Biography

I am a glaciologist with research and teaching interests in GIS and remote sensing, climate and environmental change, and glaciers and glacial environments.

I studied for an undergraduate degree at the University of Plymouth from 2005-2008 before completing an MSc (by research) at Durham University in 2010, during which I investigated former glacier dynamics in southernmost Patagonia. During my PhD research from 2010-2014 I was based at Queen Mary University of London and the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS, Norway). This work focused on the landscapes produced by active surging glaciers on the High-Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.

I joined the University of Portsmouth as a lecturer in GIS and Remote Sensing in February 2014. I was promoted to Senior Lecturer in December 2015.

Research interests

My research focuses on surging glaciers, which are glaciological instabilites typically characterised by periodic velocity increases, downglacier mass redistribution and frontal advances. I am also interested in dynamic ice flow and deglaciation of the Quaternary ice sheets, and glacial hazards in high mountain regions. I use a combination of satellite data and fieldwork in my research in the following key areas:

  1. Surging glaciers
  2. Structural glaciology
  3. The timings and dynamics of former ice masses in southernmost Patagonia and the UK and Ireland
  4. Glacier hazards in high mountain regions

Teaching responsibilities

I teach the following topics at all levels from first year undergradaute (Level 4) to masters (Level 7):

  • GIS and remote sensing
  • Earth observation
  • Environmental change
  • Glaciers and glacial environments
  • Glacier hazards
  • Applied geophysics
  • Surveying and cartography
  • Research methods in Physical Geography and Earth Science
  • Fieldwork in Physical Geography and GIS
  • Academic study skills

I am currently the MSc Geographical Information Systems Course Leader.