I am a coastal geographer whose research examines how biological, physical, and social processes interact across local and regional scales to shape coastal wetlands and the communities that rely on them. My work crosses disciplines of biogeomorphology, socio-ecological resilience, and ecosystem service sustainability. I use methods in spatial statistics, hydrological monitoring, and citizen science to develop practical advice and management tools to support coastal wetland conservation.
I incorporate my research into teaching to ensure students engage with current global issues, state-of-the-art methods, and key research questions in geography. Examples include:
• Practicals to quantify soil organic carbon stocks using fieldwork, laboratory, and computer practicals.
• Lectures on key global hazards and how societies manage and adapt to them.
• Workshops for wrangling data, creating figures, and running spatial statistics using R.
CLEARcoasts
Developing innovative methods to identify areas for biogenic reefs (mussel and honeycomb worm), seagrass, and saltmarsh restoration in the Cumbrian Solway Firth, and empower local stakeholders in developing, implementing, and evaluating coastal restoration programmes to build sustainable and resilient ecosystems.
Living Deltas
Characterising tipping points in mangrove socio-ecological systems in India and Vietnam to protect vulnerable coasts and restore degraded sites by developing inexpensive hydrodynamic sensors (“Mini Buoys”), synthesising management policies and practice, and engaging meaningfully with river delta coastal communities.
C-SIDE
Measuring the quantity of soil organic carbon stocks in UK saltmarshes via extensive soil coring by both experts and citizen scientists, to better inform coastal planning, determine the drivers of carbon capture/loss, and assess the resilience of carbon stores.
I have had the honour of working with colleagues around the world to tackle the largest questions in coastal wetland conservation. Key collaborator institutions include:
• Jadavpur University, eastern India
• An Giang University, southern Vietnam
• Vietnam National University, northern Vietnam
• Glasgow, Bangor, St Andrews, York, and Reading Universities, UK
• Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Natural Resources Wales, and Solway Firth Partnership institutions, UK
.Bydd y modiwl hwn yn ymchwilio i agweddau peryglus amgylchedd y Ddaear a pherthynas y gymdeithas â nhw. Bydd egwyddorion cychwynnol yn cynnwys diffiniad o berygl naturiol, trychineb, risg a cholled ac ymagweddau at leihau risg a rheoli trychinebau. Mae¿r prif fathau o berygl naturiol yn cael eu hastudio er mwyn deall sut maent yn gweithredu, ble, a pha mor aml maent yn debygol o ddigwydd. Caiff canlyniadau peryglus eu hystyried, yn ogystal â sut gall y gymdeithas ymateb i ddigwyddiadau peryglus. Mae agweddau allweddol yn cynnwys trafod peryglon cynradd ac eilradd, rhagweld a monitro peryglon, a deall sut y gellir lleihau eu heffeithiau niweidiol. Bydd y peryglon naturiol a fydd yn cael eu hystyried yn y modiwl hwn yn cynnwys ffrwydradau llosgfynyddoedd, daeargrynfeydd, tswnamïau, tanau gwyllt, tirlithriadau, digwyddiadau tywydd eithafol, llifogydd, cwympfeydd eira a Pheryglon Mawr. Bydd y modiwl hefyd yn ystyried y cysyniad o ¿Bobl fel Peryglon¿. Bydd darlithoedd yn ymdrin ag egwyddorion cyffredinol ynghyd ag astudiaethau achos. Bydd dosbarthiadau ymarferol yn atgyfnerthu¿r cysyniadau a drafodir mewn darlithoedd. Bydd agwedd ymarferol y gwaith hwn yn dod i uchafbwynt mewn diwrnod efelychu rheolaeth mewn trychineb. This module investigates hazardous aspects of Earth¿s natural environment and how society relates to them. Introductory principles include the definition of natural hazard, disaster, risk and loss, and approaches to reducing risk and managing disasters. Major types of natural hazard are studied in order to understand how they operate, where, and how frequently they are likely to occur. Hazardous consequences are explored, as well as how society can respond to hazardous events. Key aspects include discussion of primary and secondary hazards, prediction, forecasting and monitoring of hazards, and understanding how their harmful effects can be minimised. Natural hazards considered during this module include volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, landslides, extreme weather events, flooding, avalanches and Mega Hazards. The module will also consider the concept of ¿Humans as Hazards¿. Lectures consider general principles as well as case studies. Practical classes reinforce concepts learned in lectures. The practical aspect of the work will culminate in a disaster management simulation day.
