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Xiomara Araujo
email: X.Araujo2@lboro.ac.uk
I am working on the decentralization process in Venezuela over the period of the past 25 years. The project focuses on the changes to the institutional structure of local government which have made this process possible. Civil society participation is also examined as a major component of the research, and as an example, an analysis of two mechanisms of public participation is being considered in more depth: the local councils for public planning and the communal councils. |
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Andrew Bicket
email: A.Bicket@lboro.ac.uk
Reconstructing the Holocene Coastal Development of the Laurentine Shore, Lazio, Italy
I am investigating the geomorphological development of the southern, distal end of the Tiber delta during the Holocene and Late Pleistocene. The project focusses upon the succession of preserved dunes; their origins, formation, and subsequent alteration. This landscape underpins, interacts with, and buries the high-status Roman settlement along the Laurentine Shore leading to a complex relationship between the geomorphic and archaeological records. |
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Fiona Sarah Jane Brown
email: F.S.J.Brown@lboro.ac.uk
Late Holocene Environmental Change at Castelporziano
I am researching Late Holocene environmental change at Castelporzianio, central Italy. I hope to ascertain the environmental history before, during and since Roman occupation, i.e. approx. 100BC to 500AD. To meet this aim I am using a multi-proxy approach; proxies include Pollen, Plant Macrofossils and Molluscs.
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Patrick Byrne
email: P.Byrne@lboro.ac.uk
The Impact of Mine Spoil Drainage on Water Quality, Sediment Chemistry and Macroinvertebrate Health of the Afon Twymyn, Wales
This project will investigate the impact of Dylife mine in mid Wales on the Afon Twymyn. Specifically, the project will assess the current water, sediment and macroinvertebrate health of the river. The primary aim of the project is to investigate how runoff from the mine spoil during storm events affects water chemistry and subsequently macroinvertebrate communities. In addition, sediment and water chemistry will be investigated throughout the Twymyn catchment in order to understand the type and forms of metals in the water column and the river substrate. |
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Francisco Castaneda
email: F.Castaneda@lboro.ac.uk
Analysis of Global Commodity Chains and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): a Public Policy Perspective
There exists wide consensus about potential competitive advantages that can be derived by SMEs from participation in networking and clustering activities. The key factors in order to foster successful networks and clusters depend on institutional arrangements of each country. The highest standard reached by some countries and determined regions, is a result of active public policies, embedded in an institutional context, and in a combination with demographic factors and local capabilities. The aim of this research project is to characterise the response of public policies in order to insert small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in an effective way within global commodity chains. Specifically: i) SMEs and their relation with Cluster activities, international experience in SMEs, and the role of financing through named “second floor banking”. ii) Global Commodity Chains and their impact in the economic development. Topics to be studied in depth are global production networks and how it is realised in the services sectors in global city networks. Further, It will overview the experience of East Asian Countries as examples of industrial transition from apparel basic structure to more sophisticated export ways, and compare it with the former industrialisation Latin-American strategy. |
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Hannah Deakin
email: H.Deakin@lboro.ac.uk
The Geographies of immobility amongst UK students: exploring low rates of student mobility and the role of higher educational institutions in tackling this problem |
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Fiona Evans
email: F.Evans@lboro.ac.uk
Children's Environmental Citizenship
This research project examines the ways in which children perceive and experience the environment and how these can inform a child-centred conception of children's environmental citizenship. |
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Danielle Gent
email: D.K.Gent@lboro.ac.uk
Exploring the Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy Technologies: The Case of Central America
Improving access to energy to one third of the world’s population thought to be living “off grid”, is considered crucial in meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Renewable energy technologies are increasingly posited as a solution to such issues of energy insecurity and meeting developmental objectives. This study will examine the notion of “social acceptance”, exploring how micro-scale renewable energy systems have been adopted as a solution to meeting the energy needs of unelectrified rural Central American communities. |
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Richard Gravelle
email: D.R.Gravelle@lboro.ac.uk
www: http://www-staff.lboro.ac.uk/~gydrg
Water routing and sediment transport in a polythermal glacier: modelling and high-resolution measurement
My research focuses on the critical role of glaciers in the hydrological cycle, and the importance of meltwater as a medium for sediment transport. The project uses high spatial- and temporal-resolution meltwater discharge and suspended sediment concentration data obtained during fieldwork at Storglaciären, northern Sweden. These data, combined with a numerical model of glacial water routing, will allow varying patterns of sediment delivery and meltwater discharge to be linked to the seasonal evolution of the subglacial drainage system.
