Meghan Alexander

Contact

• workRoom A14 Sir Clive Granger
  University Park
  Nottingham
  NG7 2RD
  UK
• work0115 95 15441
• Meghan.Alexander@nottingham.ac.uk

Biography

Meghan holds a PhD in Geography from the Flood Hazard Research Centre of Middlesex University and a BSc in Geography (First Class Hons) from the University of Wales Aberystwyth, where she was awarded the Gregynog & James Fairgrieve Prize for the highest academic achievement within the degree scheme. Since completing her PhD, Meghan has undertaken postdoctoral research at Middlesex University, the University of Leeds (Sustainability Research Institute), Cardiff University (School of Earth & Ocean Sciences) and the University of East Anglia (School of Politics, affiliated with the Tyndall Centre of Climate Change Research). In this time, Meghan has been involved in a range of national and international interdisciplinary research consortia, examining matters of flood risk governance and management (STAR-FLOOD, FRMRC2), social capacity building for natural hazards (CapHaz-Net), climate services (SECTEUR), health and well-being on the coast (CoastWEB), and policy dynamics in climate adaptation (Adapt Lock-in).

Expertise Summary

Meghan's research experience spans the following areas:

• Climate Change Adaptation
• Environmental and Risk Governance & Policy
• Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management
• Resilience & Social Vulnerability
• Social Justice
• Policy Dynamics (stability & change)
• Health and Well-being under climate change
• Research methods - stakeholder interviews, policy analysis, process tracing, workshops and questionnaire surveys

Professional affiliations

Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Research Fellow, Earth System Governance Network

Fellow, Royal Geographical Society

Teaching Summary

I teach on the degree programmes for Geography (BA/BSc) and Environmental Leadership & Management (MSc), on the following modules:

• Climate Change Decision-making in Context (GEOG4095) (module convenor)
• People and the Environment (GEOG4090)
• Project Preparation and Design (GEOG4099)
• Living with Hazards (GEOG2073) (module convenor for semester 1)
• Global Climate Change (GEOG3062)
• Just Futures & their Geographies (GEOG3061)
• Research Tutorial (GEOG2030)
• Dissertation supervision
• Tutorials

I am also the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the School of Geography and Chair the EDI Committee.

Research Summary

Meghan's research centres on climate change adaptation, with a strong focus on governance, policy and risk management. Her current research as part of the Adapt Lock-in Project examines how… read more

Recent Publications

• BETHANY JACKSON, ESTHER WEIR, JONATHAN MEAD, ANTHONY DIPRETA, MARY SEBASTIAN, KIMBERLEY HUTCHISON, JOLAADE OLATUNBOSUN, VICKY BROTHERTON, DOREEN BOYD and MEGHAN ALEXANDER, 2024. Integrating policies addressing modern slavery and climate change Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre.
• JOHN TURNPENNY and MEGHAN ALEXANDER, 2024. Addressing risks to mental health from climate change: a policy capacity analysis of England Climate Policy.
• JULIEN PÉTILLON, EMMA MCKINLEY, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, JANINE B. ADAMS, CHRISTINE ANGELINI, THORSTEN BALKE and JOHN N. GRIFFIN, 2023. Top ten priorities for global saltmarsh restoration, conservation and ecosystem service research Science of The Total Environment. 898, 165544
• LISANNE GROEN, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, JULIE KING, NICOLAS JAGER and DAVE HUITEMA, 2022. Re-examining policy stability in climate adaptation through a lock-in perspective Journal of European Public Policy.

• View all publications

Refereed articles in Academic Journals

Turnpenny, J. and Alexander, M. (2024) Addressing risks to mental health from climate change: a policy capacity analysis of England. Climate Policy.

Pétillon, J., McKinley, E., Alexander, M. et al. (2023) Top ten priorities for global saltmarsh restoration, conservation and ecosystem service research. Science of The Total Environment. 898, 165544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165544

Groen, L., Alexander, M., King, J.P., Jager, N.W. and Huitema, D. (2022) Re-examining policy stability in climate adaptation through a lock-in perspective. Journal of European Public Policy. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2022.2064535

McKinley, E., Pages, J., Alexander, M., et al. (2020) Uses and management of saltmarshes: A Global Survey. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 243.106840

Hegger, D., Alexander, M., Raadgever, T., Priest, S. and Bruzzone, S. (2020) Shaping flood risk governance through science-policy interfaces: insights from England, France and The Netherlands. Environmental Science & Policy. 106. 157-165.

