Dr Chris Skinner | Geoscientist, Lecturer, and Geoscience Games Master
Hello! I’m Dr Chris Skinner, a Lecturer of Geography at York St John University, and international Geoscience Games Master.
I specialise in using numerical models, games, and a healthy dose of imagination to understand the world around us. From flooding and environmental change to virtual worlds and tabletop roleplaying games, I’m interested in how we explore complex systems, tell their stories, and make sense of what they mean for us.
I think of models and games as imagination engines. They create worlds we can explore, experiment with, and learn from. They let us ask what if? and help make the invisible visible, whether that’s the future impacts of sea-level rise or the experiences of someone whose home has flooded.
And sometimes they’re just good fun. That’s important too!
What I do
My work brings together three overlapping worlds.
Geoscience and environmental modelling
I’m a geoscientist with a background in hydrology, geomorphology, and environmental modelling, particularly flooding and flood risk.
I’ve worked across academic research and practical environmental management, including nearly five years as a senior hydrologist with the Environment Agency. I’m interested not just in what models can tell us, but in how we understand their limitations and use their results to make better decisions.
Games, imagination, and science communication
Games are powerful tools for exploring ideas, communicating research, and getting people involved in science.
I’ve developed activities using video games, virtual reality, immersive storytelling, and tabletop roleplaying games. My work includes the SeriousGeoGames portfolio, Earth Arcade, and the annual Games for Geoscience sessions at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly, which I’ve led since 2018.
I want to make science more accessible, engaging and, where possible, playful.
Teaching, training, and public engagement
I’m a Lecturer of Geography at York St John University, teaching subjects including environmental hazards, earth surface processes, and river management.
Beyond the classroom, I design creative workshops and engagement activities that help people understand models, explore research, and develop their imaginations.
Because imagination isn’t just something we have. It’s something we can practise.
Explore my experience | Teaching | Research publications
Some of my projects
Here are three examples of what happens when I start mixing geoscience with imagination.
GameBAG — Game-Based Approaches in Geoscience
My evolving portfolio of research and activities exploring the use of games in geoscience research, education, and communication.
From international conference sessions to new ways of understanding numerical models, GameBAG brings together much of what interests me about games and science.
Adventures in Model Land
Ever wanted to go exploring inside a computer model?
Adventures in Model Land is an open-source framework for turning numerical models into worlds that can be explored through tabletop roleplaying games.
It’s about using imagination to understand what models do, how they work, and what their limitations might be.
Play your Research
Research needs imagination. Lots of it.
Play your Research uses creative, playful approaches inspired by LEGO(R) Serious Play(R) to help researchers think differently about their work, explore ideas, and develop their imaginative skills.
The winding road to GeoSkinner
I’ve not followed the most conventional career path.
My journey has taken me through academic research, flood risk modelling, environmental management, teaching, and public engagement. I’ve published research, developed interactive exhibits, helped communicate environmental risks, and worked with people across the science-policy-practice landscape.
That variety shapes how I approach problems. I enjoy finding connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, challenging assumptions, and experimenting with different ways of doing things.
Creativity, curiosity, playfulness, and imagination are the common threads running through my work.
You can find more about my career, publications, teaching, and public engagement activities on my Experience pages.
More ways to explore
I also share videos on flooding, numerical modelling, and gaming – occasionally all three together. Here is the latest video from my YouTube channel.
Let’s explore something together
Whether you’re interested in geoscience, environmental modelling, games, teaching, or creative approaches to research, there’s plenty for us to explore together.
Have a look around, discover my projects, or get in touch if you’d like to discuss ideas or potential collaborations.
