Roger Falconer

{{Short description|Welsh professor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Roger Falconer | image = RAF Picture trimmed.png | image_size = | alt = | caption = Roger A. Falconer | birth_name = Roger Alexander Falconer | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1951|12|12}} | birth_place = Carmarthen, Wales | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | other_names = | residence = | citizenship = | nationality = | fields = {{Plainlist| * Hydraulic engineering * fluid mechanics * tidal power * hydropower * water security}} | workplaces = {{Plainlist| * King's College, London * University of Washington, Seattle * Imperial College, London }} | patrons = | alma_mater = {{Plainlist| * King's College, London * University of Washington, Seattle * Imperial College, London }} | thesis_title = | thesis_url = | thesis_year = | doctoral_advisor = | academic_advisors = | doctoral_students = | notable_students = | known_for = | author_abbrev_bot = | author_abbrev_zoo = | influences = | influenced = | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/emeritus/falconerra | footnotes = | spouse = | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|FREng|MAE|FLSW|FICE|FCIWEM}} | module = }} '''Roger Alexander Falconer''' FREng (born 1951)<ref>{{Cite web|title=''Who's Who.'' Oxford: A & C Black.|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/display/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-15405?rskey=VPqUio&result=1}}</ref> is a British civil engineer and academic specialising in water & environmental engineering. He is Emeritus Professor of Hydro-environmental Engineering at Cardiff University and Chair Professor at Hohai University and the Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development (YICODE), China.<ref>{{Cite web|title=YICODE |url=https://www.yicode.org.cn/en/}}</ref>

Falconer’s research and application has primarily focused on the modelling of hydrodynamic, water quality and sediment transport processes in river, estuary and coastal basins.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Google Scholar |url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=search_authors&hl=en&mauthors=roger+falconer&btnG=}}</ref> His work has contributed to the development and application of computational models for predicting flow, water‑quality and morphological parameters for: environmental impact assessment studies, flood risk assessment, tidal energy projects and water security, in the UK and internationally.

He has held senior leadership roles in academic and professional institutions internationally, with his contributions to research and engineering practice being recognised through election to international academies, professional institutions, and through national and international awards.

== Education == Falconer was educated at Llandeilo Grammar School (1962–65) and Bridgend Boys' Grammar School (1965-70) in Wales, and graduated with a BSc(Eng) in Civil Engineering, from King's College London (1973). He then studied at the University of Washington, Seattle, where he graduated with a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) in Hydraulic Engineering (1974), before returning to the UK, to carry out research in computational hydraulics at Imperial College London, graduating with a PhD and Diploma of Imperial College (1976).<ref>Falconer, R.A. 1976. Mathematical modelling of jet-forced circulation in reservoirs and harbours (PhD thesis). Retrieved from https://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/handle/10044/1/7982</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=ICE Alumni|url=https://www.imperial.ac.uk/civil-engineering/alumni/alumni-profiles/phd-graduate-1977---roger-falconer/}}</ref> He was subsequently awarded a DEng from the University of Birmingham (1992), a DSc(Eng) from the University of London (1994) and an HonDEng from the University of Bradford (2022).

== Career and research == Falconer currently serves as Emeritus Professor of Hydro-environmental Engineering (since 2018), at Cardiff University, and Chair Professor (since 2019) at Hohai University and the Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Nanjing, China. He now acts as an independent water consultant,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Roger Falconer Water Consultancy Ltd.|url=https://rogerfalconer.com/}}</ref> and is involved in the tidal range energy West Somerset Lagoon project.<ref>{{Cite web|title=West Somerset Lagoon Ltd.|url=https://www.westsomersetlagoon.com/}}</ref> He was previously Professor of Water Management and Founding Director of the Hydro-environmental Research Centre (1997-2018) at Cardiff University, Professor of Environmental Hydraulics (1987–97) and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering (1993–97) at the University of Bradford, and Lecturer in Hydraulic Engineering (1977–86) at the University of Birmingham. He was President of the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (2011-15).<ref>{{Cite web|title=IAHR Presidents|url=https://iahr.org/index/detail/98}}</ref>

Falconer’s research and application has primarily focused on modelling hydrodynamic, water quality and sediment transport processes in river, estuarine and coastal waters<ref>Huang, G., Falconer, R.A. and Lin, B. 2017. Integrated hydro-bacterial modelling for predicting bathing water quality. ''Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science.'' 188, 145-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2017.01.018</ref> and his computational models have been widely applied in hydro-environmental impact assessment studies internationally. His DIVAST model for predicting peak water levels and inundation extent in floods forms part of the 2-D model suite for Flood Modeller,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flood Modeller|url=https://www.floodmodeller.com/}}</ref> now being promoted by Jacobs Engineering Group.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flood Modelling: When the Rain Comes Down|url=https://jacobs-if-when.simplecast.com/episodes/flood-modelling-when-the-rain-comes-down}}</ref> Falconer's more recent research on flood risk at Cardiff University, undertaken in collaboration with colleagues at Wuhan University, has been on the stability of vehices and people in floods, with the corresponding equations for hazard risk<ref>Xia, J., Falconer, R.A., Wang, Y., Xiao, X. 2014. New criterion for the stability of a human body in floodwaters. "Journal of Hydraulic Research." 52(1), 93-104. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2013.875073</ref><ref>Musolino, G., Ahmadian, R., Xia, J., Falconer, R.A. 2020. Mapping the danger to life in flash flood events adopting a mechanics-based methodology and planning evacuation routes. "Journal of Flood Risk Management." 13(4), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12627</ref> being used in many flood risk management and planning studies.

