Dr Pauline Couper

Teaching

Through my teaching I am to enable students to think about the world using multiple different perspectives, and do geography for themselves. I have taught on a wide range of modules across the Geography undergraduate programmes, but my specialist module is the second-year Geographical Thought module. I also supervise undergraduate dissertations, and appear occasionally in other modules, including on the Liberal Arts Foundation Year and the MA Environment & Social Justice.

Research

I am fascinated by the complexity of knowledge and what it means to ‘know’ nature. I pay attention to the practices through which we arrive at knowledge, and to knowledge ‘as’ practice, in the sense that ‘knowing’ means being able to operate (to do something, conceptually or practically) in a given context. My publications have addressed these themes in more concrete terms in relation to: how we arrive at knowledge in geomorphology; geography’s relation with, and reproduction of, the nature/culture binary; how the bodily practices of outdoor activities such as sailing and climbing intersect with scientific and cultural knowledges of nature; and the social dimensions of geography as a discipline in our research and teaching practices. My current research focuses primarily on knowledge production through fieldwork in geomorphology.

I am currently lead supervisor for Toni Giblin's PhD on student experiences of geography fieldwork, and co-supervisor for Claire Pickard's doctoral research on community resilience to flooding. I jointly supervised Jen Hall's PhD on women's mountaineering. I have examined PhD theses across geography and education.

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.

Publications

Books

Couper, PR (2015) A Student’s Introduction to Geographical Thought: Theory, Philosophy, Methodology. London: SAGE.

Book chapters

Couper, P & Bellew, M (in press) Life savers: making health and safety work for you. In Hammett, D & Holmes, N (eds), Handbook of Field Research. Routledge.

Couper, PR (2022) Positivism. In Ballamingie, P & Szanto, D (eds) Showing Theory to Know Theory: Understanding Social Science Concepts Through Illustrative Vignettes. Open Educational Resource, Rebus Community / Carlton University.

Couper, PR, (2020) Epistemology. In: Kobayashi, A (ed), International Encyclopedia of Human Geography (2^nd ed), vol. 4. Elsevier. 275–284.

In refereed journals

Couper, PR (2024) Feeling rules and emotion work in geomorphology fieldwork: a colonial legacy. Environment & Planning F: Philosophy, Theory, Models, Methods and Practice.  https://doi.org/ 10.1177/26349825241264394

Jöns, H; Brigstocke, J; Bruinsma, M; Couper, P; Ferretti, F; Ginn, F; Hayes, E & van Meeteren, M (2024) Conversations in geography: journeying through four decades of history and philosophy of Geography in the United Kingdom. Journal of Historical Geography. 

Jöns, H; Brigstocke, J; Couper, P & Ferretti, F (2024) British history and philosophy of geography: looking back and looking forward. Journal of Historical Geography. 

Couper, PR (2024) Reflections on the first decade of the HPGRG Undergraduate Dissertation Prize: the geography and politics of reward. Journal of Historical Geography. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhg.2024.04.002.

Dyer, S; Hill, J; Walkington, H; Couper, P; McMorran, C; Oates, Y; Pant, L; Rink, B & West, H (2023) Courageous and compassionate teaching: International reflections on our responses to teaching geography during the pandemic. Journal of Geography in Higher Education doi: 10.1080/03098265.2023.2266999.

Couper, P (2023) Interpretive field geomorphology as cognitive, social, embodied and affective epistemic practice. The Canadian Geographer. https://doi.org/10.1111/cag.12821

Porter, S & Couper PR (2021) Autoethnographic stories for self and environment: reflective pedagogy to advance ‘environmental awareness’ in student outdoor practitioners. Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning. https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2021.1935284

Couper, PR (2017) The embodied spatialities of being in nature: encountering the nature/culture binary in green/blue space. cultural geographies. 25 (2): 285-299. doi: 10.1177/1474474017732978 

Couper, PR (2017) Visibility and invisibility in, of, and through textbook production. Area. 50 (1): 43-45. doi: 10.1111/area.12398/

Couper, PR & Porter, S (2016) ‘Environmental awareness’ and rock climbing: changing pedagogies to enhance pro-environmental graduate attributes. Journal of Geography in Higher Education 40 (2): 207-221.

