Dr Jessica Roberts
- u_robertsj at bournemouth dot ac dot uk
- Lecturer in Crisis and Disaster Management
Biography
I am a Geographer and Environmental Social Scientist working at the intersection of sustainable risk management, climate change adaptation, natural and cultural heritage conservation, and local / Indigenous community engagement. My research focuses on designing and evaluating strategies that enhance resilience, justice, and sustainability for communities facing environmental and socio-cultural risks.
I specialise in participatory research and monitoring & evaluation, developing methods and tools that are tailored to the needs of local communities. My work bridges academic inquiry and applied practice, supporting evidence-based decision-making and sustainable policy development in contexts such as disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA), and natural and cultural heritage conservation.
Key research objectives include:
• Integrate Indigenous knowledge into risk management and heritage/conservation frameworks to promote justice, sustainability, and effectiveness in community-focused interventions...
• Develop and apply participatory and interdisciplinary approaches, including monitoring and evaluation, to design, implement, and assess DRR and CCA strategies that enhance long-term impact, resilience, and equity.
• Investigate the dual role of natural and cultural heritage conservation in both addressing environmental and disaster risks and in strengthening community preparedness, resilience, and risk awareness.
I hold a PhD in Environmental Economics and Environmental Management (University of York, 2016), an MSc in Geohazard Assessment (University of Portsmouth, 2006), and a BSc in Applied Geography (Bournemouth University, 2005). My doctoral research explored Indigenous perceptions of volcanic risk in Colombia, using participatory methods to examine the sustainability of risk management policy.
Prior to joining Bournemouth University, I lectured at the University of York and the University of Portsmouth, and have extensive experience as a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Consultant, specialising in disaster risk reduction. climate adaptation, and sustainable livelihoods.
moreResearch
My research engages communities, stakeholders, and global organisations to address the following core questions:
1. How can innovative participatory and interdisciplinary approaches, including monitoring and evaluation, be used to assess the long-term impact, effectiveness, and equity of DRR, CCA, and natural and cultural heritage conservation programs?
2. How can risk management and heritage conservation frameworks integrate Indigenous knowledge and rights in ways that are just, sustainable, and effective?
3. How can global frameworks embed justice-oriented M&E into guidance, assessments, and decision-making?
I combine interdisciplinary methods — participatory, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches — to ensure research outcomes are locally relevant, inclusive, and actionable.
My work spans DRR, climate adaptation, and heritage conservation, particularly in vulnerable and remote coastal, island, and mountain regions.
Alongside academic research, I develop applied outputs such as participatory M&E toolkits, guidance frameworks, and workshops. I have provided consultancy for organisations including IUCN and UNESCO, ITAD, NESTA, DFID, and SEI-York, supporting evidence-based decision-making and evaluating the effectiveness and impact of programs across conservation, sustainability, and innovation sectors.”
I develop and apply participatory, monitoring, evaluation, and assessment methods, including both programmatic impact evaluation and desk-based assessments, with a focus on assessing value, integrity, risk, and the principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for Indigenous and local communities...
My research is designed to produce high-quality academic publications while delivering practical tools and methods that improve the resilience, sustainability, and equity of interventions in risk management, heritage, and environmental governance.
moreExpertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:
Sustainable cities and communities
"Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable"
Life below water
"Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development"
Journal Articles
- Roberts, J., Steve, C., Annemarieke, D.B., 2023. Promoting the transfer of pro-environmental behaviours between home and workplaces. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 5.
- Roberts, J., Lawangen, A., 2023. Interactions between DRR and ICH in indigenous communities in Benguet, Philippines. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 94.
- Roberts, J., Yildiz, A., Teeuw, R., Dickinson, J., 2021. Children’s perceptions of flood risk and preparedness: A study after the May 2018 flooding in Golcuk, Turkey. Progress in Disaster Science, 9.
- Roberts, J., Yildiz, A., Teeuw, R., Dickinson, J., 2020. Children’s earthquake preparedness and perception: A comparative study of two cities in Turkey, using a modified PRISM approach. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 49.
Conferences
- Roberts, J., Stewart, B., Rudd, H., Thomas, S., Sheeham, E., Nesbit, R., Stamp, T., Hall, A., Conlon, R., Davies, P., Hyder, K., 2024. Using a multi-pronged approach to increase the knowledge base for a fishery in crisis, pollack in the United Kingdom. In: International Marine Conservation Conference 14/10/2024 Cape Town, South Africa.
- Roberts, J., Casadevall, T., Tormey, D., 2018. IUCN Volcano Thematic Study: Identifying the Strongest Remaining Candidates for Inscription on the World Heritage List. In: Global Geoheritage – International Significance and Biodiversity Values 04/04/2018 Isle of Vilm, Germany.
- Roberts, J., Casadevall, T., Tormey, D., 2016. A global perspective on protected volcanic areas: Revision of the IUCN volcano thematic study. In: Cities on Volcanoes: Understanding Volcanoes and Societies - The key for risk mitigation 20/11/2016 Puerto Varas, Chile.
- Roberts, J., Snell, C., Glass, J., 2012. The Sustainability of Volcanic Livelihoods. In: Cities on Volcanoes 7 17/11/2021 Colima, Mexico.
Reports
- Roberts, J., Casadevall, T., Tormey, D., 2021. World Heritage Volcanoes: Classification, gap analysis and recommendations for future listings. IUCN.
- Roberts, J., Teeuw, R., Parnham, M., Ancient, C., Ketewai, M., 2021. Satellite-based technologies for climate resilience and disaster reduction: uses in the education sectors of Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. UNITAR.
- Roberts, J., Brown, C., Stott, C., 2019. USING INNOVATION INDUCEMENT PRIZES FOR DEVELOPMENT: WHAT MORE HAS BEEN LEARNED?. ITAD.
Theses
- Roberts, J., 2016. The deconstruction of volcanic risk, case study: Galeras, Colombia. University of York, Environment and Geography.
PhD Students
- Dr Karine Rasool. Socio-economic assessment of small-scale fisheries, Seychelles, University of York, (Completed)
- Ali Yasitli. Assessing the effectiveness of flood management in Turkey and the UK, (Completed)
Profile of Teaching PG
- Crisis and Disaster Management - Unit Lead (Level 7)
- Management of Natural Hazards - Unit Lead (Level 7)
Profile of Teaching UG
- Managing Crises and Disasters - Unit Lead (Level 6)
- Tourism and Hospitality - Dissertation Supervision
- Coasts and Coastal Adaptation (Level 5)
- Tourism, Wildlife & the Environment (Level 4)
Invited Lectures
-
Engaging local and Indigenous communities in C&DM, Portsmouth University, 03 Feb 2025 more
2hr lecture for Crisis and Disaster Management Masters students at the University of Portsmouth. -
Evaluating impact in Human Geography research, Environment and Geography - University of York, 02 Dec 2024 more
1hr lecture for 2nd year Human Geography and Environment students at the University of York. I created and wrote the original module and have been invited back as a guest speaker.
External Responsibilities
- IUCN / UNESCO, External reviewer for World Heritage Programme (2024-)
Internal Responsibilities
- Ethics reviewer, BUBS / MSI Ethics Review Panel
Qualifications
- PhD in Environmental Economics & Environmental Management (University of York, 2016)
- MSc in Geohazard Assessment (University of Portsmouth, 2006)
- BSc (Hons) in Applied Geography (Bournemouth University, 2005)