Rate My Professor Colin Jones

Professor Colin Jones is an NCAS Professor in the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability at the University of Leeds, within the Faculty of Environment. He serves as a core scientist for the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) and heads the joint Met Office/NERC UK Earth System Modelling (UKESM) project. Based at the Met Office in Exeter, where the bulk of the UKESM core group is located, his primary role involves leading the development of the next generation of UK Earth system models. The first version, UKESM1, is targeted for application within the World Climate Research Programme's 6th Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). This initiative focuses on enhancing simulations of complex Earth system interactions, including atmospheric, oceanic, land, and biogeochemical processes to improve climate prediction capabilities.

Colin Jones has coordinated major research efforts, including serving as the external primary investigator for the European CRESCENDO project, which aimed to improve representations of key processes in European Earth System Models (ESMs) through coordinated research, knowledge dissemination, and outreach. He has been involved in other significant projects such as Rapid Dynamics in the Earth's Core, where he collaborates with leading geophysicists, and TerraFIRMA, addressing future impacts, risks, and mitigation actions in a changing Earth system. Jones contributes to scientific advisory roles, including membership in the Bjerknes Scientific Advisory Council and the Advisory Group for the Biological Influence on Future Ocean Carbon Sinks project. He has presented his work at international forums, such as the Barcelona Supercomputing Center's virtual research seminar on TerraFIRMA. His leadership in these areas underscores his substantial contributions to advancing Earth system modeling and supporting evidence-based climate policy.