Contact details +6469517015
Dr Melody Whitehead MEng, MRes, PhD, FHEA
Research Officer
Doctoral Supervisor School of Agriculture and EnvironmentLecturer
School of Mathematical and Computational SciencesProfessional
Qualifications
- Masters of Engineering - University of Bristol (2007)
- Master of Research - University of Bristol (2011)
- Doctor of Philosophy - University of Auckland (2015)
Fellowships and Memberships
- Member, Higher Education Academy (Fellow) (2022)
Certifications and Registrations
- Licence, Supervisor, 黑料网
Research Expertise
Research Interests
- Probabilistic modelling of natural hazards with a focus on volcanology and multi-hazards
- Model uncertainty: including missing, hidden, or otherwise incomplete data, unknown physical behaviour or structure, and the influence of modelling decisions (e.g., boundary and initical conditions or assumptions)
- Expert cognitive bias in data interpretation and elicitation theory
- Volcanism and volcanic hazards with a focus on distributed volcanism (monogenetic fields)
Currently leading: Matatuhi: Unlocking the forecasting potential of environmental tohu via ensemble systems models
MBIE Smart Idea
Our world is changing faster and in ever more diverse ways – global records are being broken from droughts to floods, and in Aotearoa we have seen cataclysmic flooding, catastrophic volcanic eruptions, and the Canterbury earthquakes. An essential task in managing and adapting to our future is being able to forecast it. Science is trying to keep up with these changes, but current forecasting models require large amounts of information, and tend to focus only on one small part of a system (for example, the waterways, or the fault network). Environmental forecasts lack both sufficient data and knowledge to build reliable models. We, as scientists, are stuck.
We believe that the way out is by taking an all-inclusive approach, looking at the system as a whole, with parts intricately woven together. Such an approach is intrinsic to M膩tauranga Maori which, moreover, provides for an alternative lens on what can be considered data, beyond instrumental readings. We know that adding more voices with alternate understandings leads to better, more transparent forecasts with accurate descriptions of uncertainty.
Our project provides robust forecasts of the future by combining adaptable statistical tools with the intrinsic M膩tauranga of iwi. We start with a proof-of concept region – the Central Volcanic Plateau, and will build location-specific tools that will be realised with iwi that whakapapa to this region. Once proven, our methodologies can be directly transplanted to other localities within Aotearoa.
This research will build robust forecasts of our environmental future, and shift the conversation in Aotearoa away from “How can M膩tauranga M膩ori be fitted into science?” and towards “What can science do to support M膩tauranga M膩ori?”
Thematics
Resource Development and Management
Area of Expertise
Field of research codes
Earth Sciences (040000):
Geology (040300):
Mathematical Sciences (010000):
Statistics (010400):
Stochastic Analysis and Modelling (010406):
Volcanology (040314)
Keywords
Geostatistics, Volcanology, Natural Hazards, Uncertainty modelling
Research Projects
Current Projects
Project Title: Matatuhi: Unlocking the forecasting potential of environmental tohu via ensemble systems models
Date Range: 2023 - 2026
Funding Body: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Project Team:
- Dr Melody Whitehead - Project Leader
Research Outputs
Journal
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
[Journal article]Authored by: Kereszturi, G., Whitehead, M.
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Irwin, M., Procter, J., Whitehead, M.
[Journal article]Authored by: Kereszturi, G., Whitehead, M.
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
[Journal article]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
Thesis
[Doctoral Thesis]Authored by: Whitehead, M.
[Masters Thesis]Authored by: Whitehead, M.
[Masters Thesis]Authored by: Whitehead, M.
Conference
[Conference]Authored by: Kereszturi, G., Whitehead, M.
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Whitehead, M.
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Bebbington, M., Whitehead, M.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Whitehead, M.
Teaching and Supervision
Teaching Statement
(161.111) Applied Statistics (2023-2024 S1 Course Coordinator; 2023 S2 33%, 2024 S1 33 %)
(233214) GIS and Spatial Statistics (2021-2024 33%)
(233712) Environmental Geographical Information Systems (2021-2024 25%)
(233314) Remote Sensing and Earth Observation (2023-2024 18%)
(228371) Statistical Modelling for Engineers and Technologists (2023-2024 50%, 2024 Course Coordinator)
Graduate Supervision Statement
I view supervision as a goal-directed partnership based on genuine research interests and a common desire to expand upon or alter current thinking through the production of robust, transparent, and precise work.
I am interested in multi-disciplinary methods that will help us better understand the uncertainty of things and encourage the general unacceptance of anything claiming to be completely accurate and precise in this messy world (but hope someday to be proven otherwise).
I am based in the Volcanic Risk Solutions group and encourage all students to participate in this wider group’s activities as well as those of the Graduate Research School to facilitate the transition from student to independent researcher over the course of their Masters and/or PhD. Prospective students should feel free to contact me by email if their research interests align (or overlap) with my own, and to discuss potential avenues of research funding.
Dr Melody Whitehead is available for Masters and Doctorial supervision.
Summary of Doctoral Supervision
Position | Current | Completed |
---|---|---|
Main Supervisor | 1 | 0 |
Current Doctoral Supervision
Main Supervisor of:
-
Emmy Scott
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Appropriate complexity of volcanic hazard models