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Julia Großpietsch
email: J.K.Grosspietsch@lboro.ac.uk
Town Twinning - Neoliberalism or Citizen Building?
My research project investigates the changing nature of town twinning in Europe, with particular emphasis on twinning networks of UK and German towns and cities. In 21st century Europe, neoliberal policy-making and inter-city competitiveness seem to have become more important for the formation of municipal partnerships than cultural exchange and citizen building. My aim is to critically examine the relevance of town twinning in a globalising Europe and to assess its contribution to European integration 'from below'.
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Yu-Chieh Hsieh
email: Y.Hsieh@lboro.ac.uk
Gender Equity Education in Taiwan: policy, schooling and young people’s identities
My research explores education as a vital sphere of social (re)production and (in)equality by focusing on how young people construct gender and sexual identities within schools. The project examines how schools respond to the Gender Equity Education Act and to what extent the policy was successfully implemented in educational settings. This research highlights that informal curriculum in school education played a more significant role in producing young people’s subjectivity and differentiating subject positions compared with formal curriculum. Also, it demonstrates that the school space was a place where social inclusion was promoted but contested. |
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Benjamin Iremiren
email: B.A.Iremiren@lboro.ac.uk
Good Governance, Corruption and Economic Development:
The main objective of my PhD dissertation is to understand the role or impact of Governance and Corruption in shaping the economic development in settings such as Nigeria.
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Matthew Johnson
email: M.F.Johnson@lboro.ac.uk
www: http://www-staff.lboro.ac.uk/~gymfj2/index.html
Disturbance of fine material within sediment patches by signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus): a field and flume investigation.
Benthic invertebrates can have a significant influence on physical processes operating in aquatic environments. I am investigating the impact of signal crayfish on sediment entrainment and sorting in rivers. Laboratory flume experiments will look at the potential impact of signal crayfish on the dynamics of fine material (< 2 mm) within sediment patches in coarse-bedded rivers. Field studies will look at the habitat preference of signal crayfish and this information will be used to relate laboratory findings to a natural environment. |
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Jonathan Lewis
email: J.P.Lewis@lboro.ac.uk
Holocene Climatic and Environmental Change in Coastal Denmark; Linking Hydrographic and Cultural Change
Jon is assessing the nature and extent of environmental change in coastal Danish waters over the Holocene and the extent to which these can be linked to the rich archaeological and historical records of maritime Denmark. This project focuses on diatom analysis from several coastal sequences to provide both a qualitative and quantitative reconstruction of key environmental parameters (especially salinity and total nitrogen), but will also involve analysis of foraminifera for both ecological and isotopic information to corroborate the diatom records.
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Pei Ling Liao
email: P.Liao@lboro.ac.uk
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Sally Little
email: S.Little@lboro.ac.uk
The Impact of Increasing Saltwater Penetration on River Ecology.
