Professor Rupert Lloyd Hough

Director of the Digital Transformation Office
Information and Computational Sciences
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)
Rupert is a risk and exposure modeller interested in reducing risks from contamination in the food chain. Rupert obtained his PhD from Nottingham University in 2002 and subsequently worked as a Lecturer in exposure assessment at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Rupert joined Cranfield University's Integrated Waste Management Centre in 2005 and in 2006 moved to the Macaulay Institute to coordinate a programme of work on risk-based management of Scotland's soil resource for the Scottish Government. In 2015 he was promoted to Head of Department for Information & Computational Sciences at the James Hutton Institute.

Research

In his current position, Rupert oversees the computational and data-driven aspects of the Institutes portfolio and has a broad oversight of data and digital for interdisciplinary environmental, agricultural, and social sciences.

Primary areas of expertise:

  • Risk Science: Ph.D. in environmental risk assessment plus 23 years independent research experience in circular economy. Pioneer of systems-based risk models combining ‘hard’ data with opinion and perception.
  • Standard Setting: Examples include – worked with WRAP and stakeholders in development and evaluation of PAS100 & PAS110 specifications for composts and digestates; worked with DWQR and water companies to derive standards for water re-use.
  • Data & Digital: A graduate of the Scottish Digital Academy, I have been an ‘Open Data Champion’ providing support to the Chief Scientific Advisor to Scottish Government in development of data policy.
  • People: Rupert leads a department of 50 computational, technical and data scientists. He is a award-winning career and academic mentor for various universities.

Publications

The following Publications have not yet been migrated to the James Hutton Institute's Pure service and relate to the research outputs from the two legacy organisations: The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and The Scottish Crop Research Institute.

Journals

Prior to appointment

  • Brassington, K.J.; Hough, R.L.; Paton, G.I.; Semple, K.T.; Risdon, G.C.; Crossley, J.; Hay, I. Askari, K.; Pollard S.J.T. (2007) Weathered hydrocarbon wastes: A risk management primer., Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 37, 199-232.
  • Hough, R.L.; Whittaker, M.; Fallick, A.E.; Preston, T.; Farmer, J.G.; Pollard, S.J.T. (2006) Identifying source correlation parameters for hydrocarbon wastes using compound-specific isotope analysis., Environmental Pollution, 143, 489-498.
  • Hough, R.L.; Tye, A.M.; Crout, N.M.J.; McGrath, S.P.; Zhang, H.; Young, S.D. (2005) Evaluating a ‘Free Ion Activity Model’ applied to metal uptake by Lolium perenne L. grown in contaminated soils., Plant and Soil, 270, 1-12.
  • Hough, R.L.; Breward, N.; Young, S.D.; Crout, N.M.J.; Tye, A.M.; Moir, A.M.; Thornton, I. (2004) Assessing potential risk of heavy metal exposure from consumption of home-produced vegetables by urban populations., Environmental Health Perspectives, 112, 215-221.
  • Hough, R.L.; Young, S.D.; Crout, N.M.J. (2003) Modelling of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn uptake, by winter wheat and forage maize, from a sewage disposal farm., Soil Use and Management, 19, 19-27.

Books / chapters

  • Lilly, A.; Hudson, G.; Hough, R.L.; NSIS Resampling Team (2011) Scotland’s soil resource., In: Marrs, S.J., Foster, S., Hendrie, C., Mackey, E.C. & Thompson, D.B.A. (eds.). The Changing Nature of Scotland. TSO Scotland, Edinburgh, Chapter 4, 45-52.
  • Hough, R.L. (2010) Copper and lead., In: Hooda, P.S. (ed.). Trace Elements in Soils. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK, Chapter 18, pp441-454.
  • Hough, R.L. (2010) Bioavailability: exposure, dose and risk assessment., In: Hooda, P.S. (ed.). Trace Elements in Soils. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK, Chapter 12, pp267-289.

