School of Geography and the Environment

• Current Projects
• Recent Projects (since 2006)

Current Projects

Sand Mitigation around Railway Tracks Prof Giles Wiggs. European Commission H2020; 2017-2020.

Built Heritage Research Initiative Prof Heather Viles. Getty Foundation; 2016-2020.

Managing the High Seas Dr Richard Bailey with Math, Oxford Martin School, led by Zoology. Oxford Martin School; 2016-2020.

Landscape archaeology of the Kalahari: How did major hydrological shifts affect Middle Stone Age environmental use in the late Quaternary? Prof Dave Thomas, Dr Sallie Burrough in collaboration with researchers at the University of Botswana, the University of Brighton and the University of Oslo. The Leverhulme Trust; 2016-2019.

Managing Development and Infrastructure: Understanding state engagements with rural communities Dr Ariell Ahearn Ligham. ESRC Postdoctoral Grant; 2016-2019.

Smart phone, smart stone Prof Heather Viles and Dr Russell Layberry. Fell Fund; 2015-2016.

Attributing impacts of external climate drivers on extreme weather in Africa Prof. Myles Allen and Dr Simon Dadson. Financial support from the Natural Environment Research Council; 2013-2018.

Changes in urbanisation and its effects on water quantity and quality from local to regional scale Dr Simon Dadson. Financial support from the Natural Environment Research Council; 2013-2016.

Recent Projects (since 2006)

Hot spots of dust emission: identifying, measuring and modelling aeolian dust sources in the dry river valleys of Namibia Dr Giles Wiggs. Financial support from the John Fell Fund, University of Oxford; 2013-2014.

Ivy on Walls Phase 2 Professor Heather Viles. Financial support from English Heritage; 2012-2015.

Changing Land-Atmosphere Feedbacks in Tropical African Wetlands Dr Simon Dadson. Financial support from NERC; 2011-2014.

Macronutrients Cycles Programme Professor Paul Whitehead and Dr Jill Crossman. Financial support from NERC; 2010-2015.

DO4 Models: Dust observation Professor Richard Washington, Dr Giles Wiggs and Professor David S.G. Thomas in collaboration with University of Sheffield and Imperial College London and University of Cape Town; Financial support from NERC; 2010-2015.

Piloting innovative computational technologies for multi-scale water resources assessment, management and engineering Dr Simon Dadson. Financial support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; 2012-2013.

Examining the bioprotection value of plants and species on rocks and man made intertidal structures and to make pratical recommendations for their use Professor Heather Viles. Financial support from the Esmee Fairbairn Charitable Trust; 2011-2013.

Fennec - The Saharan climate system Professor Richard Washington; in collaboration with the University of Leeds, UCL, Imperial College London and the University of Reading. Financial support from NERC; 2010-2013.

Floods and droughts: environmental dynamics in the upper Zambezi Valley Professor David S.G. Thomas and Dr Sallie Burrough in collaboration with the Dept of Zoology, Oxford. Financial support from the Leverhulme Trust; 2010-2013.

The challenge of human-hazard interaction: documentation, social exposure and system resilience in the Gobi desert, Asia Dr Troy Sternberg. Financial support from the British Academy and the Royal Geographical Society; 2010-2013.

Rainfall in the desert sand: groundwater recharge rates and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction in the southern Kalahari Dr Abi Stone. Financial support from the Royal Geographical Society; 2010-2012.

Stressed deserts: identifying tipping points in vegetation and wind erosion in response to increasing environmental pressure Dr Giles Wiggs. Financial support from the Royal Geographical Society; 2010-2011.

Climate change, 'greening' of masonry and implications for the decay of built heritage and new build Professor Heather Viles in collaboration with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and Queen's University Belfast. Financial support from the EPSRC; 2009-2012.

Determining the rate of active faulting in Iran using a novel OSL approach Professor David Thomas. Financial support from the Leverhulme Trust; 2008-2011.

Palaeolithic mega-lakes and early human occupation of the Kalahari, southern Africa Professor David Thomas. Financial support from the Royal Geographical Society; 2008-2009.

Climate change, moisture regimes and decay of stone monoliths in southern England Professor Heather Viles in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh. Financial support from the Leverhulme Trust; 2007-2011.

Chronology of glacial deposits from the UK Dr Richard Bailey in collaboration with Royal Holloway, University of London and University of Gloucestershire. Financial support from the Leverhulme Trust; 2007-2009.

Ivy on walls - biodeterioration or bioprotection? Professor Heather Viles in collaboration with English Heritage. Financial support from English Heritage; 2006-2011.

Tyndall Phase 2: Research Programme 4: Climate change and development Professor David S.G. Thomas and Professor Richard Washington; in collaboration with the University of East Anglia and University of Reading. Financial support from Tyndall°Centre for Climate Change Research; 2006-2009.

Fossilised hebivore middens Professor David Thomas. Financial support from the Leverhulme Trust; 2006-2008.

Consensus of collision? A site-specific approach and the integrating methodologies for the historic environment Professor Heather Viles. Financial support from the EPSRC; 2006-2007.

Rapid, catastrophic decay of building limestones Professor Heather Viles in collaboration with Queen's University Belfast and City University, London. Financial support from the EPSRC; 2005-2009.

African palaeoclimate: the dating of palaeo-shoreline deposits and other geomorphic features, in Southern Africa, associated with past changes in surface hydrology Dr Richard Bailey and Professor David S.G. Thomas. Financial support from NERC; 2005-2008.

BodEx 2005 - A multidisciplinary study of the 'dustiest place on earth' Professor Richard Washington and Dr Sebastian Engelsteadter, in collaboration with UCL, Birkbeck College London, Salford University and Direction des Ressources en Eau et de la Météorologie, N'Djamena. Financial support from the Gilchrist Educational Trust and the Royal Geographical Society; 2005-2006.

Damp towers: Understanding and controlling the ingress of driven rain through exposed walls Professor Heather Viles, Dr Mona Edwards and Dr Troy Sternberg in collaboration with English Heritage. Financial support from English Heritage; 2004-2012.

Soft wall capping as a conservation method for ruined monuments Professor Heather Viles in collaboration with English Heritage. Financial support from English Heritage; 2004-2011.

Dryland change: past, present, future (IGCP500) Professor David Thomas and Dr Matt Telfer. Financial support from UNESCO; 2004-2008.

Climate change in the developing world: across the southern African climate gradient Professor David Thomas. Financial support from the University of East Anglia; 2004-2006.

Chronology, Adaptation and Environment of the Middle Palaeolithic in northern Africa Professor David Thomas in collaboration with the University of Aberystwyth and the Libyan Palaeolake Project. Financial support from the NERC; 2002-2007.

Land degradation in the Karoo, South Africa Professor John Boardman in collaboration with the Universities of Cape Town, Leicester, Coventry, Aberdeen and Rhodes University. Financial support from NERC, the Trapnell Fund and the Oppenheimer Fund.