Dr Kristofer Chan is an interdisciplinary researcher and educator, principally focused on the environment, hydropolitics and development. His research leverages satellite remote sensing, GIS, and open-source environmental sensor design, triangulating results with social science methodologies.

Kris co-leads the Environmental Science for Sustainability MSc programme, and convenes the GIS & Spatial Data Science (7SSGN109), and Earth Observation and Remote Sensing for Sustainability (7SSGN029) modules.

Prior to joining King's, he taught at the London School of Economics, in addition to working as a GTA and laboratory assistant in King’s Geography. Kris attained his PhD from the King’s Geography Department, an MSc in Conservation (Distinction) from UCL, and his BSc (Honours) in Geography from Durham University. He currently works on the POR EL Páramo (POst-conflict Reconciliation of Environment and Livelihoods in Boyacá Páramo) project investigating the land cover changes and impacts in Colombia. He also participates in the Shifting In/equality Dynamics in Ethiopia: from Research to Application (SIDERA) project, investigating environmental and livelihood impacts in the dryland region of the Omo river basin.

Kris has attained the PGCAPHE is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and the Royal Geographical Society. He is a member of the RGS’ Geography & Education Research Group. 

Research

• Environmental remote sensing
• Hydropolitics in Southeast Asia
• Local/traditional ecological knowledge (LEK/TEK)
• Environment and development contestation
• Open-source environmental sensors
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

Kris’ primary research investigates the environmental and social impacts of hydroelectric dams, combining remote sensing techniques with interviews of locally-affected communities.

He was also successful in helping secure a Newton Fund research grant to study the human/environmental conflict in the Boyacán Páramos, Colombia. He will be working on the Post-conflict Reconciliation of Environment and Livelihoods in Boyacá Páramo (POR EL Páramo) project (porelparamo.org) until 2021.

Teaching

Undergraduate

• 4SSG1016 Geography in Action
• 4SSG1013 The Changing Natural Environment II
• 5SSG2054 Water and Development
• 5SSG2061 Geographical Research Skills (Spatial Analysis & Modelling)
• 5SSG2064 Global Environmental Issues: Science and Solutions
• 5SSG2046 Field Research in Physical Geography

Postgraduate

• 7SSG5109 Environmental Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
• 7SSG5110 Methods for Environmental Research
• 7SSG5002 Practising Social Research
• 7SSG5165 Environmental Science and Policymaking

Further details

See Kris' research profile