University of Reading cookie policy

We use cookies on reading.ac.uk to improve your experience, monitor site performance and tailor content to you

Read our cookie policy to find out how to manage your cookie settings

Alan Howard

Alan Howard portrait
  • +44 (0) 118 378 8763
  • Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience)
Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Quality Assurance).

Research centres and groups

 

Background

I am currently full-time Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office and not active in my departmental role as Professor of Geography.

Externally, I work as an expert academic assessor for the Office for Students, an institutional reviewer for the QAA, and a member of the Royal Geographical Society’s degree accreditation panel. I have undertaken over 30 institutional quality assurance reviews, as well as assessments for degree-awarding powers and appeals, with current work spanning QAA reviews in England and Wales and approval visits for the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

I taught and supported students for more than 30 years, delivering modules on computational methods, energy, and water resources, and leading field classes in the UK, Netherlands, Spain, Greece, and China.

I continue to publish in collaboration with colleagues at the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST). Recent papers include:

  • Chen et al. (2024). Slow-release fertilizer from MgO-modified biochar and struvite. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering.
  • Yi et al. (2024). Coagulant from foundry dust for swine wastewater treatment. Journal of Cleaner Production.
  • Li et al. (2024). Geopolymer modified by MgO for phosphate and ammonium removal. Process Safety and Environmental Protection.
  • Wang et al. (2023). Synthesis of NaA zeolite from foundry dust. Journal of Environmental Management.

Beyond academia, I am the author of the official biography of singer-songwriter Don McLean and appeared as his biographer in the BBC Two Classic Albums documentary on American Pie.
 

Academic qualifications

BSc; PhD (Leeds)

Howard, A. & Easthope, M.P. (2002) Application of a model to predict cyanobacteria patterns in response to climatic change at Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire, UK, The science of the Total Environment 282-283, 459-469.

Howard, A. (2001) Modelling movement patterns of the cyanobacterium, Mic. Ecological Applications 304-310.

Howard, A. (1999) Algal Modelling: Processes and Management, Introduction, Hydrobiologia 414, 35-37.

Easthope, M.P. & Howard, A. (1999) Implementation and sensitivity analysis of a model of cyanobacterial movement and growth, Hydrobiologia, 414, 53-58.

Howard, A. (1999) (ed) Algal Modelling: Processes & Management 414.

Easthope, M.P. & Howard, A.(1999) Modelling algal dynamics in a lowland impoundment, Science of the Total Environment. 241, 17-25.

Howard, A. (1998) Cyanobacteria (Blue-green algae), in Herschy, R.G. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Hydrology and Water Resources, Chapman & Hall, 147-149.

Howard, A. (1998) Toxic cyanobacterial blooms, in Rose, J. (ed) Environmental Toxicology: Current Developments, Volume 7, 345-357. Gordon & Breach Science Publishers.

Kneale, P.E. & Howard, A. (1997) Statistical analysis of algal and water quality data, Hydrobiologia, 347: 59-63.

Whitehead, P.G. Howard, A. & Arulmani, C. (1997) Modelling algal growth and transport in rivers: a comparison of time series analysis, dynamic mass balance, and neural network techniques, Hydrobiologia, 347: 39-46.

Howard, A. (1997) Computer simulation modelling of buoyancy change in Microcystis, Hydrobiologia, 349: 111-117.

Howard, A. (1997) Algal Modelling: Processes & Management. Editorial Preface. Hydrobiologia, 349:vii-ix.

Howard, A. Irish, A.E. & Reynolds, C.S. (1996) SCUM '96: A new simulation of cyanobacterial underwater movement, Journal of Plankton Research, 18, 1375-1385.

Howard, A. McDonald, A.T. Kneale, P.E. & Whitehead, P.G. (1996) Cyanobacterial (blue-green algal) blooms in the UK: A review of the current situation and potential management options, Progress in Physical Geography, 20, 63-81.

Publications

Loading your publications ...