our Nature

      Transparency around science can help 'Build Back Better' from COVID-19

      New paper led by King’s academics says political and uneven access to scientific knowledge affected public trust and paved the way for ‘alternative knowledge’.

      Coronavirus dashboard

      New podcast on science, policy and culture in climate change

      King’s Climate has launched a new podcast, taking a deeper look at science, policy and culture in climate change.

      Keep calm and follow the science icon

      Seven collaborations launched as part of King's Artists programme

      Throughout the 2019–20 academic year, seven new artists-in-residence will be based in departments across King’s College London.

      A person laying on a black floor with a map of the world drawn in white tape

      Events

      27OctInfographic with blue background, a picture of George Adamson, and purple text "sustainability seminar series #1. bringing climate change home with Dr George Adamson".

      Bringing climate change home

      Join us for this open-access seminar with Dr George Adamson about "bringing climate change home".

      Please note: this event has passed.

      Features

      Are women climate scientists judged for speaking out? Not so much, research suggests

      Research from the Department of Geography at King's College London has suggested that advocacy in the media won’t significantly harm women climate scientists’...

      Woman giving interview