Geography academics receive awards

Three of our academics have received awards for their research excellence.

Professor Pippa Whitehouse has been awarded the SCAR Medal for Excellence in Antarctic Research. A key part of Pippa’s research focuses on land deformation and how it varies from place to place in Antarctica, and specifically links between ice sheet change and sea level change. Pippa has expertise in multiple areas, particularly computer modelling but a unique aspect of her work is collaborating with field scientists from a range of disciplines to tackle research from different directions.

Between 2016-2020, Pippa led a SCAR research program focused on understanding interactions between the ice sheet and the solid Earth which was very successful in growing and advancing the field.

Professor Rebecca Hodge has received the Gordon Warwick Award by the British Society for Geomorphology for excellence in geomorphological research. A key part of Rebecca’s research involves studying flow and sediment transport processes in rivers. Using models, Rebecca has measured how the shape of the river bed affects both flow and transport processes and will develop this work further with a new NERC funded project.

Rebecca has also developed new techniques to look at the way in which sediment grains are arranged in a river bed and how that affects how easily they will move. The data collected was used to parameterise a new model to predict the forces needed to move individual sediment grains.

Professor David Evans has been awarded the Clough Medal of the Edinburgh Geological Society, in recognition of novel research, inspiration of future glacial scientists, and great dedication in advancing and communicating glacial geomorphology.

David is a glacial geomorphologist who studies the impacts of glaciers and glaciation on the landscape of Scotland and Northern England. A key part of David’s research lies where modern glaciers exist today by understanding how various glacial processes work and what they create in the landscape. By using that as a crucial foundation, David can interpret the landforms and sediments of ancient glaciations such as those that impacted on Britain.

Find out more

• We are a world-leading centre of geographic education, ranked 15th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022. Feeling inspired? Visit our undergraduate and postgraduate webpages to find out more about studying with us.
• If you'd like to find out more about Professor Pippa Whitehouse and the SCAR Medal for Excellence in Antarctic Research, read her blog.
• Learn more about the Gordon Warwick Award by the British Society for Geomorphology
• If you'd like to find out more about Professor David Evans and the Clough Medal of the Edinburgh Geological Society, read his blog.