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Staff Profile

Professor Jaime Amezaga

Prof of Environmental Sustainability

  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5614
  • Address: Room 3.18
    Cassie Building
    Water and Environmental Engineering
    School of Engineering
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Background 

I work at the interface of engineering and social sciences with a broad interest in understanding and interacting with complex technical, environmental and natural resources challenges. Most of my research is focused on policy and institutional analysis in sustainable water, land use and energy management. I am an experienced coordinator of interdisciplinary and multinational research projects involving research groups in Europe, Central and South America, Africa and Asia. Typically, my projects include stakeholder involvement and establishment of research/policy interfaces. I am always keen to work with PhD students interested in interdisciplinary research in socio-technical or socio-natural issues both in the UK and internationally. My teaching role is directly connected to my research experience. I lead the Human and Management Systems Theme of the Civil Engineering Degrees. I lecture on sustainability, engineering ethics and public policy in our undergraduate programme and on water policy and river basin management in our postgraduate programmes. Currently, I am involved in two large multinational projects addressing intractable issues in sustainable development supported by UKRI GCRF: the Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub, of which I am Deputy Director, and the Living Deltas Hub.

Roles and Responsibilities

Professor of Environmental Sustainability

Civil Engineering Degrees Admissions Tutor

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Engineering for the Water Sector STREAM Newcastle Co-ordinator

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Water Infrastructure and Resilience WIRE Newcastle Co-I

Member of Newcastle University Environment and Sustainability Committee

Qualifications

MSc Chemical Engineering IQS Barcelona (Spain)

MSc Environmental Science and Technology IHE Delft (The Netherlands)

PhD School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University (UK)

Thesis: "Harmonising Policy and Technology: Environmental Regulation of Mine Waters in the UK and the EU"

Memberships

Member of the Association of Chemical Engineers IQS, partner of the European Federation of Chemical Engineering.

Member of the International Mine Water Association

Industrial experience  

Development of doctoral research projects with water utilities in the UK (Scottish Water, United Utilities, Northumbrian Water, Yorkshire Water, Severn Trent) (2010- present)

Partnership development in the framework of the Northumbrian Water Limited and Newcastle University Concordat for Collaboration (2011-present) 

Professional consultancy “Technical Review of the mine closure plan and mine closure implementation at Minerales Entre Mares San Martin mine, Honduras”,  CAFOD (2009)

Partnership development on coal mining environmental technology with Coal India Limited (Chairman and Technical Director) and CMPDI in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi  (2008-present). 

Deputy to the HSBC Professor of Energy and Environment for the delivery of Newcastle University's participation in the HSBC "Partnership in Environmental Innovation" with direct links to HSBC Holdings plc Corporate Social Responsibility function and reporting to the HSBC Holdings Adviser on the Environment (2005-8) 

Technical advisor to WWF Global Freshwater Programme - Europe c/o WWF European Policy Office (EPO) on mining waste and water (2002-05) 

Professional consultancy "River Ouseburn Strategy Scoping Study", Newcastle City Council (2002) 

Senior Consultant with NuWater Consulting on asset management, regulation and global issues in the water industry (2000-2001) 

Strategic review of asset mananagement practices in Northumbrian Water Limited,  “Towards Continuous Strategic Asset Management”, (1999-2000).

Professional consultancy “Evaporation/ Climate Data Service Scoping Project”  North West Region of the Environment Agency (1998-99)

Research

Research Interests

  • Sustainable management of natural resources and infrastructure
  • Integrated land and water management
  • Environmental management: institutions, regulation and policy
  • Interface research/policy
  • Sociotechnical systems and transitions
  • Developing countries
  • Stakeholder involvement
  • Management of multidisciplinary research 


Postgraduate supervision 

Daryl Hughes, "Understanding and communicating impacts of water resources infrastructure removals", STREAM EngD with United Utilities, (2017-expected 2021)


Kenneth Agbo, "Modelling and development of a management strategy for minimising erosion in Imo State Eastern Nigeria" TETFund (2015- expected 2018)


Dominic Carver, "Ennerdale Water and upper River Ehen natural hydrological regime and geomorphology", STREAM EngD with United Utilities, (2015-expected 2019)


Muhammad Rezki, "Enhancing the resilience of transportation network around Merapi Volcano to tephra fall " SPN Indonesia-ENDO, (2014-2018)


Ursula Balderson, "Environmental Conflicts in South America", ESRC North East Doctoral Training Centre, Sociology/Civil Engineering (2013-2018) 


