Declan Conway

Declan Conway is a Professor at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics (LSE), where he has been based since October 28, 2013. His interdisciplinary research cuts across water, climate, and society, with current interests focusing on behavioral and psychological approaches to water security and adaptation. With over 25 years of international experience working in the UK/Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia, Conway brings a global perspective to his work on climate adaptation challenges.

Conway's research interests span several interconnected domains:

• Behavioral and psychological approaches to water security - examining how human cognition and behavior influence adaptation decisions
• Water security and climate change - analyzing the impacts of climate variability on water resources management
• Water-energy-food Nexus - investigating the complex interdependencies between these critical resources under climate stress
• Adaptation and development - exploring how adaptation strategies can be integrated into development planning, particularly for vulnerable populations

His recent publications demonstrate a significant shift toward integrating behavioral science with traditional climate adaptation research. Conway increasingly focuses on understanding the psychological dimensions of water security, recognizing that technological solutions alone cannot address complex water challenges. His work emphasizes transdisciplinary approaches that bridge academic research with practical implementation, particularly through the BASIN project that applies behavioral science perspectives to enhance water security for vulnerable populations in Burkina Faso, Malawi, and Tanzania.

Conway has secured substantial research funding from diverse international sources including the EU, UK government departments (FCDO and Defra), UK research councils (NERC and ESRC), US NSF, Canadian IDRC, and the World Bank. He currently jointly leads the BASIN (Behavioural Adaptation for water Security and INclusion) project and has recently completed significant projects including Climate Resilience in the UK Wine Sector (CREWS-UK), Development Corridors Partnership, and UMFULA.

As co-editor-in-chief of the journal Global Environmental Change, Conway plays a key role in shaping academic discourse on climate change. His leadership extends to major research initiatives and collaborations across multiple continents, reflecting his standing as a leading scholar in climate adaptation research with particular expertise in water security issues in developing countries.