Paula A. Harrison

Prof. Paula A. Harrison is a Principal Natural Capital Scientist and Professor of Land and Water Modelling at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) in Lancaster. She co-directs the Centre for Excellence in Environmental Data Science, a collaboration between UKCEH and Lancaster University. Her expertise lies in integrated modelling, scenarios, and participatory approaches for evidence-based decision-making. She holds a BSc in Statistics and Geography from the University of Salford, an MSc in Operational Research from Lancaster University, and a DPhil in Environmental Science from the University of Oxford.

Her research focuses on climate change impacts, ecosystem services, and sustainability, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications. She leads interdisciplinary projects such as the ERAMMP Integrated Modelling Platform for the Welsh Government and the global FABLE consortium. She co-chairs the IPBES Nexus Assessment on biodiversity, water, food, health, and climate change (2021–2024).

Her work emphasizes cross-sectoral interactions in climate modelling and the development of the Nature Futures Framework. Recent projects include analyzing land-use pathways for Wales and improving regional climate scenario applicability through participatory design. She contributes to global initiatives like the Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land-use, and Energy (FABLE) consortium.

Awards and recognition: While no specific awards are listed, her international leadership in environmental modelling and policy reflects significant professional recognition. Her work informs policy at national and global scales through platforms like IPBES.

Grants and advising: She leads major grants including ERAMMP and FABLE, focusing on integrating environmental data for policy. Her advisory roles include IPBES Task Forces and co-chairing assessments with UN bodies. She collaborates with institutions like the University of Oxford, Lancaster University, and international consortia.

Labs/teams: She directs UKCEH’s Land and Water Modelling team and is part of the Centre for Excellence in Environmental Data Science. Her work involves interdisciplinary teams across ecology, hydrology, and computational modelling.