Clare Watt

Professor Clare Watt BSc (Hons) PhD FHEA FRAS

Hello! I am a space plasma physicist who specializes in space weather at Earth. I am most passionate about wave-particle interactions, kinetic plasma physics, and the behaviour of Earth's Outer Radiation Belt. I research the physics of Earth’s radiation belts through a combination of numerical simulation, analysis of spacecraft observations and theory. One of the best things about my job is the great scientific teams I get to work with, it is difficult to perform space science without extensive collaboration!

I graduated with a PhD in space plasma physics from St Catharine’s College, Cambridge in 2002, during which time I created a new plasma simulation model at the British Antarctic Survey. Work then took me to the University of Alberta in Canada, where I created numerical models of acceleration of auroral electrons in polar regions. My scientific focus is kinetic plasma physics as applied to space plasma environments. Largely this takes the form of wave-particle interactions, where charged particles in the collisionless environment of space interact with electromagnetic waves. This can result in energisation or scattering, and can be used to explain auroral processes, energisation of Earth’s radiation belts and even potentially the trigger for the explosive energy release in a magnetospheric substorm.

I've had the opportunity to lead large STFC Consolidated Grants (2015-2020) to study solar system physics, and I'm currently part of two large space weather consortia: Rad-Sat (2017-2021) which makes improvements to the modelling of acceleration, transport and loss of radiation belt electrons to protect satellites from space weather, and Sat-Risk (2020-2023) whose goal is to develop a real-time system to forecast radiation exposure to satellites for a range of different orbits, and quantify the risk of damage or degradation. These large collaborations allow me to work with scientists and satellite operators, insurers, and representatives of the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre (MOSWOC).

Working in an active UK and European research community allows me to be part of a wide range of organisations that advance larger projects. I currently serve on advisory groups for national and international space agencies: I co-chair the Physical Sciences Working group that advises the Human and Robotic Exploration Directorate of the European Space Agency, and I am a member of the Science Programme Advisory Committee that advises the UK Space Agency. I am one of the editors of a new Royal Astronomical Society journal - RAS Techniques and Instruments. From 2017-2020 I was a Councillor and Trustee of the Royal Astronomical Society, and I've served on the Science and Technology Facilities Council Astronomy Grants Panel.


PhD students and Post-Doctoral Fellows I've worked with:

  • Dr Sarah Bentley - now a Vice-Chancellor's Fellow here at Northumbria University

  • Dr Oliver Allanson - now a NERC Independent Fellow at Exeter University

  • Dr Téo Bloch - Passed his viva in 2021, now working in data science and earth observation

  • Dr Rhys Thompson - Passed his viva in 2021, now working in data science in a commerical setting.

If you're interested in publications, please visit my University webpage!

My other interests in academia include:

  • Adoption of fair research assessment principles - I chair our University-wide DORA Working Group

  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - I co-chair our Departmental Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team