Darren Shako, “Sanitation Policy for the Caribbean: Providing Structure, Building Sustainability and Informing Post MDG Actions” Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (2013-2017)


Ambisisi Ambituuni “Risk management in the downstream oil and gas supply chain structure in Nigeria” Petroleum Technology Development Fund (2012-2016)


Ruth Kennedy-Walker,"Planning and implementation of wastewater collection, treatment and re-use in peri-urban areas" EPSRC, Civil Engineering (2011-2015)


Misgun Kahsu, "Food Security Policy, Implementation Process and its Effectiveness at a Ground Level in Ethiopia" NIReS/Planet Earth Institute (2011-2017 with interruption)


Ed Byers, “Long Term Interdependent Infrastructure Planning”, EPSRC, Civil Engineering (2010-2015)


Pablo Mendez, “Facilitating Transitions towards Adaptive Governance and Management in Estuarine Socio-ecosystems: Institutional Analysis and Action Research in the Doñana Region”, IMEDEA/University of Baleares (Spain) (part time 2006-2014) 


Gerardo Gonzalez, “Environmental Assessment of Underground Coal Gasification”, Swan Institute (2007-2013)


Mukhtar Hashemi, “A Socio-technical Framework for Implementing the Integrated Water Resources Management Paradigm in Iran”, Civil Engineering Sandwich Programme with Iran (2007-2012)


Jen Harrison, “Sustainability Assessment of Bioenergy in Developing Countries”, Interdisciplinary Civil Engineering and Geography under staff regulations (2006-2011)


Floriane Clement,” A Multi-level Analysis of Forest Policies in Northern Vietnam: Uplands, People, Institutions and Discourses”, Interdisciplinary Civil Engineering and Geography (2004-2008) External Examiner: Prof Elinor Ostrom, Nobel Prize of Economy 2009 


Research Projects 


"Decentralised Water Technologies", EPSRC Programme Grant. Glasgow (lead), Strathclyde, Edinburgh, Newcastle. £6 M (total), 2021-2026. Newcastle PI.


"Legacy wastes in the coastal zone: Environmental risks and management futures", NERC, £695K, 2020-2024, Co-I


PEACE-R2UK. Programme to Enhance Academic Collaboration for Enabling Regenerative Reconstruction in Ukraine, UK– Ukraine R&I Twinning Grant. £164k, 2023. Co-I.


UKRI GCRF Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub 2019-2024 £17.7M, 12 partner countries, 55 partner organisations (UK Academic Partners Leeds and Oxford), South America, East Africa, South Central Asia and South East Asia. Deputy Director, Chair of Ethics Committee and Leader of Impact.


UKRI GCRF Living Deltas Hub 2019-2024 £15.3M,13 partner countries, 39 partner organisations, South and South East Asia, Co-I


WIRE "EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Water Infrastructure and Resilience", EPSRC, £1,7M, 2019-2027. Academic Partnership: Cranfield-Coordinator, Sheffield, Newcastle with Industry. Co-I.


STREAM II "EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Engineering for the Water Sector", EPSRC, £555K, Industry, £460K, 2014-2022. Academic Partnership: Cranfield-Coordinator, Sheffield, Imperial College, Exeter, Newcastle. Industrial partners: Northumbrian Water, Scottish Water, United Utilities, Severn Trent,, Newcastle PI.


STREAM "Industrial Doctorate Centre for the UK Water Sector", EPSRC, £1.1M, Industry £484K, 2009-2018, Academic Partnership: Cranfield-Coordinator, Sheffield, Imperial College, Exeter, Newcastle. Industrial partners: Northumbrian Water, Scottish Water, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, Severn Trent, WRc, Newcastle PI.


"Promoting an integral management of water resources in three watersheds in Peru", CAFOD (PER280), £83K, 2012-2018, PI.


DESAFIO “Democratisation of Water and Sanitation Governance by Means of Socio-Technical Innovation”, EC 7th Framework Programme, (CP-FP-SICA Grant Agreement N° 320303) SSH.2012.2.1-2.Social innovation for vulnerable population, £1M, 2013-2015 (Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Portugal, UK), Co-I and Project Advisor. http://desafioglobal.org/


"A Global Solution to Protect Water by Transforming Waste", EPSRC, 886K (total), 2011-2015, (Glasgow, Sheffield, IDS, Cranfield, Ulster, Newcastle), PI.


"Developing the science base for an international NGO promoting sustainability through South-South cooperation", Planet Earth Institute, £72K, 2011-2015, PI.