Technical / contract reports

  • Brown, I.; Ridder, B.; Alumbaugh, P.; Barnett, C.; Brooks, A.; Duffy, L.; Webbon, C.; Nash, E.; Townend, I.; Black, H.I.J.; Hough, R.L. (2011) Climate change risk assessment for the biodiversity and ecosystem services sector., Final Report to Defra – UK Climate Change Risk Assessment.
  • Brown, I.; Ridder, B.; Alumbaugh, P.; Barnett, C.; Brooks, A.; Duffy, L.; Webbon, C.; Nash, E.; Townend, I.; Black, H.I.A.; Hough, R.L. (2011) UK climate change risk assessment: Biodiversity and ecosystem services. Tier 2 sector report., Report to Defra. Deliverable 1.7, EU FP7 REFRESH Project.
  • Dawson, J.J.C.; Delbos, E.; Hough, R.L.; Lumsdon, D.; Mayes, R.; Watson, H. (2011) Impacts of volcanic ash originating from the April 2010 eruption in Eyjafjallajokull (Iceland) on the natural resources of Scotland., Macaulay Land Use Research Institute website.
  • Longhurst, P.; Hough, R.L.; Wu, S.; Villa, R.; Chambers, B.; Tyrrel, S.; Taylor, M.; Booth, P.; Avery, L.M.; Pollard, S. (2009) Risk assessment for the use of source-segregated composts in UK agriculture., Report prepared for the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
  • Hough, R.L.; Booth, P.; Avery, L.M.; Rhind, S.; Crews, C.; Bacon, J.; Campbell, C.D. (2009) Risk assessment of the use of PAS100 green composts in Scottish livestock production., Report prepared for the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
  • Hough, R.L.; Campbell, C.D.; White, D.; Crews, C. (2009) Study of the levels of plant derived toxins in compost., Quality Meat Scotland.
  • Lilly, A.; Birnie, R.V.B; Futter, M.N.; Grieve, I.C.; Higgins, A.; Hough, R.L.; Jones, M.A.; Jordan, C.; Nolan, A.J.; Stutter, M.I.; Towers, W.; Baggaley, N.J. (2009) Climate change, land management and erosion in the organic and organo-mineral soils in Scotland and Northern Ireland., SNH Commissioned Report, No. 325 (ROAME No. F06AC104 – SNIFFER UKCC21).
  • Hough, R.L.; Booth, P.; Rhind, S.M.; Avery, L.M.; Bacon, J.; Campbell, C.D.; Crews, C. (2009) Risk assessment of application of composted wastes to land., WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).
  • Nolan, A.J.; Hillier, S.; Hough, R. (2008) Sampling and analysis of lead mine spoil, Tyndrum, Argyll, and implications in relation to the expansion of visitor access., Forestry Commission, Scotland.
  • Towers, W.; Black, HJ.I.J.; Campbell, C.D.; Hough, R.L. (2007) EU Soil Framework Directive: Macaulay Institute response., Sustainability Science, 18, 2533-2548
  • Drew, G.H.; Tamer Vestlund, A.; Hough, R.L.; Chackiath, S.J.; Broomfield, M.; Bellamy, N.; Longhurst, P.J. (2007) DEFRA waste implementation programme, Wycombe Council: Health impact assessment of alternate week waste collections., Wycome District Council.

