Aidan Burton
Who am I?
|
I am a mathematician with seventeen years of research experience in the
field of water resources. I have always had an inquisitive mind
and a flair for creativity. As a child this was
nurtured though experimentation with Lego bricks
(I built a gear box based on a schematic I found in a Penguin book),
electronics sets (adapting circuit designs)
and later home computers (Genetic Algorithms inspired by Richard Dawkins).
From my University education and work experience I subsequently gained
a range of key strengths in the transferable skills and knowledge
of applied mathematics, statistics, computer software design,
general scientific understanding and being a strong team player.
I like to gain knowledge or find practical solutions to problems
with a genuine relevance to society and I have acquired the skills
necessary to develop and communicate the implications of novel
computational and mathematical procedures.
My interest is to go beyond the gizmos to find the key
bits of technology, software and thought that are needed.
I firmly believe that Engineering should provide a service not a product.
I am currently a Senior Research Associate in the world renowned Water
Resources Group at Newcastle University.
Models and research
My models have been applied
directly to a broad range of problems including:
landslide risk assessment; flood risk and water resource reliability
under climate change; very short lead time rainfall
forecasting for a flood forecasting system. I am particularly pleased that my
software now forms the basis of a climate change vulnerability
study of aquifers for the
Palestinian Water Authority
and is being used as a primary driver for a
National UK Weather Generator for the UK Environment Agency
(to examine the impacts of climate change in the UK).
My research has contributed to a considerable number of
national and multinational projects resulting in a large number of
publications.
My journal articles currently have over 20 external citations.
I have been invited to lecture overseas and I won a prize form my
presentation to the BHS national Hydrology Symposium (2000). Recently, I
organised a workshop within the University on rainfall modelling and climate
change. This gave me the experience necessary to successfully organize a seminar
at the European Geophysical Union’s General Assembly in Vienna in 2005. This
featured a range of speakers from around the world and attracted a considerable
audience.
