Contact
Biography
Meghan holds a PhD in Geography from the Flood Hazard Research Centre of Middlesex University and a BSc in Geography (First Class Hons) from the University of Wales Aberystwyth, where she was awarded the Gregynog & James Fairgrieve Prize for the highest academic achievement within the degree scheme. Since completing her PhD, Meghan has undertaken postdoctoral research at Middlesex University, the University of Leeds (Sustainability Research Institute), Cardiff University (School of Earth & Ocean Sciences) and the University of East Anglia (School of Politics, affiliated with the Tyndall Centre of Climate Change Research). In this time, Meghan has been involved in a range of national and international interdisciplinary research consortia, examining matters of flood risk governance and management (STAR-FLOOD, FRMRC2), social capacity building for natural hazards (CapHaz-Net), climate services (SECTEUR), health and well-being on the coast (CoastWEB), and policy dynamics in climate adaptation (Adapt Lock-in).
Expertise Summary
Meghan's research experience spans the following areas:
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Environmental and Risk Governance & Policy
- Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management
- Resilience & Social Vulnerability
- Social Justice
- Policy Dynamics (stability & change)
- Health and Well-being under climate change
- Research methods - stakeholder interviews, policy analysis, process tracing, workshops and questionnaire surveys
Teaching Summary
I teach on the degree programmes for Geography (BA/BSc) and Environmental Leadership & Management (MSc), on the following modules:
- Climate Change Decision-making in Context (GEOG4095) (module convener)
- Leadership and Management in Practice (GEOG4079) (module convener)
- Living with Hazards (GEOG2073)
- Global Climate Change (GEOL4006 / GEOL3002)
- Just Futures & their geographies (GEOG3061)
- Dissertation supervision
- Tutorials
Research Summary
Meghan's research centres on climate change adaptation, with a strong focus on governance, policy and risk management. Her current research as part of the Adapt Lock-in Project examines how… read more
Recent Publications
LISANNE GROEN, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, JULIE KING, NICOLAS JAGER and DAVE HUITEMA, 2022. Re-examining policy stability in climate adaptation through a lock-in perspective Journal of European Public Policy. EMMA MCKINLEY, JORDI F. PAGÈS, MEGHAN ALEXANDER, DARYL BURDON and SIMONE MARTINO, 2020. Uses and management of saltmarshes: A global survey Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 243, 106840
Current Research
Meghan's research centres on climate change adaptation, with a strong focus on governance, policy and risk management. Her current research as part of the Adapt Lock-in Project examines how self-reinforcing 'lock-in' dynamics are created and sustained in ways that maintain 'business as usual' and impede adaptation action. The research examines six problem domains - including coastal adaptation, water scarcity, mental health under extreme events, heat stress, biodiversity and forestry - and applies stakeholder interviews, policy analysis, process tracing and Qualitative Comparative Analysis to identify and compare lock-ins within/between sectors and countries (UK, Germany and the Netherlands). In turn, the research will identify entry points for dissolving lock-ins and inform policy recommendations for leveraging transformative change to accelerate adaptation and close the adaptation gap. Adapt Lock-in is a collaboration between Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (Germany), Open Universiteit (Netherlands), and the University of East Anglia (UK); funded through the Open Research Area for the Social Sciences by DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), the Dutch Research Council NWO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek) and the Economic and Social Research Council, UK (2019-23) (visit https://adaptlockin.eu/).
Past Research
Meghan has been involved in a range of national and international interdisciplinary research consortia, examining matters of flood risk governance and management (STAR-FLOOD, FRMRC2), social capacity building for natural hazards (CapHaz-Net), climate services (SECTEUR) and health and well-being on the coast (CoastWEB). In 2019, Meghan was awarded funding through the joint R&D Programme between Defra, the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and Welsh Government, to undertake a nation-wide evaluation of Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) in England and Wales, alongside a study of selected local partnerships. The research subsequently informed policy recommendations and pragmatic governance guidance for practitioners working within FCERM and integrated water management more broadly.