More recently Falconer has been involved in a number of global water security initiatives, particularly in advising Global Empowers<ref>{{Cite web|title=Global Empowers|url=https://globalempowers.com/about-us}}</ref> in their 'Water Does Matter' project. 'By 2045 Global Empowers aims to transform 10 million lives across Africa through community-owned systems that ensure clean water access, promote community empowerment, and foster sustainable development to restore dignity, build resilience, and inspire lasting progress'.

Falconer has delivered numerous invited and keynote presentations internationally, and participates in TV and media interviews on topics such as: global water security,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Global Water Security - Hydro-epidemiological Studies Talk|url=https://www.iahr.org/index/detail/128}}</ref> water quality,<ref>Falconer, Roger. 2010. Flow and water quality modelling in coastal and inland waters. "Journal of Hydraulic Research." 30(4), 437-452. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221689209498893</ref> water transfer,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Water: Should Wales sell to England amid heatwave droughts?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62659762}}</ref> flood risk,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Floods and Droughts Interview|website = YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxzXCqP0G3Y}}</ref> tidal energy,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Harnessing Tides Interview|website = YouTube|url=https://news.sky.com/video/harnessing-tides-could-power-homes-12648466}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New Civil Engineer Interview on West Somerset Lagoon|url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/tag/west-somerset-lagoon/}}</ref> and dam failure.<ref>Naddaf, Miryam. 2023. Ukraine dam collapse: what scientists are watching. "Nature." 618, 440-441. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-01928-8</ref> He has also served on a number of key committees in the UK and internationally, such as: Co-Chair of the International Group of Experts in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea Case concerning a Land Reclamation dispute in and around the Straits of Johor (Malaysia v. Singapore, 2003),<ref>{{Cite web|title=ITLOS Land Reclamation Case Malaysia v. Singapore|url=https://www.itlos.org/en/main/cases/list-of-cases/case-no-12/}}</ref> member of the Trustee Board of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (2016-20),<ref>{{Cite web|title=CIWEM Annual Report 2020|url=https://www.ciwem.org/assets/pdf/Publications/Annual%20Reports/CIWEM_Annual_Report_2019_08092020.pdf}}</ref> member and coastal lead of the Yorkshire Region Flood and Coastal Committee (2019-date),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yorkshire Region Flood and Coastal Committee|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/yorkshire-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee}}</ref> member of the Welsh Government Hinkley Point C Stakeholder Reference Group (2020–24),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hinkley Point C Stakeholder Reference Group|url=https://gov.wales/hinkley-point-c-stakeholder-reference-group#:~:text=The%20Hinkley%20Point%20C%20Stakeholder%20reference%20group%20is,of%20the%20new%20Hinkley%20Point%20C%20power%20plant.}}</ref> and member of the Independent Expert Group for the London Flood Review (2021-22).<ref>{{Cite web|title=London Flood Review|url=https://www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/projects/london-flooding-response/}}</ref>

== Selected awards and honours == Falconer’s work has been recognised through various awards, most notably: Friendship Award (China) - "Highest Award to Foreign Experts" (2022),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Professor Roger Falconer honored with the Chinese Government Friendship Award and Medal |url=https://www.eurasc.eu/professor-roger-falconer-honored-with-the-chinese-government-friendship-award-and-medal/}}</ref> Honorary Doctor of Engineering from the University of Bradford (2022),<ref>{{Cite web|title=HonDEng University of Bradford|url=https://www.bradford.ac.uk/graduation/honorary-graduates/previous-award-recipients/}}</ref> Honorary Fellow of the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (2017),<ref>{{Cite web|title=IAHR Honorary Fellows|url=https://www.iahr.org/index/dawards/1}}</ref> International Association for Hydraulic Research Ippen Award (1992),<ref>{{Cite web|title=IAHR Ippen Award|url=https://www.iahr.org/index/dawards/3}}</ref> the Royal Academy of Engineering Princess Royal Silver Medal (1999),<ref>{{Cite web|title=RAEng Silver Medal|url=https://raeng.org.uk/programmes-and-prizes/prizes/princess-royal-silver-medal/previous-winners/}}</ref> the Institution of Civil Engineers Telford Premium (1993)<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Institution of Civil Engineers Telford Premium (1994)|journal=Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Civil Engineering|date=November 1993|volume=97|issue=4|pages=163–170|doi=10.1680/icien.1993.25304|url=https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/10.1680/icien.1993.25304|last1=Falconer|first1=R. A.|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and Robert Alfred Carr Prize (2003 and 2007),<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Institution of Civil Engineers Robert Alfred Carr Prize (2003)|journal=Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Water and Maritime Engineering|date=June 2002|volume=154|issue=2|pages=129–135|doi=10.1680/wame.2002.154.2.129|url=https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/10.1680/wame.2002.154.2.129|last1=Harris|first1=E.|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Institution of Civil Engineers Robert Alfred Carr Prize (2007)|journal=Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Water Management|date=March 2006|volume=159|issue=1|pages=19–25|doi=10.1680/wama.2006.159.1.19|url=https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/10.1680/wama.2006.159.1.19|last1=Lin|first1=B.|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and the Thomas and Elizabeth Williams Scholarship (1973).<ref>NINNAU The North American Welsh Newspaper. 49(1), pp.23</ref>

Falconer is a Member of the: Academia Europaea (2026) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (2019); and a Fellow of the: Royal Academy of Engineering (1997), Learned Society of Wales (2011), European Academy of Sciences (2018), and City and Guilds of London Institute (1997). He is a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Environmentalist and Chartered Water and Environmental Manager, and a Fellow of the: Institution of Civil Engineers, Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, and American Society of Civil Engineers.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Falconer, Roger}} Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:Welsh civil engineers Category:Alumni of King's College London Category:University of Washington alumni Category:Alumni of Imperial College London Category:Academics of Cardiff University Category:Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering Category:Fellows of the Learned Society of Wales