Couper, PR & Yarwood, R (2012) Confluences of human and physical geography research on the outdoors: an introduction to the special section on ‘Exploring the Outdoors’.  Area 44 (1):2-6.

Couper, PR & Ansell, L (2012) Researching the outdoors: exploring the unsettled frontier between science and adventure. Area 44 (1):14-21.

Couper, PR & Stoakes, G (2011) Introducing SandRA: visual representation of the research/teaching nexus as a tool in the dissemination of a new research strategy. Higher Education Quarterly 65 (1): 94-105.

Couper, PR; Dawson, C; Lea, S & Spencer, L (2009) ‘Learning to sing together’: developing a community of research practice through dialogue. Critical & Reflective Practice in Education.1 (1) https://www.marjon.ac.uk/student-life/library/electronic-resources/critical-and-reflective-practice-in-education/critical-and-reflective-practice-in-education-volume-1/Couper-et-al-CRPE-vol-1-issue-1.pdf. 

Couper, PR (2007) Fluvial geomorphology and semiotics: a Wittgensteinian perspective of the ‘divide’ between human and physical geography. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 32 (3): 279-294.

Couper, PR (2004) Time and space in river bank erosion research: a review. Area 36 (4): 387-403.

Couper, PR (2003) Effects of silt-clay content on the susceptibility of river banks to subaerial erosion. Geomorphology 56 (1-2): 95-108.

Couper, PR; Stott, TA and Maddock, IP (2002) Insights into river bank erosion processes derived from analysis of negative erosion pin recordings: observations from three recent UK studies.  Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 27 (1): 59-79.

Couper, PR and Maddock, IP (2001) Subaerial river bank erosion processes and their interaction with other bank erosion mechanisms on the River Arrow, Warwickshire, UK.  Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 26 (6): 631-646.

Contribution to published conference proceedings

Couper, P. (1998) The RIGS Questionnaire.  In Oliver, P.G. (ed), Proceedings of the First UK RIGS Conference.  Herefordshire and Worcestershire RIGS Group, Worcester.  pp 209-216.

Others

Stoakes, G & Couper, P (2012) Visualising the research-teaching nexus.  In Miller, A & Strong, J (eds), What is Research-led Teaching? A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective. London: GuildHE. pp11-16.  

Couper, P & Stott, T (2006) Field safety training for staff in Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences in HE: establishing a framework. Teaching Earth Sciences 31.2

Couper, P & Stott, T (2006) Field safety training for staff in Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences in HE: establishing a framework.  Planet 16: 4-8

Couper, P & Stott, T (2006) Field safety training for staff in Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences in HE: establishing a framework. Unpublished Project Report (copies sent to all Geography, Earth & Environmental Science departments in HE, and all relevant HE subject organizations).

Jones, CV and Couper, PR (2001) Accessing a database revolution.  Earth Heritage 15: p 7.

Couper, PR; Morris, L and Thornhill, RM (2001) Herefordshire and Worcestershire RIGS Group Five-Year Plan Presentation.  Earth Heritage.  14: p 5.

Couper, PR (1999) Finding what RIGS Groups are made of.  Earth Heritage 11: p 8.

Conferences

Conference presentations

2023  Emotion work in physical geography fieldwork: revealing the burden. Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual International Conference, London.

2022  Convenor: Teaching Geographical Thought in the World: Purposes, Practices, Experiences discussion panel, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual International Conference, Newcastle.

2021  The first decade of the HPGRG Undergraduate Dissertation Prize. RGS History and Philosophy of Geography Research Group 40^th Anniversary Symposium, online (Sept 2021).

2021  ‘Getting your eye in’: the language-practice of seeing landforms in geomorphology. Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual International Conference, London (Sept 2021).