Rendon, O.R., Garbutt, A., Skov, M., Möller, I., Alexander, M., Ballinger, R., Wyles, k., Smith, G., McKinley, E., Griffin, J., Thomas, M., Davidson, K., Pagès, J., Read, S., and Beaumont, N. (2019) A framework linking ecosystem services and human well-being: an application to saltmarsh. People and Nature. 1 (4). 486-496. DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10050

Alexander, M. and Dessai, S. (2019) What can climate services learn from the broader services literature? Climatic Change. 10.1007/s10584-019-02388-8

Mees, H., Alexander, M., Matczak, P., Gralepois, M., and Mees H.L.P. (2018) Typologies of citizen co-production in flood risk governance. Environmental Science and Policy. 89. 330-339

Alexander, M., Priest, S. and Penning-Rowsell, E.C. (2017) The risk of ill-informed reform: the future for English flood risk management. Area. DOI: 10.1111/area.12393

Pettersson, M., van Rijswick, M., Suykens, C., Alexander, M., Beyers, J-C., Priest, S. and Ek, K. (2017) Assessing the legitimacy of flood risk governance arrangements in Europe: insights from intra-country evaluations. Water International. 42(8). 929-944. DOI: 10.1080/02508060.2017.1393716

Alexander, M., Doorn, N. and Priest, S. (2017) Bridging the legitimacy gap -Translating theory into practical signposts for legitimate flood risk governance. Regional Environmental Change. 18(2). 397-408. DOI 10.1007/s10113-017-1195-4

Bruno Soares, M., Alexander, M. and Dessai, S. (2017) Sectoral use of climate information in Europe: a synoptic overview. Climate Services. http://dx. doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2017.06.001

Fournier, M., Larrue, C., Alexander, M., Hegger, D., Bakker, M., Pettersson, M., Crabbé, A., Mees, H. and Chorynski, A. (2016) Flood risk mitigation in Europe - how far are we from desired forms of adaptive governance? Ecology and Society. 21(4): 49

Gilissen, H.K., Alexander, M., Matczak, P., Pettersson, M. and Bruzzone, S. (2016) A framework for evaluating the effectiveness of flood emergency management systems in Europe. Ecology and Society. 21(4): 27

Alexander, M., Priest, S. and Mees, H. (2016) A framework for evaluating flood risk governance. Environmental Science and Policy. 64. 38-47

Gilissen, H.K., Alexander, M., Beyers, J-C., Chmielewski, P., Matczak, P., Schellenberger, T. and Suykens, C. (2016) Bridges over Troubled Water - Towards an Interdisciplinary Framework for Evaluating the Interconnectedness within Fragmented Domestic Flood Risk Management Systems. Journal of Water Law. 25 (1). 12-26

Mees, H., Crabbe, A., Alexander, M., Bruzzone, S., Kaufmann, M., Levy, L. and Lewandowski, J. (2016) Coproducing flood risk management through citizen involvement -Insights from cross-country comparisons in Europe. Journal of Ecology and Society. 21(3): 7

Alexander, M., Viavattene, C., Faulkner, H. and Priest, S. (2013) Translating the complexities of flood risk science using KEEPER - A Knowledge exchange exploratory tool for professionals in emergency management, Journal of Flood Risk Management. 7(3).

Articles and chapters in edited Books

Alexander, M. and Priest, S. (2019) A House of Cards: The challenge of establishing societal resilience to flooding through multi-layered governance in England. [In] Jeunesse, I.L. and Larrue, C. (eds) Facing Hydrometeorological Extreme Events: A Governance Issue. Wiley. p101-111

Raadgever, T. and Hegger, D. (eds) (2018) (contributing author) [In] Flood risk management strategies and governance. Springer e-book. ISBB: 978-3-319-67699-9

Faulkner H., Alexander M. & Leedal D. (2014) Translating uncertainty in flood risk science. In: Beven, K. And Hall, J. (Eds). Applied uncertainty analysis for flood risk management. World Scientific. ISBN: 978-1-84816-270-9.

Official/Research Reports

Jackson, B., Weir, E., Mead, J., DiPreta, A., Tucker, M., Sebastian, M., Hutchison, K., Olatunbosun, J., Bengtsen, P., Brotherton, V., Boyd, D.S., and Alexander, M. (2024). Realigning modern slavery and climate change policies for equitable governance and action. Modern Slavery & Human Rights Policy & Evidence Centre, London.

Alexander, M., Priest, S., Penning-Rowsell, E., and Cobbing, P. (2021) Evaluating the Effectiveness of Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Governance in England and Wales. FRS17186. FCERM R&D Programme. Environment Agency: Bristol.

