SOAS University of London

Centre for Water and Development

Centre for Water and Development Members

Professor Peter P Mollinga
Director, Centre for Water and Development
Peter Mollinga
South Asia, Central Asia; comparative political sociology of water resources and development; technology and agrarian change; boundary work in natural resources management; interdisciplinary social theory.
  • Tel: +44(0) 20 7898 4631
  • Email: pm35@soas.ac.uk
  • Room: 4415
  • On Sabbatical:Terms 2 and 3 (18/19)
Dr Alberto Asquer
Member, Center for Water and Development
Alberto Asquer

Public policy and management, especially in the political economy of regulation and regulatory reforms, public policy implementation, public management.

  • Tel: +44(0) 207 898 4757
  • Email: aa144@soas.ac.uk
  • Room: 517
  • Academic Support Hours: Thursday 12 - 1
Dr Kate Bayliss
Member, Centre for Water and Development
Kate Bayliss

The impact of privatisation and commercialisation; public and private sector systems of provision; infrastructure development; utilities; role of domestic private sector in basic service delivery, equity impact of institutional and infrastructure reform. 

Professor Philippe Cullet
Member, Centre for Water and Development
Philippe Cullet
International and domestic law and policy concerning the environment, natural resources, water, sanitation, agriculture, sustainable development, climate change, health; social rights; intellectual property; India.

Dr Ben Groom
Member, Centre for Water and Development
Ben Groom

Ben is an Associate Professor in Environment and Development Economics at the Department of Geography and Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science. He obtained a PhD in Economics from University College London in 2005. His research includes social discounting for long-term public projects, the economics of water resources and the economics of agriculture and food security. He has served as a Consultant for numerous international organisations, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the World Wide Fund for Nature. He has also advised governments in the UK, USA, Norway, China, Namibia and Pakistan on various aspects of environmental policy.

Professor David Mosse
Member, Centre for Water and Development
David Mosse
India, especially Tamil Nadu and adivasi western India; caste and religion, dalit politics, vernacular Christianity, environmental history, common property resources, indigenous irrigation, participatory rural development, aid agencies, anthropology of development
  • Tel: 020 7898 4426
  • Email: dm21@soas.ac.uk
  • Room: 573
  • Academic Support Hours: Wednesday 11.00-13.00
Professor Laurence Smith
Member, Centre for Water and Development
Laurence Smith
Research: Natural resource management, water resources, rural development and poverty reduction.
Dr Frauke Urban
Member, Centre for Water and Development
Frauke Urban
Research: low carbon energy transitions, energy policy, climate policy, innovation for sustainability, sustainable development

Professorial Research Associates

Professor Tony Allan
Member, Centre for Water and Development
Tony Allan

Analysis of water resources in semi-arid regions and the role of global systems in ameliorating local and regional water deficits. Established the concept of Virtual Water. Was awarded the Stockholm Water Prize in 2008 in recognition of his contribution to water science.

Professor James Nickum
Professorial Research Associate
James E. Nickum

Comparative water governance, with focus on China and other Asia; water economies of global cities. 

Fellow of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) and has served as Editor-in-Chief of Water International since 2007. International Advisor, Water Engineering and Policy Centre, the University of Hong Kong;  Adjunct Senior Fellow, the East-West Centre, Honolulu.