Our People

Dr Avidesh Seenath

Fellow, Ordinary Fellow

Departmental Lecturer and MSc ECM Course Director

Environmental Change Institute

PhD and PGCAP (Durham University); MPhil and BSc (University of the West Indies)

Dr Avidesh Seenath is a coastal numerical modeller with academic qualifications from Durham University (PhD and PGCAP) and the University of the West Indies (MPhil and BSc). He joined the Environmental Change Institute (School of Geography and the Environment) in September 2023 as a Departmental Lecturer and the Course Director for the MSc in Environmental Change and Management. Additionally, he is a Co-Executive Lead for the Atlantic Chapter of the Nature Based Coastal Solutions (NBCS) Community of Practice, a Coastal Zone Canada Association initiative. Prior to joining Oxford, Avidesh held a joint Course Director (BSc Geography) and Lecturing (Physical Geography) position at Coventry University.

Research

His research interest lies in developing, refining, and applying numerical models, GIS, and remote sensing techniques for studying sandy coastal systems behaviour (evolution) and flood vulnerability over spatio-temporal scales of interest to coastal managers, particularly in small island states. Currently, Avidesh’s interests can be broken down into three thematic areas:

• Modelling decadal to centennial shoreline evolution across tens to hundreds of kilometres (i.e., mesoscale shoreline evolution).
• Coastal flood risk and vulnerability assessments under future climate projections.
• Understanding the socioeconomic implications of flood prediction uncertainty.

He also has secondary research interests in (a) approaches in higher education teaching and assessment in Geography and Environmental Science, and (b) decolonising physical geography.

Publications

Journal articles

• Goseine, K.D., Seenath, A., (2025) Shoreline modelling and mesh optimisation: a critical review of advances, challenges, and implications for coastal management. Journal of Environmental Management, 394, 127321.
• Durkin, C.J., Seenath, A., Knappen, M.A.F. (2025) A critical review of closure depth theories and uncertainties: implications for shoreline modelling and coastal management. Ocean & Coastal Management, 267, 107732.
• Seenath, A. (2025). Fundamental limitations of shoreline models. Nature Water, 3, 510 – 511.
• Justine, Y.E.D., Seenath, A. (2025). Modelling the effectiveness of vegetative nature-based solutions for coastal flood risk mitigation. Journal of Flood Risk Management, 18 (2), e70046.
• Yousaf, N., Seenath, A., Speight, L. (2025). On framing flood risk communications through maps: effects on the real-estate market. Applied Geography, 178, 103574.
• Seenath, A., Mahadeo, S.M.R., Blackett, M. (2025). Decision-making under flood predictions: a risk perception study of coastal real estate. Risk Analysis, 45 (7), 1899 – 1925.
• Justine, Y.E.D., Seenath, A. (2025). Vegetative nature-based solutions for coastal flood risk management: benefits, challenges, and uncertainties. Ocean & Coastal Management, 261, 107520.
• Seenath, A., Mahadeo, S.M.R., Catterson, J. (2025). Public perceptions of nature-based coastal solutions in the UK. Journal of Environmental Management, 373, 123413.
• Seenath, A., Dale, J. (2024). On the Bruun Rule suitability for modelling shoreline change. Ocean & Coastal Management, 255, 107237.
• Seenath, A. (2023). A new approach for handling complex morphologies in hybrid shoreline evolution models. Applied Ocean Research, 141, 103754.
• Seenath, A. (2022). A new approach for incorporating sea-level rise in hybrid 2D/one-line shoreline models. Scientific Reports, 12, 18074.
• Seenath, A. (2022). On simulating shoreline evolution using a hybrid 2D/one-line model. Coastal Engineering, 178, 104216.
• Seenath, A. (2018). Effects of DEM resolution on modeling coastal flood vulnerability. Marine Geodesy, 41 (6), pp 581 – 604.
• Seenath, A., Wilson, M., Miller, K. (2016). Hydrodynamic versus GIS modelling for coastal flood vulnerability assessment: Which is better for guiding coastal management? Ocean & Coastal Management, 120, pp 99 – 109.
• Seenath, A. (2015). Modelling coastal flood vulnerability: Does spatially-distributed friction improve the prediction of flood extent? Applied Geography, 64, pp 97 – 107.

Media

• Seenath, A., Justine, Y.E.D. (2025) Will green flood defences work? The Ecologist.
• Seenath, A., Blackett, M., Mahadeo, S.M.R. (2025). How to gauge flood risk before you buy or rent a seafront property. The Conversation.
• Seenath, A., Mahadeo, S.M.R, Catterson, J. (2025). Coastlines ‘need natural defences’. The Ecologist.