Gareth Rees

Professor Gareth Rees is Professor of Polar Geoinformatics at the Scott Polar Research Institute and Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, where he also serves as Director of Studies for Natural Sciences (Physical) and Tutor at Christ's College. His career spans over four decades of pioneering work in polar remote sensing and climate change research.

Rees' research focuses on the development and application of spaceborne and UAV remote sensing techniques to study Arctic environments (vegetated, glaciated, built) and their response to climate change. His principal research area was northern Russia until 2022, but has now shifted primarily to Arctic Norway while maintaining connections with Russian Arctic science. His work emphasizes UAV data collection platforms, hyperspectral data applications, and the 'green transition' toward sustainable energy use. He is significantly involved in Arctic research planning and active in science diplomacy.

Rees' recent publications reveal strong trends in urban Arctic environments, climate change impacts on vegetation boundaries, and the intersection of geopolitics with Arctic science. His work increasingly integrates UAV technology with traditional satellite remote sensing to provide higher-resolution data for environmental monitoring. The Ukraine conflict has significantly influenced his recent research direction, particularly regarding international scientific collaboration in the Arctic.

• Fellow of the Institute of Physics (1996)
• Author of multiple influential textbooks including 'Physical Principles of Remote Sensing' (Cambridge University Press)
• Member of the ICARP Research Priority Team for Science Diplomacy and International Collaboration since 2024
• Editorial advisor to the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs

Professor Rees currently supervises PhD students Premdeep Gill and Graham Sadler, and works with research staff including Dr. Liliia Hebryn-Baidy. He is a member of the Glaciology and Climate Change research group at SPRI and leads several major research projects including studies of air pollution in the Russian Arctic, Northern Hemisphere snow cover, and the tundra-taiga interface. His laboratory work focuses on developing new methods for observing natural and built environments at high latitudes using satellites and UAVs.