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Samantha Buzzard

Dr Samantha Buzzard

Lecturer in Climate Science

School of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Email
BuzzardS@cardiff.ac.uk
Campuses
Main Building, Room 2.52, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

I am a glaciologist and climate scientist. My research interest focusses on the surface hydrology of Antarctica's ice shelves, and I work on modelling how and where ice shelves may become vulnerable to sudden collapse. This is important in determining Antarctica's contribution to global sea level. I also have interests in Greenland surface hydrology and snow and melt on Arctic sea ice.

I am a 2020 IASC Cryosphere fellow and also a fellow of the Software Sustainability Institute. I am the British Correspndant for the International Glaciological Society and was privileged to be awarded the 2022 IGS Early Career Award.

I have a strong interest in science communication and have spoken at Maths Inspiration theatre shows for teenagers, at the Royal Society and at various festivals, schools and museums. I am also happy to provide media comments and have spoken on live radio for Radio 4's today program and BBC 5 Live.

My CV is available here.

Publication

2022

2021

2020

2018

2015

Articles

Book sections

Research

Research projects that I am currently working on include:

 

MONARCHS- A model for Antarctic ice shelf surface hydrology and stability, which will be avaiable for open access use this Summer.

 

SLIDE- A NERC funded project investigating fast draining subglacial lakes in Isunguate Sermia, Greenland.

 

Ice Shelf flexure- An Antarctic Sciences International funded project to investigate the flexure of ice shelves in response to meltwater loading.

Teaching

Currently teaching:

  • Global Climate Change
  • Earth and Environmental Sytems Modelling
  • Numerical Modelling of Environmental Hazards

Possible dissertation supervision topics include: Glaciology, Sea Ice, Climate Change, Wind Energy.

I have been awarded a Fulbright Global Challenges Teaching Award, meaning that a group of my Global Climate Change students will be working with Criminal Justice students from Shenandoah University, USA to study the global challenge of cliamte change together across disciplines. You can learn more about the award in this video.

Biography

Academic positions

  • 2021: Lecturer, Cardiff University
  • 2019: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgia Institue of Technology
  • 2017: Postdoctoral Research Assistant, University College London
  • Honorary Research Associate- The Institute of Risk and Disaster Reduction, UCL (2016-Present)

Education

  • 2017: Ph.D. Atmospheres, Oceans and Climate, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading
  • 2012: MMath Mathematics, University of Exeter

Impact

As a mathematician by training, I'm passionate about sharing how maths influences many different aspects of our lives, and how we need people with mathematical skills to tackle important problems like climate change.

Upcoming events that I'll be speaking at include:

London Mathematical Society Popular Lecture 2022- October 27th, 5pm, University of Birmingham

Protecting Our Planet Day, 10th November 2022, Online

I recently had a video made about being a mathematical scientist by the Advanced Maths Support Program. You can see the video on YouTube.

 

I frequently work to communicate my science to the public. My research work was showcased in one of a series of videos produced as part of the #SmallNationBigIdeasfor COP Cymru, Wales Climate Week. You can see the video on YouTube.

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Glaciology
  • Climate change processes
  • Computational modelling and simulation in earth sciences