Priest, S., Alexander, M., McCarthy, S., et al. (2021) Supporting FCERM through Partnerships - Key Lessons. FRS17186. FCERM R&D Programme. Environment Agency: Bristol.

Alexander, M., McKinley, E. and Ballinger, R. (2019) Aligning Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management and Well-being in Wales: An analysis and evaluation of FCERM governance. A report published as part of the CoastWEB project under the Valuing Nature Programme. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.26567.85926.

Alexander, M., Smith, H., Healy, A., Giardina, G., Petetin, L., Poole, R. and Xie, Z. (2019) The Resilience Games - Creating resilient societies for the future: Exploring the opportunities for Game-Based Learning in childhood education. Research funded via the GW4 Crucible Programme. Final Project Report published June 2019. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.32456.06406

Alexander, M., Bruno Soares, M. and Dessai, S. (2017) Multi-sector requirements of climate information and impact indicators across Europe: Summary report of key findings from the SECTEUR survey. May 2017. Deliverable 2.3 (Part II) for the "SECTEUR" project: Sector Engagement for the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) - Translating European User Requirements. Available on request.

Alexander, M., Bruno Soares, M. and Dessai, S. (2017) Guidelines for interaction and engagement with (potential) users in SECTEUR Work Package 3: Part II - Second round of workshops and development of use cases. Deliverable 2.2 for the "SECTEUR" project: Sector Engagement for the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) - Translating European User Requirements. Available on request.

Alexander, M., Bruno Soares, M. and Dessai, S. (2016) Multi-sector requirements of climate information and impact indicators across Europe: Findings from the SECTEUR survey - Part 1. Deliverable 2.3 for the "SECTEUR" project: Sector Engagement for the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) - Translating European User Requirements. Available on request.

Alexander, M., Bruno Soares, M. and Dessai, S. (2016) Ascertaining multi-sector requirements of climate information and impact indicators across Europe: summary of the online multi-lingual survey questions, rationale and dissemination. Deliverable 2.1 for the "SECTEUR" project: Sector Engagement for the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) - Translating European User Requirements. Available on request.

Alexander, M., Priest, S., Micou, A.P., Tapsell, S., Green, C., Parker, D., and Homewood, S. (2016) Analysing and evaluating flood risk governance in England - Enhancing societal resilience through comprehensive and aligned flood risk governance. STAR-FLOOD Consortium. Flood Hazard Research Centre, Middlesex University.

Ek, K. Pettersson, M., Alexander, M., Beyers, J-C., Pardoe, J., Priest, S., Suykens, C., and van Rijswick, H.F.M.W. (2016) Design principles for resilient, efficient and legitimate flood risk governance; Lessons from cross-country comparisons. STAR-FLOOD deliverable report (Report No. D5.2). Awaiting final approval from the European Commission.

Hegger, D., Driessen, P. and Bakker, M. (eds) (2016) A view on more resilient flood risk governance: key conclusions of the STAR-FLOOD project. STAR-FLOOD deliverable report (Report No. D6.4).

Alexander, M., Priest, S. and Mees, H. (2015) Practical guidelines for evaluating flood risk governance. [In] Larrue, C., Hegger, D., Trémorin, J-B (Eds). Researching flood risk governance in Europe: A framework and methodology for assessing flood risk governance. STAR-FLOOD deliverable report (Report No. D2.2.1).

Priest, S., Alexander, M., Green, C., Buijze, A. and Van Doorn-Hoekveld, W. (2013) Chapter 5: Evaluation Framework [In] Larrue, C., Hegger, D., Trémorin, J-B (Eds). Researching flood risk governance in Europe: A framework and methodology for assessing flood risk governance. STAR-FLOOD deliverable report (D2.2.1

Priest, S., Alexander, M., Green, C., Buijze, A. and Van Doorn-Hoekveld, W. (2013) Theoretical background to the evaluation framework. [In] Larrue, C., Hegger, D., Trémorin, J-B (Eds). Researching flood risk governance in Europe: Background theories. STAR-FLOOD deliverable report (D2.2.2).

Alexander M., Viavattene C., Faulkner H., Priest S. (2011). A GIS- based flood risk management tool: supporting flood incident management at the local scale. FRMRC report SWP3.2. London: FHRC.

Tapsell, S., McCarthy, S., Faulkner, H. and Alexander, M. (2010) CapHaz-Net: WP4 Social Vulnerability. Submitted to CapHaz-Net: Social capacity building for natural hazards, towards more resilient societies.

