Jack Heslop trained as a civil engineer and worked in flood risk management and coastal erosion consulting for seven years. His professional practice is now centred in academic research into the global impacts of sea level rise at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, based at the University of East Anglia. Jack Heslop regularly gives talks for GroundWork, the first accompanying the exhibition Water Rising in 2019.

How will rising sea levels shape our world?

Jack Heslop has recently started a PhD alongside his Tyndall Centre research position. This will deepen his, and our general understanding of how rising sea levels will reshape our world.

“My work investigates the long-term implications of sea level rise, up to the year 2300. However, even within our lifetimes, sea level rise will force significant changes in coastal communities. In many cases, this will lead to migration, as parts of the global coastline become unviable. It is my hope that my research will contribute to the adaptation and protection of these communities as we look to the future.

Jack Heslop is an engineer with creative sensitivity

Alongside research, Jack Heslop enjoys developing his craft as a woodworker. He is equally a perfectionist in the way he develops these skills, making the best of the materials he finds. He creates pieces that are symbiotic in function and beauty. But there is a connection with his overall environmental ethos and approach to creativity in all his work.

‘Projects that produce things that are useful’

“I’m drawn to projects that produce things that are useful; whether that thing is a greenhouse, a hand trowel or a ranked list of countries impacted by sea-level rise. I like to think about how something I make will be used or interpreted by others. The idea of making something that inspires use is what motivates me through both my professional and creative practices.

Charting a route to a more sustainable future

“I am interested in joining the Groundwork Network to collaborate with a community of creatives and environmental advocates. We are sharing skills and expertise that will contribute to a collective effort, as we navigate the challenges posed by climate change. I am eager to engage with others who are passionate about communicating the complexities of these changes. Together we can better aim to chart a route to a more sustainable future”