UOBSERENE - Key Persons
Ben works part time for SERENE on novel data assimilation techniques.
Job Titles:
- Lecturer
- LECTURER in SPACE WEATHER & SPACE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
Alan Wood is a Lecturer in Space Weather and Space Systems Engineering and is part of the Space Environment and Radio Engineering (SERENE) group in the School of Engineering.
Space weather causes the northern lights, which are one of the most beautiful of all natural phenomena. However, many of our technological systems are vulnerable to other consequences of space weather. Alan's research is focussed on improving our understanding of these phenomena, particularly at mid- and high-latitudes.
Alan is an enthusiastic communicator. In addition to undergraduate teaching, he enjoys showcasing this fascinating research area to schools and the wider community.
Job Titles:
- Lecturer
- Lecturer in Space Weather & Space Systems
David Themens is a Lecturer in Space Weather and Space Systems, and the SERENE ionosphere modelling lead.
David Themens is a Lecturer in Space Weather and Space Systems in the SERENE group;
David primarily undertakes research in modelling and mitigating the impacts of space weather on radio communications and navigation systems. More specifically, David explores the effects of changes in the ionosphere, a layer of plasma in the earth's upper atmosphere, on these systems. His work includes exploring the synergistic properties of different earth observation instruments, measurement technique development, data assimilation, empirical modelling, ionospheric physics, and HF/UHF raytracing.
David is the principal developer of the Empirical Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model (E-CHAIM).
Oliver Allanson is an Assistant Professor in Space Environment and Radiation Belt Modelling
I am an Assistant Professor in Space Environment in the Space Environment and Radio Engineering (SERENE) group, in the School of Engineering.
Job Titles:
- Principal Investigator
- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR in SPACE ENVIRONMENT
- Head of Group
Sean is the Head of Group. He is interested in data assimilation models of the upper atmosphere, space weather statistics and policy.
Sean Elvidge is an Associate Professor in Space Environment and leads the Space Environment (SERENE) group in the School of Engineering.
Space weather events are one of the major risks facing society as it becomes increasingly dependent on technology. Sean's research is focused on using innovative mathematical methods to create the next generation space weather forecast models. He was selected for the inaugural Forbes Europe 30 Under 30 list in the Science and Healthcare category.
Sean is a popular communicator of science on a range of topics. He frequently gives talks to groups and schools across the country, reaching over 1,500 people a year.
Sean Elvidge qualified with an MSci (Hons) in Mathematics from the University of Birmingham in 2011. His masters project investigated complex reflection groups. During his undergraduate degree he was also a keen member of the University Astronomical Society which inspired him to shift his focus for his PhD. He studied for a PhD in ionospheric and thermospheric modelling in the School of Engineering, graduating in 2014. During his PhD Sean won a Fellowship to work at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in the USA.
After his PhD Sean undertook a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Space Environment and Radio Engineering (SERENE) group at the University of Birmingham. During this time he developed the Advanced Ensemble electron density (Ne) Assimilation System (AENeAS). A physics-based data assimilation model of the Earth's upper atmosphere. It combines state-of-the-art mathematical techniques with data sources from around the world to provide accurate and actionable forecasts of the ionosphere and thermosphere. In 2016 he was named on the inaugural Forbes Europe 30 Under 30 list in the Science and Healthcare category.
Sean was appointed as Lecturer in Space Environment in 2018 and is involved with the teaching and development of the University's new Aerospace Engineering degree course.
Sean is also a passionate science communicator, regularly given talks on a wide variety of topics to audiences all over the UK. He is closely involved with the Villiers Park Educational Trust, who are working towards a future in which all students experience a challenging and inspirational education, leading to an improvement in social mobility in the UK.
Sean is currently the Principal Investigator on two Space Weather Instrumentation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk (SWIMMR) projects. SWIMMR is a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK's capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction. The funding forms part of the Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF), delivered by the UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) to drive an increase in high quality multi- and interdisciplinary research and innovation. It will ensure that UKRI's investment links up effectively with government research priorities and opportunities.
Elizabeth is using state-of-the-art machine learning techniques and output from AENeAS to develop a high-latitude ionospheric scintillation forecast model.
He is always happy to consider inquiries and applications from prospective PhD students interested in topics in mathematical modelling, space weather and extreme value theory.
Elizabeth is improving the modelling of thermospheric densiteis in order to better model satellite orbits and avoid collisions.
