Published April 2026

Some careers begin with a single defining moment. For Scots Collegian Josh Dean (1992–2004), it began with many – strung together across windswept beaches, school camps, and the wild corners of New Zealand. Looking back, he says his favourite memories are of “the amazing trips and camps we’d go on from primary school all the way through.” Those early adventures – whether exploring the marine research lab in Island Bay, visiting Kāpiti Island, or sea kayaking around Abel Tasman National Park – did more than break up the school year. They sparked a lifelong fascination with the environment. “Living overseas now, I’ve realised how amazing we had it growing up in Wellington, and Scots did such a great job of getting us out into nature.”

There were other formative experiences too, like the camaraderie of the Pipe Band. “I loved playing drums in the band and getting to interact with other kids across the age levels,” he recalls. Even the simple joy of performing before assemblies left its mark.

After leaving Scots, he took a gap year in London, teaching while figuring out what came next. Geography won out. He completed his undergraduate degree at Massey before heading to Melbourne for a PhD in Hydrogeology at La Trobe University.

The UK kept calling him back. He had lived there as a child and again during his gap year, but after finishing his PhD, he returned for a different reason: drumming. He joined the Inveraray & District Pipe Band, spending two years competing at the highest level, becoming European Champions and placing second at the World Championships. At the same time, he was building a research career at the University of Stirling, which sent him to the far north of Scotland and deep into the Canadian Arctic. “Those experiences shifted my interest to focus more on my career,” he says. Drumming eventually took a back seat as he moved to Amsterdam to lead major Arctic research campaigns in Siberia.

Success there opened the door to a faculty position at the University of Liverpool, and later to the University of Bristol – home to the top Geography department in the UK and one of the best in the world.

Josh’s work has now earned him one of the UK’s most prestigious academic honours: the Philip Leverhulme Prize in Geography. This award recognises exceptional researchers across all fields, and his was granted for groundbreaking contributions to understanding the global methane cycle, Arctic climate change, and the role of rivers in the global carbon system. That research has reached global audiences, appearing on the cover of Nature and in New Scientist. It’s the kind of impact many academics aspire to, but few achieve.

Despite the demanding research schedule, life outside academia is full. He and his wife recently welcomed their first child, a little boy who has already joined him on a field campaign in Venice. “He’s amazing and a real handful,” he laughs.

In his current role, he manages a team of researchers and oversees around £2.5 million in government funding. Their work spans urban rivers in London, Amsterdam, and China, as well as investigating how hydrogen fuel transitions might affect the environment and atmospheric chemistry. And there’s still one dream he’s determined to chase: “It’s always been my dream to make it to Antarctica, so I hope to make that happen one day soon.”

His message to current students is simple but heartfelt: appreciate the moment. “It’s hard to see it sometimes when you’re in it, but those school years are so magical. Scots gives you so many opportunities to explore and to grow – grab as many of those opportunities as you can.” He offers the same encouragement to anyone considering further study. While the future may feel uncertain in an age of rapid technological change, he believes there will always be a need for people who can think clearly and communicate well. Above all, “Follow your passions, you’ll 100% find more satisfaction if you like what you’re doing.”