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Dr Joel Gill
(he/him)
FHEA FGS FRGS
Lecturer in Sustainable Geoscience
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
- GillJ11@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 29225 14510
- Main Building, Room Room 2.13, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I am an interdisciplinary geoscientist, integrating natural and social science approaches to address issues relating to sustainable development and disaster risk reduction. I often work at the science-policy-practice interface, and take a proactive approach to securing impact from the work I contribute to.
A particular research focus is advancing 'multi-hazard' approaches to disaster risk management, by understanding the interrelationships between natural hazards (e.g., how one hazard triggers another hazard, or changes the likelihood of another hazard occurring) and how these contribute to dynamic risk.
I have been at the forefront of dialogue, student engagement, and research in sustainable geoscience for the last decade, and play a leading role internationally in championing how geoscientists can help deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I am the lead Editor of a recent book on this theme (Geosciences and the SDGs), and engage in UN forums and processes.
I am the School’s Director of Public Engagement, working to implement our outreach strategy and support the School to contribute to relevant activities. I'm particularly interested in place-based learning, and how the fantastic geological resources we have in South Wales can be used to enrich public understanding of Earth and environmental science.
Publication
2023
- Wagaba, B., Sayan, C., Haemmerli, H., Gill, J. and Parker, A. 2023. Understanding small NGOs' access to and use of geological data and expertise in delivering SDG 6 in eastern Africa. Journal of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene for Development 13(5), pp. 312-321. (10.2166/washdev.2023.233)
2022
- Vane, C. H. et al. 2022. Impact of organic pollutants from urban slum informal settlements on sustainable development goals and river sediment quality, Nairobi, Kenya, Africa. Applied Geochemistry 146, article number: 105468. (10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105468)
- Ward, P. J. et al. 2022. Invited perspectives: A research agenda towards disaster risk management pathways in multi-(hazard-)risk assessment. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 22(4), pp. 1487-1497. (10.5194/nhess-22-1487-2022)
2021
- Gill, J. C., Taylor, F. E., Duncan, M. J., Mohadjer, S., Budimir, M., Mdala, H. and Bukachi, V. 2021. Invited perspectives: Building sustainable and resilient communities – recommended actions for natural hazard scientists. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 21(1), pp. 187-202. (10.5194/nhess-21-187-2021)
2020
- de Ruiter, M. C., Couasnon, A., van den Homberg, M., Daniell, J. E., Gill, J. C. and Ward, P. J. 2020. Why we can no longer ignore consecutive disasters.. Earth's Future 8(3), article number: e2019EF001425. (10.1029/2019ef001425)
- Gill, J. C., Malamud, B. D., Barillas, E. M. and Noriega, A. G. 2020. Construction of regional multi-hazard interaction frameworks, with an application to Guatemala.. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 20(1), pp. 149-180. (10.5194/nhess-20-149-2020)
2019
- Schrodt, F. et al. 2019. Opinion: To advance sustainable stewardship, we must document not only biodiversity but geodiversity.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 116(33), pp. 16155-16158. (10.1073/pnas.1911799116)
- Gill, J. C., Mankelow, J. and Keely, M. 2019. The role of Earth and environmental science in addressing sustainable development priorities in Eastern Africa. Environmental Development 30, pp. 3-20. (10.1016/j.envdev.2019.03.003)
2017
- Gill, J. C. and Bullough, F. 2017. Geoscience engagement in global development frameworks.. Annals of Geophysics 60, article number: 7460. (10.4401/ag-7460)
- Stewart, I. S. and Gill, J. C. 2017. Social geology — integrating sustainability concepts into Earth sciences.. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 128(2), pp. 165-172. (10.1016/j.pgeola.2017.01.002)
- Gill, J. C. and Malamud, B. D. 2017. Anthropogenic processes, natural hazards, and interactions in a multi-hazard framework. Earth-Science Reviews 166, pp. 246-269. (10.1016/j.earscirev.2017.01.002)
- Gill, J. C. 2017. Geology and the sustainable development goals. Episodes 40(1), pp. 70-76. (10.18814/epiiugs/2017/v40i1/017010)
2016
- Gill, J. C. and Malamud, B. D. 2016. Hazard interactions and interaction networks (cascades) within multi-hazard methodologies. Earth System Dynamics 7(3), pp. 659-679. (10.5194/esd-7-659-2016)
- Gill, J. C. 2016. Building good foundations: Skills for effective engagement in international development. In: Wessel, G. R. and Greenberg, J. K. eds. Geoscience for the Public Good and Global Development: Toward a Sustainable Future. Geological Society of America, pp. 1-8., (10.1130/2016.2520(01))
2014
- Gill, J. C. and Malamud, B. D. 2014. Reviewing and visualizing the interactions of natural hazards.. Reviews of Geophysics 52(4), pp. 680-722. (10.1002/2013RG000445)
Articles
- Wagaba, B., Sayan, C., Haemmerli, H., Gill, J. and Parker, A. 2023. Understanding small NGOs' access to and use of geological data and expertise in delivering SDG 6 in eastern Africa. Journal of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene for Development 13(5), pp. 312-321. (10.2166/washdev.2023.233)
