Dr Abiy S. Kebede
Senior Lecturer in Flood and Coastal Engineering

Summary

Dr Kebede is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Flood and Coastal Engineering and the PGR Director in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences (CEDPS) at Brunel University of London. He is also a founding member and Deputy Director of one of Brunel's interdisciplinary Research Centres, the Centre for Flood Risk and Resilience (CFR2). He also leads the Department's Flood, Coastal and Water Engineering (FCWE) Research Group. Prior to joining Brunel, Abiy worked as a Researcher at the University of Southampton, where he also completed his PhD and part of his MSc studies. His current research interests span from integrated assessment of the food-water-land-ecosystems nexus interactions and implications for sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to investigating the potential impacts of climate change, sea-level rise and climate extremes and risks of hydro-geo-meteorlogical hazards (e.g., flooding and coastal erosion), and quantifying the costs and benefits of engineered- and nature-based solutions to climate and environmental risks and sustainability challenges at different spatial (local to global) and temporal (short- to long-term) scales for informing robust climate adaptation and risk management policies. His work explores the following key research questions:

• What are the physical, socio-economic and environmental impacts of climate change, sea-level rise and climate extremes in coastal areas and river deltas?
• What are the long-term implications of historic coastal landfills on shoreline management and engineering solutions to coastal risks?
• What are the direct and indirect impacts and key uncertainties of future changes in climate and socio-economic conditions on the built and natural environment?
• How can we devise robust adaptation policies across multiple sectors, scales, and scenarios to tackle environmental and sustainability challenges?

Qualifications

• PgCAP and FHEA, Brunel University of London
• PhD Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southampton
• MSc Coastal and Marine Engineering and Management, University of Southampton
• MSc Civil Engineering (Coastal and Marine Engineering and Management), Delft University of Technology
• MSc Coastal and Marine Engineering and Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• BSc Civil Engineering (5-years Degree Programme), Mekelle University

 Current / Previous Posts:

• Lecturer/Assistant Professor, Brunel University of London
• Research Fellow, University of Southampton
• Senior Research Assistant, University of Southampton
• Teaching Assistant, University of Southampton
• Research Assistant, University of Southampton
• Assistant Lecturer, Arba Minch University
• Graduate Assistant, Arba Minch University

Responsibility

Current Appointments:

• PGR Director, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE)
• Deputy Director, Centre for Flood Risk & Resilience (CFR2)
• Lead, Flood, Coastal & Water Engineering (FCWE) Research Group
• Climate Change Champion

Past Appointments:

• Course Convenor, FdSc Flood and Coastal Engineering (FACE)
• Department Director of International & Academic Exchange
• Department Timetabling Coordinator
• Welcome Week Champion