I am investigating the ecological consequences of increasing saline penetration on riverine fauna by assessing the impact upon the keystone (most ecologically significant) species. Project data will be used to populate a predictive model which will be related to eustatic sea level rise, isostatic land level decline, increased storm surge levels and decreased river flows. This model will predict the impacts of saline penetration upon river ecology that will inform and guide those concerned with river habitat and biodiversity management. |
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Antonia Liversidge
email: A.C.Liversidge@lboro.ac.uk
The role of climate in determining the ontogeny trends of low Arctic lakes in south-western Greenland
My research investigates the role of climate in determining the ontogeny trends (how lakes develop both chemically and biologically through time) of lakes in the low Arctic. Lakes demonstrate either progressive enrichment or oligotrophication as they age. This research will test the hypothesis that over time lakes in a continental climate will tend towards nutrient enrichment and higher production, whereas lakes in a coastal setting will experience progressive dilution, acidification and oligotrophication. A paired lake approach will be used to compare and contrast the Holocene ontogeny trends of two lakes from a continental setting and two lakes from a coastal setting in south western Greenland. Sedimentary pigments will be used to reconstruct past lake primary production and diatoms will be used to reconstruct pH of the lakes through the Holocene. |
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Tom Matthews
email: T.K.R.Matthews@lboro.ac.uk
Glacier-climate relationships at Langokull, Iceland
My research aims to better understand glacier-climate interactions at the ice-cap scale, using Langjökull, Iceland, as an examplar. The motivation of this project is to develop a synoptic dimension to surface melt modelling. Current research has tended to emphasize the boundary layer, calculating energy balance from in-situ, site-specific, data. This approach however, does not readily lend itself to the purpose of quantitative prediction of glaciers’ response to regional-scale climate change. As such, this project will link surface meteorology (components used to determine energy balance) to regional air masses through robust statistical techniques, so that changes in the pacing, duration and frequency of these air masses, may be quantitatively simulated in their effect on surface melt. |
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Jo Mitchinson
email:J.C.Mitchinson@lboro.ac.uk |
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Anne Lise Montreuil
email: A.L.Montreuil@lboro.ac.uk
Aeolian dune development on a macro-tidal coast with a complex wind regime, Lincolnshire coast, UK
My research aims to improve our understanding of the ways in which beach-dune interactions occur under a complex wind regime – i.e. one with onshore, offshore and alongshore components on a macro-tidal beach such as along the North Lincolnshire coast. The relationship between wind regime, tide and environmental setting influencing aeolian sand transport will be investigated during different wind conditions in order to quantify short- to long term dune morphology and evolutionary trends.
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Julian O'Neill
email:J.Oneill@lboro.ac.uk
Sustainable flood risk management: the effects of improved building resilience and climate change on economic losses due to flood events
My research aims to couple a flood inundation simulation (Parallelised version of FloodMap) and a flood loss estimation model in order to address two key research questions:
How may climate change affect economic losses due to flooding?
How does building resilience affect economic loss caused by a flooding event?
Several variables including flow depth and flood duration will be obtained from the inundation model and integrated into the loss estimation in order to provide "real time" loss estimation.
Data from the 2009 Cumbrian Flooding event has been collected and will be utilised as a case study for the project. The 2000 flood event in York will be used as a secondary study site.
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Joanne Parker
email: J.Parker2@lboro.ac.uk
Adaption and resilience of Water Resource Systems to Climate Change
My study provides case study material for a larger UK based project supported by EPSRC looking at the resilience of water supply, distribution and demand to climate change at scales larger than individual water utilities. Using a micro-component flow meter dataset of household water usage provided by Anglian Water, it will seek to examine the sensitivity of metered water components to climate variability and change. This will enable review of long-term demand projections under climate change, and hence more robust water planning for Anglian Water Services.
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Lucia Diana Paul
email: L.D.Paul@lboro.ac.uk
Transnational migration of Transylvanian-Saxons after the Second World War
My project investigates the migration process of the Transylvanian-Saxons from Romania to Germany over a period of the past 65 years. The focus of my study is to explore at a micro level the cultural, social, economical and political dimensions of these post-migratory lives. I will use archival data, interviews and participant observation in order to examine how the meaning of these dimensions changed for ethnic Germans across the post-war generations.