- Vane, C. H. et al. 2022. Impact of organic pollutants from urban slum informal settlements on sustainable development goals and river sediment quality, Nairobi, Kenya, Africa. Applied Geochemistry 146, article number: 105468. (10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105468)
- Ward, P. J. et al. 2022. Invited perspectives: A research agenda towards disaster risk management pathways in multi-(hazard-)risk assessment. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 22(4), pp. 1487-1497. (10.5194/nhess-22-1487-2022)
- Gill, J. C., Taylor, F. E., Duncan, M. J., Mohadjer, S., Budimir, M., Mdala, H. and Bukachi, V. 2021. Invited perspectives: Building sustainable and resilient communities – recommended actions for natural hazard scientists. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 21(1), pp. 187-202. (10.5194/nhess-21-187-2021)
- de Ruiter, M. C., Couasnon, A., van den Homberg, M., Daniell, J. E., Gill, J. C. and Ward, P. J. 2020. Why we can no longer ignore consecutive disasters.. Earth's Future 8(3), article number: e2019EF001425. (10.1029/2019ef001425)
- Gill, J. C., Malamud, B. D., Barillas, E. M. and Noriega, A. G. 2020. Construction of regional multi-hazard interaction frameworks, with an application to Guatemala.. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 20(1), pp. 149-180. (10.5194/nhess-20-149-2020)
- Schrodt, F. et al. 2019. Opinion: To advance sustainable stewardship, we must document not only biodiversity but geodiversity.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 116(33), pp. 16155-16158. (10.1073/pnas.1911799116)
- Gill, J. C., Mankelow, J. and Keely, M. 2019. The role of Earth and environmental science in addressing sustainable development priorities in Eastern Africa. Environmental Development 30, pp. 3-20. (10.1016/j.envdev.2019.03.003)
- Gill, J. C. and Bullough, F. 2017. Geoscience engagement in global development frameworks.. Annals of Geophysics 60, article number: 7460. (10.4401/ag-7460)
- Stewart, I. S. and Gill, J. C. 2017. Social geology — integrating sustainability concepts into Earth sciences.. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 128(2), pp. 165-172. (10.1016/j.pgeola.2017.01.002)
- Gill, J. C. and Malamud, B. D. 2017. Anthropogenic processes, natural hazards, and interactions in a multi-hazard framework. Earth-Science Reviews 166, pp. 246-269. (10.1016/j.earscirev.2017.01.002)
- Gill, J. C. 2017. Geology and the sustainable development goals. Episodes 40(1), pp. 70-76. (10.18814/epiiugs/2017/v40i1/017010)
- Gill, J. C. and Malamud, B. D. 2016. Hazard interactions and interaction networks (cascades) within multi-hazard methodologies. Earth System Dynamics 7(3), pp. 659-679. (10.5194/esd-7-659-2016)
- Gill, J. C. and Malamud, B. D. 2014. Reviewing and visualizing the interactions of natural hazards.. Reviews of Geophysics 52(4), pp. 680-722. (10.1002/2013RG000445)
Book sections
- Gill, J. C. 2016. Building good foundations: Skills for effective engagement in international development. In: Wessel, G. R. and Greenberg, J. K. eds. Geoscience for the Public Good and Global Development: Toward a Sustainable Future. Geological Society of America, pp. 1-8., (10.1130/2016.2520(01))
Research
My research and related activities can be grouped into two interrelated themes:
1. Multi-Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
There is a strong two-directional relationship between disaster risk reduction and sustainable development. Disasters disproportionately affect the most marginalised in society, and threaten development progress. Development choices we make today shape the risk faced by individuals and the spaces of tomorrow.
A key step in the characterisation of risk is understanding the multi-hazard landscape of a region (i.e., the relevant single natural hazards and the processes by which they may interrelate to generate combinations or cascades of hazards). To support this, I draw on both natural and social science methodologies, to collect, analyse, and integrate diverse qualitative and quantitative evidence (literature, field observations, interviews, data-generating workshops), and explore multi-hazard scenarios with decision makers.
Sub-Themes of Interest:
- Multi-hazard frameworks/systems
- Dynamic risk
- Natural hazard interactions
- Anthropogenic impacts on natural hazards
- Urban multi-hazard risk in the Global South.
Current Projects and Roles:
- Principal Investigator, Improving household preparedness in multi-hazard contexts, Lloyd's Register Foundation
- External Advisory Board, MYRIAD-EU – Multi-hazard and sYstemic framework for enhancing Risk-Informed mAnagement and Decision-making in the E.U., Horizon 2020.
2. Geoscience and Sustainable Development
Understanding of our Earth's resources, systems, and dynamics can help deliver many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). My work in this theme aims to characterise geoscientists’ role in sustainable development and understand the structural transformations required to facilitate positive impact (e.g., reforms to geoscience education, improved approaches to partnership development, strengthened access to and ability to use geoscience data by non-geoscience organisations).
Sub Themes of Interest:
- Science and the SDGs
- Education for sustainable development
- Capacity strengthening
- Access to and capacity to use geoscience data and expertise
- Evaluating interdisciplinary research.