AMGRAF "Adaptive management of groundwater resources for small scale irrigation in sub-Saharan Africa", NERC (NE/L002019/1), £66K, Jul 2013-Jul 2014, (IWMI, CSIR RAS, CSIR Ghana), Co-I.


"Bio-desalination: from cell to tap", EPSRC, 999K (total), 2011-2014, (Glasgow, Robert Gordon, Sheffield, Imperial College London, Newcastle), PI.


"Mitigation of risks from emerging hazards: Integration of field training, energy-conserving waste treatment and next-generation sequencing technologies" EPSRC Impact Award (Newcastle University)£27.8 K. 2011-12, Co-I.


Re-Impact “Rural Energy Production from Bioenergy Projects”, EC EuropeAid £1.2M, 2007-2010, (South Africa, Uganda, India, China, Austria, UK), Project Coordinator and PI. http://research.ncl.ac.uk/reimpact/


CAMINAR “Catchment Management and Mining Impacts in Arid and Semi-Arid South America”, EC 6th Framework Programme INCO Dev £1.2 M, 2007-2010, (Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Portugal, Spain, UK), Project Coordinator and PI. http://www.labor.org.pe/caminar/index_en.php?idproyecto=1


“Environmental Engineers of Tomorrow: Developing a Shared Tool Box through collaboration” EPSRC, 180 K, 2007-2009, (IITD, Glasgow, Newcastle), Project Coordinator and PI.


EPIC FORCE “Evidence-based Policy for Integrated Control of Forested River Catchments in Extreme Rainfall and Snowmelt” EC 6th Framework Programme INCO DEV £1.13M, 2005-2008, (Costa Rica, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Spain, Italy, UK), Co-I and support to Project Coordination.


CARACOLES: “Supporting the implementation of Adaptive Management in the Lower Guadalquivir and Doñana Natural Reserve through the restoration of the Finca Caracoles” IMEDEA, 2005-2008, PI.


ERMISA “Environmental Regulation of Mine Waters in South America”, EC 6th Framework Programme INCO DEV £67K, 2006, (Peru, UK), Project Coordinator and PI.


“Socio-economic impacts and market opportunities associated with land use and hydrological change in tropical montane cloud forest areas in Arenal, Costa Rica” FRP Project funded by DFID Renewable Natural Resources Strategy £352K, 2003-2006, Co-I.


LOWFLOWS “Low Base Flows and Livelihoods in India” FRP Project funded by DFID Renewable Natural Resources Strategy £340K, 2002-2006, (IITD, Winrock International, Newcastle), Co-I and Project Manager.


FLOWS Coordination Unit funded by DFID Renewable Natural Resources Strategy as DFID's contribution to the UN Year of the Mountain 2002, 2002-2006, (South Africa, Tanzania, Grenada, Costa Rica, India, The Netherlands, UK) Co-I. 


URBEM “Urban River Basin Enhancement Methods” European Commission Fifth Framework £56K, 2002-2005, PI.


ERMITE “Environmental Regulation of Mine waters in the EU”. European Commission Fifth Framework £830K, 2001 -2004, (Sweden, Germany, Spain, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Bosnia-Herzegovina, UK), Project Coordinator.


ToCSAM “Towards Continuous Strategic Asset Management” Northumbrian Water Limited 67K, 1999-2000, PI.


“River Ouseburn Strategy Scoping Study” Newcastle City Council £5K, 2002, PI.


“Evaporation/ Climate Data Service Scoping Project” Environment Agency North West Region £5K, 1998-1999. Co-I    



Esteem Indicators

External lecturer at the MAS in Sustainable Water Resources, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, 2012-date.


Invited reviewer, NWO Domain Science, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), 2017


Invited lecturer, "Short Course on Public Health Impact of Environmental Hazards and Pollution: monitoring and adaptation", Indian Institute of Public Health Hyderabad, 7-11 December 2015


Invited reviewer, The Swedish Research Council FORMAS, 2014 and 2015


Member of the Global Scientific Committe of the Planet Earth Institute, 2012-2013 


Invited keynote speaker, "True value of water", Global Leakage Summit, London Business Conferences, 11-14 March 2013, London.


Keynote speaker Rio 20 UNCSD Official Side Event “Partnership Fair for Science in Africa”, Rio de Janeiro, 21 June 2012 


Invited keynote speaker, "Agua y minería sostenible", Forum "La Academia y el Desarrollo del País en el Ámbito de las Intervenciones Antropológicas en Zonas Protegidas” organised by Universidad de Cuenca, Universidad del Azuay (UDA) and Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS), Cuenca (Ecuador), 17 October 2012


Invited keynote speaker "Value of water in a sustainable future environment", Waterloss UK, Birmingham, 27 March 2012


Invited expert to British Council PMI2 Global Partnerships for the Knowledge Economy Research Symposium- Water Security and Management, 19-21 March 2011, Muscat Oman.