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Valeria Pecorelli
email: V.Pecorelli@lboro.ac.uk
Social Movements Practising 'Constructive Resistance' to Neoliberalism: Autonomous Trade and the Zapatista Coffee Network
This project uses a participatory action research approach to investigate networks, spaces and discourses of autonomous trade in Europe. The empirical focus is on the Zapatista solidarity network and its articulation in Italy.
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Norah Ijeoma Penawou
email: N.I.Penawou@lboro.ac.uk
Children in the Niger Delta (Nigeria): Environmental and Socio-economic Impacts of Oil Exploration Activities.
This project examines the environmental and socio-economic impacts of oil exploration on children, critically assessing both the dividends of oil wealth and associated social infrastructure and facilities, and its harmful environmental and socio-economic impacts. Central to the thesis will be an analysis of children's lived experiences, vulnerabilities and coping strategies as they grow up in communities partly shaped by oil exploration activities.
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Joe Pomeroy
email:J.A.Pomeroy@lboro.ac.uk
The extent and character of subglacial deformation and its links to ice flow dynamics in the Tarfala massif, northern Sweden
This project seeks to investigate the character and extent of subglacial deformation and its links to ice flow dynamics in the Tarfala region of northern Sweden. A combination of high resolution geophysical techniques, sediment analysis, and micromorphology will be used to examine the subglacial sediments and landforms recently exposed on a number of glacial forelands, and to determine the nature of deformation beneath polythermal, sub-arctic glaciers. |
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Daniel Scott
email:D.Scott@lboro.ac.uk
The role of small, eutrophic lake systems in carbon cycling
There is growing awareness that smaller, especially nutrient-enriched, water bodies may play a far greater role in regional, and potentially global, nutrient cycling than has been previously recognised. I therefore intend to show the role these eutrophic lake systems play in carbon cycling by investigating the impact of terrestrially derived Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) on Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) and estimating an accurate annual carbon budget for a small eutrophic lake and its catchment. I will undertake this work in a number of lakes and their catchments throughout Northern Ireland and the Cheshire & Shropshire Meres in order to compare the dynamics in different lake systems. |
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Emma Seddon
email:E.L.Seddon@lboro.ac.uk
Determining historic ecological conditions in lowland rivers: applying palaeoecological techniques to river restoration
Widespread anthropogenic activities, such as channelization, have resulted in significant changes to the hydromorphology and the ecology of riverine ecosystems globally. My research project aims to investigate the nature and number of riverine flora and fauna that have been lost or disadvantaged by historic modifications at selected sites in order to characterise the benefits of planned measures to restore and reinstate channel form and function. To generate this understanding an innovative palaeoecological approach will be used provide a window on past riverine conditions so that the contemporary channel and community inhabitating it can be gauged prior to restoration. Examination of fossilised and contemporary Trichoptera (caddis fly larvae) and Coleoptera (beetles) assemblages will be undertaken to explore the recent history of selected lowland rivers in England. |
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Wei Shen
email: W.Shen@lboro.ac.uk
www: http://www-staff.lboro.ac.uk/~gyws/index.htm
'Sea-turtles' in Shanghai - Chinese Student Circular Migration and Global City Formation
My research aims to understand the relations between international migration and global city formation from the perspective of an emerging global city in China by investigating Chinese student return migration from elite business schools in Europe to Shanghai. |
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Jeong Bae Son
email: J.B.Son@lboro.ac.uk
Environment, Development and Policy in the Korean Border Area
Despite the increasing calls for cooperation between North and South Korea, the management of border area’s environment are rarely thought of as a
common necessity. I examine the governmental development policies towards
the Korean border Area as a basis to accelerate inter-Korea cooperation.
The demilitarised zone (DMZ) is a political boundary formed by the 1953
armistice agreement which ended the Korean War. Admission to DMZ and its
vicinity is restricted for security reasons, but, environmental resource data show that the natural ecology and heritage resources are so
well-preserved that it is possible to develop heritage and ecological
tourism in proximate areas.