Current Research

Meghan's research centres on climate change adaptation, with a strong focus on governance, policy and risk management. Her current research as part of the Adapt Lock-in Project examines how self-reinforcing 'lock-in' dynamics are created and sustained in ways that maintain 'business as usual' and hinder adaptation action. The research examines six problem domains - including coastal adaptation, water scarcity, mental health under extreme events, heat stress, biodiversity and forestry - and applies stakeholder interviews, policy analysis, process tracing and Qualitative Comparative Analysis to identify and compare lock-ins within/between sectors and countries (UK, Germany and the Netherlands). In turn, the research will identify entry points for dissolving lock-ins and inform policy recommendations for leveraging transformative change to accelerate adaptation and close the adaptation gap. Adapt Lock-in is a collaboration between Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (Germany), Open Universiteit (Netherlands), and the University of East Anglia (UK); funded through the Open Research Area for the Social Sciences by DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), the Dutch Research Council NWO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek) and the Economic and Social Research Council, UK (2019-23) (visit https://adaptlockin.eu/).

Meghan is also currently exploring the intersection between climate change and modern day slavery, as part of a recently funded project 'Realigning modern slavery and climate change for equitable governance and action'. This reseach is funded by the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (Modern Slavery PEC), and involves the university's Rights Lab, the School of Geography and antislavery organisations Transparentem and International Justice Mission (IJM UK).

Past Research

Past projects:

• Adapt Lock-in - Understanding the impact of policy lock-ins on climate change adaptation (2019 - 2023). Adapt Lock-in is a €1.5 million project, funded through the Open Research Area (round 5), support by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NOW) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).
• Understanding effective flood risk governance in England & Wales (Co-investigator) / Developing pragmatic guidance for effective governance in Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management and integrated water management (Co-investigator) (2019 - 2021)
• The Resilience Games (Principle Investigator) (2018-2019), funded by the GW4 Crucible fund.
• CoastWEB: Valuing the contribution which coasts make to human health and well-being, with a focus on the alleviation of coastal natural hazards and extreme events (2016 -2019), funded under the Valuing Nature Programme.
• SECTEUR: Sector Engagement for the Copernicus Climate Change Services (C3S): Translating European User Requirements (2016 -2017)
• STAR-FLOOD - Strengthening And Redesigning European flood risk practices towards more resilient flood risk governance (2012 - 2016), funded by EU FP7 Programme.
• CapHaz-Net: Social capacity building for natural hazards: towards more resilient societies (2009 - 2012)

• BETHANY JACKSON, ESTHER WEIR, JONATHAN MEAD, ANTHONY DIPRETA, MARY SEBASTIAN, KIMBERLEY HUTCHISON, JOLAADE OLATUNBOSUN, VICKY BROTHERTON, DOREEN BOYD and MEGHAN ALEXANDER, 2024. Integrating policies addressing modern slavery and climate change Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre.
• JOHN TURNPENNY and MEGHAN ALEXANDER, 2024. Addressing risks to mental health from climate change: a policy capacity analysis of England Climate Policy.
• JULIEN PÉTILLON, EMMA MCKINLEY, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, JANINE B. ADAMS, CHRISTINE ANGELINI, THORSTEN BALKE and JOHN N. GRIFFIN, 2023. Top ten priorities for global saltmarsh restoration, conservation and ecosystem service research Science of The Total Environment. 898, 165544
• LISANNE GROEN, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, JULIE KING, NICOLAS JAGER and DAVE HUITEMA, 2022. Re-examining policy stability in climate adaptation through a lock-in perspective Journal of European Public Policy.
• MEGHAN ALEXANDER, SALLY PRIEST, EDMUND PENNING-ROWSELL and PAUL COBBING, 2021. Understanding effective flood and coastal erosion risk governance in England and Wales GOV.UK.
• SALLY PRIEST, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, SIMON MCCARTHY, EDMUND PENNING-ROWSELL, LYDIA CUMISKEY and PAUL COBBING, 2021. Supporting flood and coastal erosion risk management through partnerships GOV.UK.
• EMMA MCKINLEY, JORDI F. PAGÈS, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, DARYL BURDON and SIMONE MARTINO, 2020. Uses and management of saltmarshes: A global survey Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 243, 106840
• DRIES HEGGER, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, TOM RAADGEVER, SALLY PRIEST and SILVIA BRUZZONE, 2020. Shaping flood risk governance through science-policy interfaces: insights from England, France and The Netherlands Environmental Science and Policy. 106, 157-165
• OLIVIA R. RENDÓN, ANGUS GARBUTT, MARTIN SKOV, IRIS MÖLLER, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, RHODA BALLINGER, KAYLEIGH WYLES, GREG SMITH, EMMA MCKINLEY, JOHN GRIFFIN, MERRYN THOMAS, KATE DAVIDSON, JORDI F. PAGÈS, SIMON READ and NICOLA BEAUMONT, 2019. A framework linking ecosystem services and human well‐being: Saltmarsh as a case study People and Nature. 1(4), 486–496
• MEGHAN ALEXANDER and SURAJE DESSAI, 2019. What can climate services learn from the broader services literature? Climatic Change. 133–149
• MEGHAN ALEXANDER, EMMA MCKINLEY and RHODA BALLINGER, 2019. Aligning Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management and Well-being in Wales: An analysis and evaluation of FCERM governance
• MEGHAN ALEXANDER and SALLY PRIEST, 2019. A House of Cards: The Challenge of Establishing Societal Resilience to Flooding Through Multi-Layered Governance in England. In: ISABELLE LA JEUNESSE and CORINNE LARRUE, eds., Facing Hydrometeorological Extreme Events: A Governance Issue John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
• HANNELORE MEES, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, MATHILDE GRALEPOIS, PIOTR MATCZAK and HELEEN MEES, 2018. Typologies of citizen co-production in flood risk governance Environmental Science & Policy. 89, 330-339
• MARIA PETTERSSON, MARLEEN VAN RIJSWICK, CATHY SUYKENS, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, KRISTINA EK and SALLY PRIEST, 2017. Assessing the legitimacy of flood risk governance arrangements in Europe: Insights from intra-country evaluations Water International. 42(8), 929-944
• MEGHAN ALEXANDER, SALLY PRIEST and EDMUND C. PENNING-ROWSELL, 2017. The risk of ill-informed reform: The future for English flood risk management Area. 50(3), 426-429
• MEGHAN ALEXANDER, NEELKE DOORN and SALLY PRIEST, 2017. Bridging the legitimacy gap – Translating theory into practical signposts for legitimate flood risk governance Regional Environmental Change. 18(397–408),
• MARTA BRUNO SOARES, MEGHAN ALEXANDER and SURAJE DESSAI, 2017. Sectoral use of climate information in Europe: a synoptic overview Climate Services. 9, 5-20
• MARIE FOURNIER, CORINNE LARRUE, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, DRIES HEGGER, MARLOES BAKKER, MARIA PETTERSSON, ANN CRABBÉ, HANNELORE MEES and ADAM CHORYNSKI, 2016. Flood risk mitigation in Europe – How far are we from desired forms of adaptive governance? Ecology and Society. 21(4),
• MEGHAN ALEXANDER, SALLY PRIEST and HANNELORE MEES, 2016. A framework for evaluating flood risk governance Environmental Science & Policy. 64, 38-47
• HERMAN KASPER GILISSEN, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, PIOTR MATCZAK, MARIA PETTERSSON and SILVIA BRUZZONE, 2016. A framework for evaluating the effectiveness of flood emergency management systems in Europe Ecology and Society. 21(4),
• HERMAN KASPER GILISSEN, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BEYERS, PIOTR CHMIELEWSKI, PIOTR MATCZAK, THOMAS SCHELLENBERGER and CATHY SUYKENS, 2016. Bridges over Troubled Water – Towards an Interdisciplinary Framework for Evaluating the Interconnectedness within Fragmented Domestic Flood Risk Management Systems Journal of Water Law. 25(1), 12-26
• HANNELORE MEES, ANN CRABBÉ, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, MARIA KAUFMANN, SILVIA BRUZZONE, LISA LÉVY and JAKUB LEWANDOWSKI, 2016. Coproducing flood risk management through citizen involvement –Insights from cross-country comparisons in Europe Ecology and Society. 21(3), 7
• MEGHAN ALEXANDER, CHRISTOPHE VIAVATTENE, HAZEL FAULKNER and SALLY PRIEST, 2014. Translating the complexities of flood risk science using KEEPER –a knowledge exchange exploratory tool for professionals in emergency response Journal of Flood Risk Management. 7(3), 205-216
• HAZEL FAULKNER, MEGHAN ALEXANDER and DAVID LEEDAL, 2014. Translating uncertainty in flood risk science. In: KEITH BEVEN and JIM HALL, eds., Applied Uncertainty Analysis for Flood Risk Management World Scientific.