Andrew Speak

1999 – 2002 University of Newcastle upon Tyne.  BSc Marine Biology. First class.

2007 – 2008 University of Manchester.  MSc Pollution and Environmental Control.  Distinction pass.

Supervisor: Claire Smith and Sarah Lindley.

Environmental Science; Urban Ecology; Green Roofs; Climate Change; Pollution; Biology.

The project will use a combination of experimental sites and mesoscale climate modelling to quantify the environmental benefits of green roofs, with a particular emphasis on climate feedbacks which affect their role as a mechanism for delivering climate change adaptation. The work will also have relevance for a fuller assessment of ecosystem services building on existing and proposed work by Manchester City Council and the University of Manchester. The research will use a green roof typology with a view to producing recommendations that will feed directly into a policy guidance document.

Study Area

The study area will be Greater Manchester to ensure that the research is of specific local practical relevance and will contribute to sub-regional objectives on climate change and green infrastructure. Through MCC the research will however be shared with stakeholders from other cities, particularly London, Sheffield and Birmingham where significant green roof activity is also underway.

Objectives

1. to ascertain the current local context in terms of biodiversity, climate change, air quality, flood risk, fire risk, regeneration
2. to derive a green roof typology
3. to assess the environmental impact of green roofs using in situ monitoring at case study sites (empirical modelling approach)
4. to examine green roof performance under future climate conditions (using UKCIP08 data) by mesoscale modelling
5. identify barriers to implementation and any limitations on green roof performance (e.g. drought during the summer eliminating the cooling effects)
6. to provide recommendations that will feed into a green roof guidance documents

I am very interested in the development of sustainable practices within society.

I own an allotment, am mostly vegetarian and cycle as much as possible.