Conference papers

  • Troldborg, M.; Hough, R.L.; Aalders, I.; Towers, W.; Hallett, P.D.; Bengough, G.; McKenzie, B.M.; Ball, B. (2011) Quantification of soil compaction risk using Bayesian belief networks., Pedometrics 2011 – Innovations in Pedometrics (eds. O. Jaksik, A. Klement and L. Boruvka). Book of abstracts. Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 30 August – 3 September 2011. ISBN:978-80-213-2195-3.
  • Vinh, N.C.; Minh, N.D.; Hien, N.V.; Khai, N.M.; Hough, R.L.; Thuy, L.T.; Oborn, I. (2011) Heavy metals in soils affected by different contaminant sources under irrigated rice based system in the Red River Delta., Soil-Water Environment Affected by Contaminated Sources and Human Health Risk Assessment. Hanoi, Vietnam, 30 March – 1 April 2011.
  • Minh, N.D.; Hough, R.L.; Thuy, L.T.; Nyberg, Y.; Mai, L.B.; Vinh, N.C.; Khai, N.M.; Oborn, I. (2011) Potential public health risks from dietary exposure to heavy metals in the Red River Delta, Vietnam., Soil-Water Environment Affected by Contaminated Sources and Human Health Risk Assessment. Hanoi, Vietnam, 30 March – 1 April 2011.
  • Samuelsson, A.; Sjodin, R.; Minh, N.D.; Vinh, N.C.; Hough, R.L.; Oborn, I. (2011) Dietary intake of zinc and iron within the female population of two farming villages in the Red River Delta, Vietnam., Soil-Water Environment Affected by Contaminated Sources and Human Health Risk Assessment. Hanoi, Vietnam, 30 March – 1 April 2011.
  • Hough, R.L.; Minh, N.D.; Thuy, L.T.; Nyberg, Y.; Mai, L.B.; Vinh, N.C.; Khai, N.M.; Oborn, I. (2011) Exposure assessment approach and implementation in the SAREC study communities., Soil-Water Environment Affected by Contaminated Sources and Human Health Risk Assessment. Hanoi, Vietnam, 30 March – 1 April 2011.
  • Oborn, I.; Vinh, N.C.; Khai, N.M.; Minh, N.D.; Hough, R.L.; Gustafsson, J-P.; Sjostedt, C.; Thuy, L.T.; Hien, N.V.; Nyberg, Y.; Ha, P.Q. (2011) Soil – water environment affected by contaminant sources and human health risk assessment., Soil-Water Environment Affected by Contaminated Sources and Human Health Risk Assessment. Hanoi, Vietnam, 30 March – 1 April 2011.
  • Vinh, N.C.; Minh, N.D.; Hien, N.V.; Khai, N.M.; Hough, R.L.; Thuy, L.T.; Oborn, I. (2011) Water environment as affected by different contamination sources at hot spots in the Red River Delta., Soil-Water Environment Affected by Contaminated Sources and Human Health Risk Assessment. Hanoi, Vietnam, 30 March – 1 April 2011.
  • Aalders, I.H.; Hough, R.L.; Towers, W. (2010) Soil risk – identifying vulnerability hotspots., Spatial Analysis and Modelling for Environmental Studies – Annual Meeting of Association of American Geographers, 14-18 April 2010.
  • Minh, N.D.; Hough, R.L.; Thuy, L.T.; Nyberg, Y.; Mai, L.B.; Vinh , N.C.; Oborn, I.; Wilson, M.J. (2010) Assessing exposure to cadmium in a metal recycling community in Vietnam., International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment, 15th, Gdansk, Poland, 19-23 September 2010.
  • Vinh , N.C.; Oborn, I.; Ha, P.Q.; Minh, N.D.; Hough, R.L.; Khai, N.M.; Thuy, L.T. (2010) Potential environmental and public health risks associated with contamination of heavy metals from industrial wastewater in Lam Thao District, Phu Tho Province., First International Conference on Environmental Pollution, Restoration and Management, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 1-5 March 2010.
  • Fletcher, T.; Leonardi, G.; Hough, R.L.; Goessler, W.; Gurzau, E.; Koppova, K.; Rudnai, P.; Vahter, M. (2010) The impact of exposure metric choice for cancers related to arsenic in drinking water in central Europe., 2010 Joint Conference of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) and the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE), Seoul, Korea, 28 August – September 2010.
  • Minh, N.D.; Hough, R.L.; Thuy, L.T.; Nyberg, Y.; Mai, L.B.; Vinh, N.C.; Oborn, I. (2009) Assessing exposure to cadmium in a metal recycling community in Vietnam., Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry UK Branch Annual Meeting: Environmental and Human Health. London, UK, 14-15 September, 2009.
  • Hough, R.L.; Shand, C.A.; Avery, L.M.; Campbell, C.D.; Singh, B.K.; Hudson, G.; Devereaux, G. (2009) Soil and human health: the national soils inventory of Scotland., Practical Applications of Medical Geology, BGS Keyworth, Nottingham, 19-20 March, 2009.
