Alan Forster

I am a university Associate Professor and programme leader for the MSc in Building Conservation (Technology & Management) with 10 years industrial experience in general construction, building surveying, and building conservation practice.

Research: My research activities are undertaken within the Institute for Sustainable Built Environment (ISBE); Investigating traditional & low carbon building materials & architectural technologies; Building pathology, fabric repair & maintenance; Survey & evaluation of buildings; Building resilience to climate change; Heritage Building Information Modelling; Building conservation philosophy; and Construction & engineering education. My research was returned in a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh for Unit of Assessment (UoA) ‘Architecture, Built Environment & Planning’ for RAE 2008, and REF 2014 & 2021. I have attained cumulative research grant funding as PI & CI across 23 projects, totalling £1.14M [FEC] from major funding councils including, EPSRC, AHRC, TSB, RSE, RAE & British Council. Dissemination of these projects and my broader research portfolio has led to 100+ published outputs, five of which were recipient of outstanding and highly commended journal paper awards. I have an h-index of 24 and an i-10 index of 41. I am an associate member of the University of Edinburgh Cyberbuild research laboratory team and have collaborated on several projects. In addition, I was awarded the Sir Edmund Happold Senior Visiting Research Fellowship at the University of Bath in 2011, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh visiting Research Fellowship in 2014 in collaboration with the Academy of Sciences for the Czech Republic.

Doctoral Student Supervision: I have successfully supervised seven PhD students in the broad areas of low carbon materials, historic building fabric repair, maintenance & HBIM. I am currently second supervisor to three PhD students. In addition to my PhD supervision, I have extensive experience as a PhD external examiner. 

Teaching & Learning: I have been delivering high quality teaching and learning in building conservation, architectural tectonics/construction technology, multi-disciplinary design projects and building surveying oriented subjects. I was awarded the 2010 Graduates Teaching Prize for lecturer of the year, the 2010 ‘Spirit of Heriot-Watt University’ award for Pursing Excellence and shortlisted for the 2011 & 2015 Teaching and Learning Oscars, ‘Switched on’ - most engaging lecturer award. I have written many journal papers and articles relating to construction and engineering education and specifically the connectivity between academic industrial experience (pracademics), experiential learning, and professional identity formation.

Current teaching:

i. Construction technology for small scale buildings-D37TA (2007–Present);

ii. Construction technology & sustainability (GA) - D37CS (2024-Present);

iii. Construction technology 1 (GA) - D37CT (2021-Present);

iv. Collaborative design project part 1, 2 & 3 - D30YE/YE (2011-Present);

v. Final year capstone project (GA) -D30CO (2024–Present);

vi. Undergraduate dissertation co-ordinator - D30ZA/ZB (2018-Present)

vii. Building & Contextual Investigation (2005–Present);

viii. Building Conservation Philosophy & Practice (2005-Present);

ix. History of the Built Environment (2016-Present).

Significant Administration Roles: In addition to my MSc programme leader role my current administrative duties include; 4^th year undergraduate student co-ordinator (2021 – Present), undergraduate (UG) dissertations coordinator (2018 – Present), health & safety officer for the materials laboratory. Former Construction Management & Surveying Programmes administrative roles have included admissions tutor (2009-2012), Postgraduate (PG) dissertation coordinator (2018 – 2021), and 1^st year undergraduate student co-ordinator (2015 – 2021). In addition, I have undertaken two term as a Heriot Watt Senator (Oct 2015 – Aug 2021).

Professional engagement & Citizenship: Professionally, I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA); a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Builders (FCIOB) and a full member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC). Additionally, I am a former elected member of the RICS Building Surveying Professional group (Scotland); a member of the Editorial Advisory Group for the RICS Building Conservation Journal; a member of the IHBC technical committee; and a member of the Editorial advisory board for the Journal of Building Pathology & Adaptation. Additional awards include the attainment of the prestigious travelling Lethaby Scholarship (2001) awarded by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) gave invaluable and unique, practical experience. This ultimately stimulated a long-term interest in building conservation. I have held several external programme examiner appointments, including the MSc in Built Environment Courses & MSc Conservation of Buildings, Anglia Ruskin University (2012–2017); and BSc (Hons) in Construction Project Management, Northumbria University (2015-2020).

Industrial experience: Practical experience of surveying, recording and evaluation of historic buildings was attained whilst working for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) within the survey and recording section. Building surveying & site supervision of conservation projects was undertaken whilst working for Stirling Council, the Scottish Lime Centre and also Laing Traditional Masonry, with particular specialism in masonry fabric repair and internal and external lime works. Additional site experience relates to six years working in the mechanical services sector.

Academic Biography

2005- 2007 Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) – Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

2001 – Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (S.P.A.B) Lethaby Scholar (winner of 1 of 4 funded scholarship places)

1997-2002 PhD / Doctor of Philosophy (Heriot-Watt University). Thesis entitled ‘An assessment of the relationship between the water vapour permeability and hydraulicity of lime based mortars with particular reference to building conservation materials science’

1993 - 1997 BSc (Hon) in Building Surveying (awarded first class) (Heriot-Watt University)

1991 - 1993 Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Construction Studies (with Distinction)

1986 - 1990 City & Guilds Advanced Craft Certificate in Plumbing and Mechanical Services (winner of the JT Wilkinson Merit Shield and the JA Atkinson cup)