James Rothwell

James Rothwell is a Professor of Physical Geography at The University of Manchester, specializing in environmental pollution and hydrology. He leads the MSc in Green Infrastructure and has held senior academic roles including Deputy Head of Geography and Co-Director of the Manchester Environmental Research Institute. His research focuses on urban challenges, microplastics, and peatland ecosystems, supported by over £15M in grants from NERC, EU, and others. He has supervised 8 PhD students and teaches courses on pollution, hydrology, and sustainable cities.

Education: PhD (2006) and BSc (2002) in Geography from The University of Manchester. Professional roles include Lecturer (2008-2014), Senior Lecturer (2014-2017), Reader (2017-2019), and current Professorship since 2019.

Research interests include green infrastructure for urban flooding, microplastic transport, and heavy metal dynamics in peatlands. Major projects include EU-funded GrowGreen (€11M+) and UK-based flood management initiatives. Over 50 peer-reviewed articles address environmental challenges in cities, peatlands, and global ecosystems.

Grants highlight interdisciplinary work across continents, with notable projects like the Manchester Sky Garden Challenge (2024) and studies on peatland restoration. Media coverage includes high-profile reports on UK microplastic pollution in rivers.

Teaching spans undergraduate to postgraduate levels, integrating research into courses like Environmental Pollution and Green Infrastructure Planning. Administrative roles include leading admissions and undergraduate programs in Geography.