Job Titles:
- PROJECT OFFICER
- SERENE Project Officer
Emma is the SERENE Project Officer, providing support across all of our projects.
Job Titles:
- Student on the Networked over - the - Horizon Radar Project
Joshua Ruck is an Aerospace Engineering graduate at the University of Birmingham who started a PhD with the group in September 2022, focussed on the development of frequency management and coordinate registration systems for SERENE's novel Networked Over-the-Horizon Radar. After completing an individual dissertation on the topic of 'Auroral Effects on OTHR' during his undergraduate degree, Joshua undertook two consecutive summer research positions with SERENE to further explore his interest in OTHR, with this inspiring him to undertake a PhD in the subject.
Job Titles:
- Electronic Engineer
- Professor of Radio Science and Systems
- Professor Paul Cannon, OBE, FREng Is a Leading Figure in Radio Science and Space Weather
Professor Paul Cannon, OBE, FREng is a leading figure in Radio Science and Space Weather.
Paul Cannon is a physicist and an electronic engineer who works at the interface of the two disciplines. He is an academic at the University of Birmingham but spent the majority of his working life in government research laboratories and industry. Since joining the University of Birmingham in 2013, he has been a regular advisor to government departments and science advisors. His leadership of studies and authorship of reports on extreme space weather have guided the development of government policy in both Australia and the UK.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2003, appointed to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2014 and served as the President of the International Union of Radio Science from 2014 to 2017.
Paul has made numerous contributions to radio science and space weather especially in the fields of ionospheric radio propagation and measurement and real-time modelling of the ionosphere. He has specialised in combining knowledge of radio systems with knowledge of the ionospheric medium and radio propagation to develop new and novel science and engineering solutions.
Paul's research has had long lasting significance on a number of occasions. His instrumentation has been used operationally by the UK Armed Forces and his measurements of the HF propagation channel underpinned the robust HF communications modem standard used throughout NATO. He now works as co-investigator of two of the UK Space Weather Instrumentation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk (SWIMMR) projects and is co-investigator of a project developing a new Over the Horizon Radar (OTHR) architecture.
Professor Paul Cannon is both a physicist and an electronic engineer who works at the interface of the two disciplines. He is an academic at the University of Birmingham with experience of working in government research laboratories and in industry. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2003, appointed to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2014 and served as the President of the International Union of Radio Science from 2014-2017.
Paul is a leading figure in radio science and space weather, being interested in a wide range of radio propagation, radio environment and space weather problems and how they impact communications, radar and navigation systems. He has made numerous personal and team leadership contributions to mitigating the impact of the environment on radio systems.
Paul has published many scientific papers including those addressing ionospheric modification, meteor scatter communications, HF communications and radars, space radars and ionosondes. In addition, he is the author of many classified reports and a number of book chapters. Paul initiated and led the Canadian-Norwegian-Swedish-UK project (DAMSON) which defined the environmental requirements for the robust military HF modem, STANAG 4415, now used throughout NATO. His team at QinetiQ developed and transitioned a new generation of real-time (assimilative) ionospheric models from laboratory to the user. His team also participated in ionospheric modification rocket experiments as part of a UK-US collaboration which he initiated. At the University of Birmingham, he and the team have conducted measurements and have built models to describe the impact of the ionosphere on space radars.
Paul has also held many leadership roles. He has served as a QinetiQ Senior Fellow, QinetiQ Chief Scientist (Communications Division) and as the QinetiQ University-Partnerships Director. He was Director of the Poynting Institute at University of Birmingham, Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Radio Science and was President of the International Union of Radio Science (URSI). Paul has served on Government committees and provides consultancy to a number of organisations.
Paul initiated the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) ionospheric space weather programme in 1986 and he led and nurtured it for over 25 years. This he did both as a civil servant within the MOD and, on behalf of the MOD whilst working both in QinetiQ and later also at the University of Birmingham. During these periods, he moved military space weather R&D from a Cinderella topic to a core technology with an articulated military requirement. Much of this was, and continues to be, achieved with the benefit of bilateral and multi-lateral arrangements which he facilitated with the US DoD and other nations thereby providing substantial benefit to the UK.
Paul has served on the UK Cabinet Office, Space Weather Project Board and its follow-on bodies, has been an expert witness to the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee and has supported the Prime Minister's Committee on Science and Technology.
Job Titles:
- Student Using the EISCAT Radar Systems to Investigate Large - Scale Ionospheric Plasma Structures and Their Effects on GNSS