Sarah is a quantitative geographer specialising in the use of geospatial analysis to understand the outcomes of human-environment interactions. Her main research interests are associated with urban environmental processes, climate adaptation and urban ecosystem benefits for health and wellbeing. Much of her research activity is motivated by the need to develop sustainable responses to current and future environmental challenges. She therefore often works in multi-disciplinary teams and in collaboration with non-academic partners. 

Prof Sarah Lindley is based in the Department of Geography, School of Environment, Education & Development (SEED). She joined the University of Manchester as a Postdoctoral Researcher in 1999, began a Lectureship in GIS in 2001 and became a Professor of Geography in 2017.  Sarah has led Geography's Environmental Processes Research Group, the cross-School Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology and was Director of Research for SEED between 2020-2023. She has served on the Inter-governmental Platform for Biodiversity & Ecosystem services (IPBES) Africa assessment 2015-18 and regularly presents to non-academic audiences, including the All-Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group (March 2019), Defra (Aug 2022) and Climate Change Committee (Dec 2023). Her applied and consultancy work includes research for Friends of the Earth, Scottish Government, Natural England & C40 Cities. 

Education, Qualifications and Career

• 2017 - to date; Professor of Geography, Department of Geography, School of Environment, Education and Development (Geography), University of Manchester
• 2015 – 2017: Reader in GIS, School of Environment, Education and Development (Geography), University of Manchester
• 2009 – 2015: Senior Lecturer in GIS, School of Environment and Development (Geography) University of Manchester
• 2001 – 2009: Lecturer in GIS, School of Geography, University of Manchester
• 1999 – 2001: Research Associate, Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology (CURE), School of Planning and Landscape, University of Manchester
• 1996 – 1999: Research Fellow Atmospheric Research and Information Centre (ARIC) Manchester Metropolitan University
• 1993 – 1998: Atmospheric Research and Information Centre (ARIC) Manchester Metropolitan University PhD ‘Development of a spatially resolved emissions inventory for local air quality management applications’ (University scholarship)
• 1992 – 1993: MSc Geographical Information Systems University of Edinburgh (NERC scholarship)
• 1987 – 1991: BA (Hons) Geography, University of Hull

Professional Activities

• 2020 - 2023: Research Director, School of Environment, Education and Development. 
• 2017 - 2020: Research Director, Department of Geography
• 2015 – 2018: Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Regional Assessment for Africa
• 2012 – 2017: Mentorship of Geography's Environmental Processes Research Group
• 2007 – 2010: Coordinator of Postgraduate Research for Geography
• 2002 – 2009: Member of Defra’s Air Quality Expert Group
• 2005 – 2008: Member of the Faculty of Humanities Professorial Promotions Committee
• 2003 – 2006: Chair of the EPSRC Building Knowledge for a Changing Climate Data Management Group
• 2001 – 2011: Co-Director of CURE
• 2000 – 2001: Manager of the Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology (CURE)

PhD researchers

Sarah welcomes applications from prospective PhD researchers interested to pursue topics aligned with her research interests and with a strong GISc dimension. Sarah has supervised 17 PhD researchers to completion. they have been funded by a range of UK and non-UK funding sources.