I am a geographer with research focus on the practices through which geographical knowledge is produced and reproduced. I am particularly interested in knowledges of nature, from scientific to experiential ways of knowing. My research publications span philosophy of geography, geomorphology, cultural geographies of nature, outdoor education and more.
I joined York St John University in 2014 to lead the development of new Geography provision. From 2002 to 2014 I worked at Plymouth Marjon University, where I taught across Geography and Outdoor Adventure Education, and contributed to strategic development of research across the university. I studied at Worcester for my PhD in geomorphology, while also working in Earth heritage conservation.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (with Institute of British Geographers), a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Chartered Geographer and a UKCGE Recognised Research Supervisor.
I have taught on a wide range of modules on the Geography undergraduate programmes but my specialist module is the second-year Geographical Thought module, aligning with my 2015 textbook. Geography is a hugely powerful subject, developing students’ familiarity with natural science, social science and humanities approaches to knowledge generation. The module encourages students to explore the breadth and diversity of geography, and offers a means of understanding how knowledge is generated not just in geography but in other disciplines too.
I contribute to modules and supervise student research projects across the undergraduate Geography programmes, MSc Environmental Management and Sustainability, MA Environment and Social Justice, and at doctoral level.
My ongoing research has three strands:
- The epistemic practices of geomorphology fieldwork, articulating aspects of geomorphology fieldwork that are normally invisible in the published science.
- Work to support increased diversity in Geography, Earth and Environmental Science disciplines, with particular attention to ethnic diversity. This includes two projects funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and one funded by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).
- A geomorphology project aiming to assess evidence of groundwater sapping and other processes at the Hole of Horcum, North York Moors (supported by a small grant from PLACE).
I am a UKCGE Recognised Research Supervisor, currently lead supervisor or co-supervisor for three PhD students.
I would particularly welcome postgraduate research student applications for projects that investigate geographical and/or environmental knowledges and practices, whether in academic, public or private spheres.
I have examined PhD theses across geography (both physical and human geography) and education.
Recent publications
I am a Chartered Geographer (CGeog), a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) (FRGS) and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA). I am an active member of the geographical academic community with over 20 years’ experience of teaching, research and leadership in UK higher education.
I am a member of the History and Philosophy of Geography Research Group (HPGRG) and Geography and Education Research Group (GeogEd) of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), and a member of the British Society for Geomorphology.
I have served as external examiner and on validation panels for undergraduate degrees, and internal and external examiner for PhD theses.
I regularly peer review for academic journals across geography and outdoor education, as well as for academic book publishers.