Invited keynote speaker "El agua en la gestion sostenible de la mineria: Retos para el sector y las instituciones", AGUA 2011, Ecosistemas y sociedad: Visiones. limites y aplicaciones de los servicios ecosistemicos en un mundo cambiante, Cali (Colombia) 15th November 2011


Best Paper Award from the International Water Resources Association for papers published in Water International in 2010: Bathurst, J.C., Amezaga, J., Cisneros, F., Gaviño Novillo, M., Iroumé, A., Lenzi, M.A., Mintegui Aguirre, J., Miranda, M. and Urciuolo, A. 2010. Forests and floods in Latin America: science, management, policy and the EPIC FORCE project. Water International, 35(2), 114-131.


Invited keynote speaker “Sustainable Water Management for Mining”, Sustainable Mining Africa Round Tables (SMART), Angolan Ministry of Geology, Mining and Industry, Planet Earth Institute and the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, Luanda (Angola) 19th November 2010.


Invited expert by Colciencias (Government of Colombia) and Universidad del Valle to run a "Thematic Workshop on Environmental Technology-Health and the European Commission Framework Programmes" Cali (Colombia), 12-15 October 2010.  


Invited Expert by the European Commission to the "Latin American-European Workshop on Environment" EULARINET, Bogotá (Colombia), November 18-20, 2009


“Technical Review of the mine closure plan and mine closure implementation at Minerales Entre Mares San Martin mine, Honduras” for CAFOD, May-September 2009


Deputy to the HSBC Professor of Energy and Environment for the delivery of the group's participation in the HSBC "Partnership for Environmental Innovation" with direct links to HSBC's Corporate Social Responsibility function, 2005-8


Deputy Head of HERO Group, Winner of the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education 2005 for Newcastle University.


Technical advisor to WWF Global Freshwater Programme - Europe c/o WWF European Policy Office (EPO) on mining waste and water, 2002-05


Invited speaker to the meeting of the Dialogue Group "Mining and Sustainable Development", Lima (Peru), 21 September 2006. The Group includes around 60 representatives from industry, government, NGOs and international organisations involved in the mining sector in Peru.


Co-organizer of the State Workshop "Towards Implementing Sustainable Watershed Management Strategy for Madhya Pradesh", MP Ministry of Rural Development, Bhopal (India), 6-7 February 2006, attended by the Chief Minister of MP, Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development and more than 300 participants.


Invited speaker in the Science-Policy Interface Workshop of “Linking community and ecosystem ecology: recent advances and future challenges” Final Conference of the Linkecol Programme of the European Science Foundation, Palma de Mallorca (Spain), May 18-21, 2004.


Co-organizer and key note speaker in the State Workshop "Towards Implementing Environmentally Sustainable Water Policy in Himachal Pradesh", HP State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Shimla (India) 28th August 2004 attended by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Minister of Water Resources and 140 participants from State and Central Organisations.


Invited technical expert to the exchange of views on the proposed directive on management of waste from the extractive industries (COM (2003)319) between Council Presidency, Commission DG Environment and DG Enterprise, Environmental Committee European Parliament, NGOs and Industry. European Parliament, Brussels, 3 November 2003.

Teaching

Undergraduate Teaching

BEng/MEng Civil Engineering

CEG 3003 "Engineering Ethics and Sustainability" (module leader)

CEG 8003 "Public Policy and Sustainability" (module leader)

Postgraduate Teaching

MSc Hydrology and Climate Change/ Hydroinformatics and Water Management: Euroaque

CEG 8512 "Integrated River Basin Management" (module leader)

CEG 8524 "Water Management: Issues and Challenges" (module leader)

MSc Environmental Engineering

CEG8103 "Water Supply and Treatment"

Teaching Projects

Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professorship £30K, 2019-2002. Prof Paul Johnson, ARUP Fellow to promote teaching of "Total Engineering and Management of Infrastructure Projects

CESSAF “Centre of Excellent of Science for Sustainability in Africa”, PEI-BESA £485K, 2012-2013, Partnership: University Agostinho Neto, Newcastle University, Planet Earth Institute, Banco Espiritu Santo Angola and Government of Angola, PI.

 

 

 

Publications