Current Projects and Roles:
- Water Management in Sub-Saharan Africa. Exploring the barriers and enablers to geoscience information being used by those implementing water and sanitation projects, in support of SDG 6.
- Strengthening the Ambition and Technical Feasibility of Nationally Determined Contributions. Work exploring the science-policy interface, and how to strengthen this to support implementation of the Paris Agreement.
- Reshaping Geoscience to Support SDG Implementation. Work on education and critically examining the science-policy interface to identify and support action on changes required to implement the 2030 Agenda.
Aligned with this work, I lead Geology for Global Development, a UK-based registered charity that works to build a sustainable future for all by transforming understanding of, access to, and capacity to use the geoscience required to implement the SDGs.
Teaching
Undergraduate Teaching
- I contribute to the World of Dynamic Environments module, using case studies from around the world to introduce Year 1 students to concepts of sustainable development and disaster risk reduction.
- I contribute to a residential fieldtrip to Cornwall for Year 2 students.
- I lead the Hazard, Risk, and Resilience module, available to students in Year 3, exploring how complex factors shape risk and the actions that can be taken to reduce disaster impacts.
- I coodinaate the Environmental Geoscience Dissertation module, and supervise projects on multi-hazard characterisation in the Global South.
Postgraduate Teaching:
- I lead the Risk Assessment module, forming part of the MSc Environmental Hazards, teaching on topics including complex risk dynamics and risk perception.
Biography
- Lecturer in Sustainable Geoscience, Cardiff University (2022 – present)
- Senior International Development Geoscientist, British Geological Survey, UK (2021 – 2022)
- International Development Geoscientist, British Geological Survey, UK (2016 – 2021)
- PhD Geography (Natural Hazards), King's College London (2016)
- MSc Engineering Geology, University of Leeds, UK (2010)
- BA Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, UK (2008)
Honours and awards
- Class Teacher Prize. Department of Geography and Environment, London School of Economics (2016).
- Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society (2015)
- Class Teacher Prize. Department of Geography and Environment, London School of Economics (2014).
- Best Paper Award (Bronze Medal). Young Scientists’ Session, Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRiM) International Conference, University of Northumbria, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (2013)
Professional memberships
- Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (2022–)
- Member of the European Geosciences Union (2016–)
- Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2016–)
- Fellow of the Geological Society of London (2012–)
Academic positions
- 2015 – 2016: Module Teacher (Natural Hazards), Geography, King’s College London, UK
- 2012 – 2016: Class Teacher (Disaster Risk Reduction), Geography and Environment, London School of Economics, UK
Speaking engagements
Since 2012, I have given >40 invited talks (with visits to 16 universities in the UK, and additional invited talks in Ireland, Tanzania, Sweden, Canada). Select examples include:
- April 2024, Geosciences and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, GESINA Initiative for Geoscience Sustainability (Nigeria), Invited Talk (Online).
- April 2024, How can geoscience unions and societies effectively integrate science into global policy decisions?, EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Panel Discussion.
- September 2022, The future we want: how do we deliver it?, Cardiff University School of Earth and Environmental Sciences Public Lecture Series.
- April 2021, Geosciences and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Professional Geoscientists Ontario Symposium, Canada, Invited Talk (Online).
- September 2020, Effective approaches and methodologies to understand and model multi-hazard relationships (e.g., hazard cascades), AOGS-EGU Joint Conference on New Dimensions for Natural Hazards in Asia, Invited Talk (Online)
- April 2019, Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development, Geological Society of London Public Lecture Series, London, Invited Lecture.
- January 2018, Reshaping Geoscience to Deliver the Sustainable Development Goals, Irish Early Career Geoscience Symposium, Galway, Ireland, Keynote Lecture.
In addition, I have given >35 research and outreach presentations at conferences in 10 countries.
Committees and reviewing
- 2023–Present, Steering Committee, UK Alliance for Disasters Research
- 2020–23, Secretary (Foreign and Exteral Affairs) and Council Member, Geological Society of London
- 2014–23, External Relations Commitee, Geological Society of London
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:
- Multi-Hazard Risk Management
- Geoscience and Sustainable Development
External students:
- Co-Supervisor for Harriet Thompson (King's College London) - Using quantitative and qualitative methods for multi-hazard impact knowledge in urban poor communities: A case study in Kathmandu, Nepal.
- External Supervisor for Hedieh Soltanpour (Université de Tours) - Multi-hazard susceptibility mapping in the karst context using a machine-learning method (MaxEnt), case study: Val d’Orléans, France
Current supervision
Stephanie Buller
Graduate Demonstrator
Impact
Continued Professional Development
- Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities: Actions for Natural Hazard Scientists. Supported by the European Geosciences Union, this free online course explores how natural hazard scientists can better contribute to the planning and development of sustainable and resilient communities through improved engagement in disaster risk reduction. The course includes seven classes, with an aim of helping learners develop skills and content-based knowledge.
Research themes
Specialisms
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Natural hazards
- Sustainable Development Goals
- International development
- Risk Management
