Our Research
Our research is organised into three broad research themes.
Research Interests
Smart Sustainable Futures
The Green Economy theme (supported by the Green Economy Research Centre) focuses on the global to local challenges of transitions to low carbon and sustainable societies. We focus on four sectoral interests - sustainable food production, tourism, energy and the blue (marine) economy. Our research explores the spatial and temporal variation in transitions and the role of governance, place and people. Our research in Rural and Community Sustainability includes work on demographic change, rural resilience, agricultural policy, environmental management and the digital economy.
Our vision is to build successful and vibrant research collaborations that identify theoretical insights and practical pathways to enhance environmental, social, and economic wellbeing through high quality, impactful research.
Potential supervisors: Dr Paula Duffy, Dr Piotr Niewiadomski, Dr Joseph Pierce, Professor Lorna Philip, Dr Katrin Prager, Professor Tavis Potts and Dr Flurina Wartmann
Smart Sustainable Futures
Earth Surface Processes
Cryosphere and Climate Change research spans a range of both spatial and temporal scales focusing on; ice-climate interactions (past, present and future), ice sheet dynamics, glacial landform genesis, palaeoglaciology and glacigenic reservoirs.
Research applications of GIS, remote sensing, digital image processing and UAV data capture are applied to the coastal zone, viticulture, landscape and biodiversity.
Hydrological research is organised through the Northern Rivers Institute and focuses on; the application of tracing and tracer-aided modelling in the characterisation of hydrological systems; the ecohydrology of headwater catchments; hydrogeology, including subsurface geophysical investigations and aquifer modelling.
Potential Supervisors: Dr Anshuman Bhardwaj , Dr Jean-Christophe Comte, Dr Josie Geris, Dr David Green, Dr David Haro Monteagudo, Professor Brice Rea, Dr Lydia Sam, Dr Shaktiman Singh, Professor Matteo Spagnolo, Professor Chris Soulsby
Earth Surface Processes
Palaeoecology
Focuses on the reconstruction of long-term changes to environment, landscape and climate, with links to human activity during prehistory and early history. This is achieved through application of multiple techniques, using dedicated labs, including; palynology, plant macrofossil analysis, the use of non-pollen microfossils, peat geochemistry and stable isotopes.
The research is interdisciplinary involving collaborations with archaeologists, biologists, chemists, historians, and climate modellers.
Potential Supervisors: Dr Dmitri Mauquoy, Dr Tim Mighall, Dr Ed Schofield
Palaeoecology
Geography and Environment research centres
Geography and Environment research is also embedded within research centres of excellence including:
