Alice Larkin (previous married name Bows) is a British climate scientist. She serves as Professor of Climate Science and Energy Policy ^[1][3] in the School of Engineering at the University of Manchester. She works on carbon budgets, international transport and cumulative emissions.

Quick Facts Born, Other names ...

Alice Larkin
Alice Larkin discusses climate change at Elevate Festival in 2015
Born	Alice Larkin
Other names	Alice Bows-Larkin
Alma mater	University of Leeds (BSc) Imperial College London (PhD)
Known for	Climate policy
Scientific career
Fields	Climate change[1] Energy[1] Aviation[1] Shipping[1] Food[1]
Institutions	Tyndall Centre University of Manchester
Thesis	Investigation into the effects of solar variability on climate using atmospheric models of the troposphere and stratosphere (2000)
Doctoral advisor	Joanna Haigh[2]
Website	www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/alice.larkin.doc

Close

Larkin studied astrophysics at the University of Leeds, graduating in 1996.^[4] She joined Imperial College London for her graduate studies, working on climate modelling, and completed her PhD in 2000 on the effects of solar variability on climate using atmospheric models of the troposphere and stratosphere^[2][4] supervised by Joanna Haigh.^[5]

Larkin worked in science communication for three years after her PhD.^[4] In 2003 Larkin joined the Tyndall Centre working on conflicts between climate change and policy.^[6] She is interested in ways that research can inform policy decisions.^[7] She became part of the team at Manchester, developing the energy scenario tool ASK in 2005, which allowed them to build low-carbon energy scenarios.^[8] She works on carbon budgets and cumulative emissions. She was involved in the creation of the Climate Change Act 2008.^[6] She was appointed a lecturer in 2008 and became Director of the Tyndall Centre in 2013.^[6] She remains a member of the Tyndall Centre council.^[9] In 2013 she called for more radical strategies to tackle climate change.^[10]

She became a Professor at the University of Manchester in 2015. She is part of the University Living Lab.^[11] She delivered a Ted Talk in 2015 entitled Climate Change is Happening, Here's How We Adapt.^[12] The talk considered the reality of climate change and the fate of a world where wealthy nations do not take any responsibility.^[11] It was described as the 'best human rights talk of the year' by City Atlas: New Haven.^[13] She also spoke at TEDxYouth@Manchester in 2015 and New Scientist live.^[14][15]

In 2016 Larkin was awarded the Researcher of the Year by University of Manchester. Larkin is interested in energy systems and international transport.^[16][17] She provided expert-witness to the trial of the Heathrow 13, protestors from the Plane Stupid campaign group, who chained themselves to Heathrow Airport's Northern Runway to protest against the impact of climate change.^[18] She avoids flying as she believes that climate change experts should act as role models in curbing aviation growth.^[19] In 2017 she was made Head of the School (now Department) of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering (MACE) at the University of Manchester, and in 2019 became Head of the School of Engineering, a post held until October 2023.^[20] She has spoken extensively about climate change in mainstream media.^[21] She appeared on the podcast Introductions Necessary.^[22] She investigates the impact of the Paris Agreement for big-emitting nations.^[23]