Richard Lucas

Professor Richard Lucas holds a Sêr Cymru Research Chair in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University. He has previously held academic and research positions at the University of New South Wales, the Australian Federal Government, and Swansea University. His research focuses on Earth observation and ecosystem dynamics, particularly in terrestrial and coastal environments.

His expertise lies in utilizing satellite remote sensing to quantify ecosystem responses to climatic and anthropogenic changes. Key research areas include forest biomass estimation, mangrove monitoring, land cover change detection, and environmental sustainability. He has developed innovative frameworks such as the Earth Observation Data for Ecosystem Monitoring (EODESM) and leads the national Living Wales project for land cover monitoring.

His recent publications highlight a strong trend in using multi-source Earth observation data—especially Landsat, Sentinel, and GEDI lidar—for global and regional environmental assessments. These works span topics such as mangrove resilience under tropical cyclones, habitat mapping, soil moisture analysis, and biomass modeling, reflecting a cohesive focus on sustainable ecosystem management through advanced remote sensing.

Professor Lucas leads several externally funded research projects with agencies including the European Space Agency, the Welsh Government, and the Australian Research Council. Notable initiatives include CCI-BIOMASS, EO4AgroClimate, and the Global Mangrove Watch. His datasets, such as the Australia's Mangrove Portal and Plant Biomass Library, are publicly available and widely used in the scientific community.

He has contributed significantly to policy-relevant science, with research impacting coastal land use policy and supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to climate action and life on land. His work has been featured in media outlets and policy documents, demonstrating broad societal impact.

Professor Lucas is actively involved in international collaborations and scientific outreach, regularly presenting at workshops and conferences such as Living Coasts and Dynamics Coasts. He mentors researchers and contributes to editorial and peer-review activities, further strengthening the scientific community in Earth observation and environmental informatics.