  • Hough, R.L.; Protecting the Nation’s Soils Research Team. (2009) Scotland’s Soil Resource – is it Changing?, SNH-SEARS Conference: The Changing Nature of Scotland. Perth Concert Hall, Perth, 17-18 September 2009.
  • Minh, N.D.; Hough, R.L.; Thuy, L.T.; Nyberg, Y.; Mai, L.B.; Vinh, N.C.; Oborn, I. (2009) Assessing exposure to cadmium in a metal recycling community in Vietnam., International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements (ICOBTE), 10th, Chihuahua, Mexico, 13-16 July 2009.
  • Turner, S.; Ayres, J.G.; Devereux, G.S.; Shand, C.A.; Hough, R.L,; Hudson, G. (2009) Does silt content of soil at birth influence later development of asthma?, European Respiratory Society Annual Congress, Vienna, Austria, 12-16 September, 2009.
  • Hough, R.L.; Towers, W.; Aalders, I.H. (2008) Investigating the use of Bayesian Belief Networks to assess the influence., Eurosoil 2008, Soil-Society-Environment. Session: Soils and Climate Change. Conference Proceedings, Vienna, Austria, 25-29 August 2008.
  • Campbell, C.D.; Towers, W.; Hough, R.L.; Black, H.I.J. (2008) Protecting the Nation’s soil – past, present and future., SAC/SEPA Biennial Conference Agriculture and the Environment VII Land Management in a Changing Environment, Edinburgh, 26-27 March 2008.
  • Drew, G.H.; Tamer Vestlund, A.; Hough, R.L.; Chackiath, S.J.; Broomfield, M.; Longhurst, P.J. (2007) Health impact assessment of alternate week waste collections of biodegradable waste., Chartered Institute of Wastes Management Annual Conference, Torbay, 12-14 June 2007.
  • Thornton, L.; Farago, M.E.; Thums, C.; Parrish, R.; McGill, R.; Breward, N.; Forty, J.; Simpson, P.; Young, S.; Tye, A.; Crout, N.; Hough, R.L.; Watt, J. (2007) The UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) sponsored multi-agency research program into the interpretation of urban geochemical maps., Urban Environmental Contamination and Health Under the Microscope: The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Urban Geochemistry and Health Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 22-25 July 2007.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Minh, N.D.; Hough, R.L.; Thuy, L.T.; Nyberg, Y.; Mai, L.B.; Vinh, N.C.; Oborn, I. (2011) Assessing exposure to cadmium in a metal recycling community in Vietnam., The 11th International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, Florence, Italy, 3-6 July 2011.
  • Barreto, D.; McDougall, J.; Aalders, I.H.; Hough, R.L. (2010) The impact of construction activities on Scottish peat wetlands., Scottish Government Higher Education Research Team Visit, Edinburgh Napier University, 4 June 2010.
  • Lilly, A.; Hudson, G.; Hough, R.L.; NSIS Re-Sampling Programme Team (2010) Developing methods to detect change in the soil resource of a country with a Northern temperate boreal climate (Scotland)., World Congress of Soil Science: Soil Solutions for a Changing World, 19th, Brisbane Australia, 1-6 August 2010.
  • Hough, R.L.; Aalders, I.H.; Towers, W. (2009) Investigating the use of Bayesian Relief Networks to assess the risk of erosion in peatland soils., Predicting the Future for Highly Organic Soils, British Society of Soil Science, Spring Conference, Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot-Watt University, 5-7 May 2009. Book of Abstracts.
  • Hough, R.L.; Shand, C.; Avery, L.M.; Campbell, C.D.; Singh, B.; Hudson; G.; Devereaux, G. (2009) Soil and human health: the national soils inventory of Scotland., Practical Applications of Medical Geology, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, 19-20 March 2009.
  • Shand, C.A.; Hough, R.L.; Hudson, G.; Campbell, C.D.; Devereux, G. (2009) Could exposure to silt adversely affect early life respiratory health?, BGS Medical Geology Meeting, Keyworth, Nottingham,19-20 March 2009.
  • Fletcher, T.; Leonardi, G.S.; Hough, R.; Goessler, W.; Gurzau, E.; Koppova, K.; Kumar, R.; Rudnai, P.; Vahter, M. (2008) Lifetime exposure to arsenic in residential drinking water in central Europe., Epidemiology, 196, Supplement S, Abstract S24-S24.

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