2018  (with Ben Garlick) Gardening with the remains of “a living archive”: The Humberhead Peatlands as Anthroposcenic, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual International Conference, Cardiff (Sept 2018).

2018  Being in nature: challenging the myth of human mastery. Nature Connections, Derby (June 2018).

2017  Doing geographical research: a social and physical activity. Guest lecture, Geography Department, University of Bergen (Sept 2017)

2017  ‘Geography is what Geographers do’: a Wittgensteinian reprieve. Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual International Conference, London (Aug 2017).

2016  Panel discussant in session titled The publication and utilization of geography textbooks, convened by Tim Hall and James Sidaway, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual International Conference, London.

2015  Nature and Culture: The problem of Geography’s human/physical ‘divide’. 64^th Lovatt Lecture, University of Worcester.

2013  (with Su Porter) Self-awareness, environmental awareness and rock climbing: using auto-ethnography to enhance graduate attributes in an Outdoor Adventure Education degree.Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual International Conference, London.

2012 (with Julie Evans) The experiences of CREST’s part-time research students. Presentation to CREST Research Leads, CREST/GuildHE, London.

2013  (with Julie Evans) The part-time doctoral experience. Meeting the Needs of Part-Time Postgraduate Students, UK Council for Graduate Education, London (08/02/13).

2013  The ‘research/teaching nexus’. ‘Securing external funding for research’ – Arts and Humanities.  CREST Research Skills Seminar, Plymouth College of Art (02/07/13).

2012  (with Tim Hall) convening session titled ‘When is a geographer not a geographer? The security of Geographers’ identities through change’ (sponsored by the History and Philosophy of Geography Research Group and the Higher Education Research Group).  Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual International Conference, Edinburgh.

2011  Academic language-games and the problem of the ‘research/teaching nexus’.  CREST Education Seminar, GuildHE, London (seminar convenor).

2009  (with Richard Yarwood) Current research and researching currents:  perspectives on the Great Outdoors from human and physical geography.  Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual International Conference, session on “The Great Outdoors?” convened by Couper and Yarwood (supported by the Rural Geography Research Group).

2008 (with Gaynor Pollard, Sue Lea, Colin Dawson and Lisa Spencer) Learning to Sing Together: Developing Researcher Identities. Marjon Learning, Teaching and Research Conference.

2007  The River System as a Semiotic Scalar Hierarchy. International Conference on Complex Systems, Boston (MA). (with Geoff Stoakes) Research and Scholarly Activity: Implications for a Teaching-Led Institution. Marjon Learning, Teaching and Research Conference.

2006 (with Geoff Stoakes) Introducing SandRA – implications for practice.  3HEIs Change Champions Event: Encouraging a scholarly, strategically aligned approach to teaching.  North East Wales Institute, Wrexham.

With a little help from SandRA: integrating institutional, (individual) lecturer, and student perspectives on research and teaching in Geography.  Royal Geographical Society Annual International Conference.

What’s the meaning of this?  The language-games of human geography and physical geography.  Royal Geographical Society Annual International Conference.

2005 Measuring the ‘where and when’ of river bank erosion.  Royal Geographical Society Annual International Conference.

2001  Poster presentation: Subaerial river bank erosion – an underestimated erosive force. British Geomorphological Research Group Annual Conference.

2000  River bank erosion and soil particle size. British Geomorphological Research Group Postgraduate Symposium

1998 Poster presentation: The RIGS questionnaire.  First UK RIGS conference.

1998 Investigating the influence of soil particle size on river bank erosion. British Hydrological Society Postgraduate Symposium

Professional activities and memberships

I am an active member of the geographical academic community. I am a member of the History & Philosophy of Geography Research Group (HPGRG) and Geography & Education Research Group (GeogEd) of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). I am a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and 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 am a member of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) grants review panel.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Development (Exon), 2004
• PhD: River bank erosion and the influence of soil particle size (Coventry), 2001
• BA (Hons) Geographical Studies (Coventry) – first class, 1995