Bydd y modiwl hwn yn gyflwyniad i newid amgylcheddol byd-eang a bydd yn ystyried agweddau ar gynaliadwyedd fel pwnc sy¿n effeithio ar fywydau bob dydd. Mae her cynaliadwyedd yn sylweddol a bydd y darlithoedd yn eich darparu â¿r wybodaeth a fydd ei hangen arnoch i ymwneud â Nodau Datblygu Cynaliadwy¿r This module is an introduction to global environmental change and explores aspects of the issue of sustainability as it affects everyday lives. The challenge of sustainability is significant and the lectures will provide you with the information needed to engage with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based technology for solving problems of a geographical nature ¿ i.e. involving spatial relationships between people, places and objects. It can be applied to a wide range of disciplines within geography and has developed to provide a means to quickly and professionally produce maps from geospatial data. This module provides a basic grounding in GIS from the nature of spatial information, through the use of GIS in social and physical geography contexts, to the application of computers to solving complex geographical problems. Most importantly, it allows hands-on experience in using Quantum GIS (QGIS), the leading open-source GIS software package, and therefore provides a valuable skill for research and the for workplace.
Mae'r modiwl yma yn yn rhoi cyfle i fyfyrwyr i ddangos eu cymhwysedd fel Daearyddwyr drwy gyflawni dadansoddiad beirniadol o amrywiaeth o ffynonellau llenyddol. Er bod y traethawd hir fel arfer yn canolbwyntio ar ddylunio a chyflawni prosiect ymchwil sy'n seiliedig ar gasglu, dadnsoddi a dehongli data, mae'r modiwl yma yn canolbwyntio ar ymgysylltu a llenyddiaeth academaidd ar y ffin o un agwedd o Ddaearyddiaeth. Gall myfyrwyr ddewis o ystod eang o ffiniau ymchwil o fewn Dearyddiaeth Dynol a Ffisegol sydd wedi eu dewis o flaen llaw gan staff academaidd yr adran. Gan bod y modiwl yma yn ffocysi ar arddull o ddysgu "myfyriwr-canolog" (student centered), ni fydd y ffinau wedi eu trafod mewn unrhyw fanylder o fmewn modiwlau blaenorol, er efallai bydd rhai modiwlau wedi cyflwyno'r ffiniau. Bydd yna gyflwyniad fyr i bob ffin ac rhestr fyr o gyfeiriadau pwysig ar Canvas. Nodwch: rhaid i'r testun a ddewisir beidio a gorgyffwrdd gyda'r testun Traethawd Hir. Os oes unrhyw amheuaeth, yna rhaid i chi drafod gyda'ch Tiwtor Cefnogaeth Traethawd Hir ac bydd angen i chi dderbyn cytundeb ysgrifenedig. This module provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their competence as a Geographer by undertaking a critical analysis of a wide variety of literature-based sources in order to develop a cogent, substantial, and persuasive argument. While the Dissertation in Geography normally focuses on the design and execution of an evidenced-based research project that assesses the capacity of students to undertake effective data analysis and interpretation, the purpose of this module is to assess the extent to which students are capable of engaging with the academic literature at the frontier of a particular part of Geography. Students select from a wide range of research frontiers in Human and Physical Geography that have been identified by the academic staff within the Department. Given that this module emphasizes student-centred learning, none of the frontiers will have been covered in other modules, although in many cases modules will have taken students up to some of these frontiers. However, to orientate students and provide them with suitable points of departure and way-stations, there will be a brief introduction to each frontier and a short list of pivotal references disseminated via canvas. (Note: The topic selected by you must not overlap with the subject of your Dissertation. If there is any doubt about potential overlap, this must be discussed with your Dissertation Support Group supervisor and agreed in writing.)
The module is concerned with identifying and defining climate and environment change questions within the Isle of Scilly, which serves as an example of a region with unique habitats and climate in the UK and applying relevant environmental and climate science skills, knowledge and techniques to these questions. The general aims are to observe, analyse and achieve an understanding of the varied micro-climates and habitat features of the Isle of Scilly. Students taking this module will gain experience in research design, methodologies, data analysis and presentation methods, including seminars, posters and reports. Students taking this field course focus on both climate change, sustainable living and the environment and conduct project work appropriate to their specialism. The module comprises preparatory sessions in Swansea during teaching block 2 and one week field course, which typically runs in the last week of teaching block 2.
This module provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their competence as a Geographer by undertaking a critical analysis of a wide variety of literature-based sources in order to develop a cogent, substantial, and persuasive argument. While the Dissertation in Geography normally focuses on the design and execution of an evidenced-based research project that assesses the capacity of students to undertake effective data analysis and interpretation, the purpose of this module is to assess the extent to which students are capable of engaging with the academic literature at the frontier of a particular part of Geography. Students select from a wide range of research frontiers in Human and Physical Geography that have been identified by the academic staff within the Department. Given that this module emphasizes student-centred learning, none of the frontiers will have been covered in other modules, although in many cases modules will have taken students up to some of these frontiers. However, to orientate students and provide them with suitable points of departure and way-stations, there will be a brief introduction to each frontier and a short list of pivotal references disseminated via Canvas. (Note: The topic selected by you must not overlap with the subject of your Dissertation. If there is any doubt about potential overlap, this must be discussed with your Dissertation Support Group supervisor and agreed in writing.)
, with Solway Firth Partnership, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, £175,977
March 2020 - September 2023
March 2019 - March 2020
September 2017 - March 2019
