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
Research
Physical & Environmental Geography research group
Researching the interactions between the Earth’s hydrological, geomorphological, atmospheric and ecological processes at different geographical scales.
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.
King's Climate Research Hub
Studying climate change through the relationship between science, policy and culture, particularly in the developing world.
Climate researchers at King’s
King's researchers working across climate and sustainability
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
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...
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...
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’.
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.
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.
Events
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’...
Research
Physical & Environmental Geography research group
Researching the interactions between the Earth’s hydrological, geomorphological, atmospheric and ecological processes at different geographical scales.
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.
King's Climate Research Hub
Studying climate change through the relationship between science, policy and culture, particularly in the developing world.
Climate researchers at King’s
King's researchers working across climate and sustainability
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
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...
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...
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’.
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.
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.
Events
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’...