A geographer with over 25 years research experience in the field of environment and sustainable development. Howard has worked at SEI since 1994 on numerous GIS based research projects both nationally and in developing countries in the field of air and noise pollution, hydrology and biodiversity.

He currently is responsible for communications, web and database development on two British Academy funded projects - Implementing Creative Methods for Innovative Sustainable Transport (i-CMiiST) and Equitable Resilience in Local Institutions (ERLI) and for developing a project evaluation tool for Regeneration and Optimisation of Cultural heritage in creative and Knowledge cities ROCK. He has led research projects using participatory mapping including a community engagement project called "The Good Life" in York funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. He was responsible for database development, management and online provision on an EU funded project, TEST (Transport Environment Science and Technology). He also has been involved in developing capacity to use of atmospheric transport tools for rapid urban assessment of air pollution in developing countries (e.g. SIMair).