Organisation profile
Organisation profile
The Department of Geography is internationally renowned for its world-class research and teaching. It was ranked 5th= in the UK for research (1st for Research Impact and 1st for Research Environment) in REF 2021. The Department's three research groups, the Centre for Quaternary Research, the Geopolitics, Development and Social Justice Group and the Social, Cultural and Historical Geography Group, have a well-established track record of attracting significant grant income from UKRI and other sources, and contribute to a vibrant research culture. In addition, the Department is supported by a suite of state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, including Tephrochronology, Luminescence, Sedimentology, Palaeoecology and Geospatial and Visual Methods.
Geographers play a key role in leading the College-wide Centre for the GeoHumanities and benefit from key partnerships in the UK and overseas with an exceptional diversity of institutions, including other universities, government departments and advisory bodies, charities and NGOs, museums and botanic gardens.
The department also prides itself on excellence in teaching, scoring consisistently highly in NSS surveys (92% in 2022) and with an outstanding track record of student satisfaction year on year. Our single degree programmes are accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with Institute of British Geographers) and we offer a range of specialist postgraduate taught provision.
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
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Plant mobilities
Driver, F. & Molina, D., 2027, (Accepted/In press) Handbook of Plant Humanities. Batsaki, Y. & Crane, P. (eds.). London: BloomsburyResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Advocating for safer geomorphic futures in our time of planetary crisis
Thorndycraft, V., 20 Jan 2026, (Submitted) In: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Agrarianising the forest fire crisis: rethinking forest fires from grassroots in the Uttarakhand Himalaya
Yadav, K., 24 Jan 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: The Journal of Peasant Studies.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
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Bering Strait opening: Effects on AMOC and the first peopling of the Americas
Carter-Champion, A. (Fellow) & Blockley, S. (Mentor)
1/05/26 → 30/04/29
Project: Research
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Citizen of the World: The Global Lives of William Macintosh, 1737–1813
Keighren, I. M. (Fellow)
1/09/25 → 31/08/26
Project: Research
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THINK DEEP-IMAGINE: THINK DEEP: Novel arts-based resources to reIMAGINE Artisanal Mining?
Hawkins, H. (PI)
1/07/25 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
Activities
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Journal of Cultural Geography (Journal)
Joyce, M. (Reviewer)
24 Mar 2026Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Peer review of manuscripts
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The Varieties of Vegetal Experience
Sands, D. (Speaker) & Whistler, D. (Speaker)
Nov 2025Activity: Talk, presentation or media contribution › Invited talk
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Expert input to news article, 'The deadly combination that made Hurricane Melissa so devastating'
Simon, D. (Participant)
29 Oct 2025Activity: Other › Public engagement, outreach and knowledge exchange - Public Lecture/debate/seminar
Prizes
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2024, Best paper nominee, Lorini, M.R., Harindranath, G, and Unwin, T. (2024), “Mitigating Risks: Safe, Wise and Secure Use of Digital Technologies by Migrant Communities in South Africa”, ICEGOV, Pretoria, UNU-EGOV.
Lorini, M. R. (Recipient), Harindranath, G. '. (Recipient) & Unwin, T. (Recipient), 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Andrew Hill Clark Award (HGSG/AAG) 2014
Haines, E. (Recipient), 1 Apr 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)