The study also debates about sustainable development between the government policy and civil societies. This research suggests that inter-Korea
cooperation development strategies need to start with the joint management
of natural, ecological, historical and cultural resources and examines
proposals to expand areas of cooperation. Significant potential currently exists for economic benefits and inter-Korean cooperation along the border
Area State and Society Policies. |
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Rachel Stubbington
email: R.Stubbington@lboro.ac.uk
The Responses of Macroinvertebrate Fauna to Flow Variability and Flow Permanence in Two
Limestone Rivers
My research considers the response of freshwater macroinvertebrate fauna (such as insects and crustaceans) to low flows and streambed drying in limestone rivers. In particular, I am interested in the use of the hyporheic zone (the sediments below the streambed) as a refuge for macroinvertebrates during streambed drying. I have two study sites, the River Lathkill in Derbyshire and the River Glen in Lincolnshire, which both dry regularly. |
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Sujo Sujomal
email: S.Sujomal@lboro.ac.uk
The aim of my research is to understand the causes and geomorphological consequences of recent climate change in the Thar Desert, Pakistan. It will examine the major causes of aridity and the relative fluctuations of temperature, wind speed and precipitation over the past 100 years. The impact of these climate changes on sand dunes in the region will be explored through the use of aerial photography, satellite imagery and records of past vegetation cover, dune activity and land management.
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Wing Wai Sung
email: W.W.Sung@lboro.ac.uk
Lake-climate Interactions: Hydrological Forcing and Ecological Response.
Lakes are affected by many factors as well as climate, for example, thermal stratification, eutrophication and precipitation. Therefore it is important to separate the influence of climate from these different
forcings. High resolution sampling of chironomids and diatoms are used to assess this in Denmark and N. Ireland. Independent climate records and limnological data will also be used to compare the responses of the lake biota and the sediment record to known changes bridging a gap between palaeo and neolimnology.
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Julia Toone
email: J.A.toone@lboro.ac.uk
Principal Supervisors:
Dr S. Rice (Loughborough)
H. Piegay (Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3)
My research is established as a joint project between Loughborough and Lyon III. I am examining interactions between geomorphology and macroinvertebrate ecology in a section of the mixed bedrock-alluvial river Drôme, France. I am investigating the rate and trajectory of morphological change between 1928 and 2006, subsequent habitat implications, and how a small section of mixed bedrock-alluvial morphology mediates downstream fluxes of macroinvertebrates, both in the natural environment and with some supplementary work in the laboratory flume. |
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Raf Verbruggen
email: R.Verbruggen@lboro.ac.uk
Globalisation, Business Organisations and World City Networks in Late Medieval and Early Modern Europe
I am studying the relations between world cities in Europe, and more specifically the Low Countries, in the late Middle Ages and the early modern period, when cities like Bruges, Antwerp and Amsterdam played a considerable role in international trade. My research investigates whether concepts developed in contemporary research on world cities can be applied to this historical case to provide an alternative for the sometimes uncritical use of central place theory by historians.
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Kelly Wakefield
email:K.R.Wakefield@lboro.ac.uk
Global Networks of pedagogic practise and research
Despite a growing interest in geographies of higher education, little is known about flows of knowledge and ideas through global pedagogic networks and their impact upon teaching practice. My research investigates these evolving networks, focusing on geography departments in UK higher education institutions. I aim to critically interrogate the creation, sustainability and interactivity of pedagogic network formations through the flows of knowledge and ideas, academics and students. Particular focus will be placed upon the use of technology enhanced communication and Web 2.0 technologies (e.g. social networking) in the conception of such networks. The study will look at differences between geography based academics within different types of UK universities such as the Russell Group, the 1994 Group and post-1992 universities.
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Ulrike Wällisch
email: U.Waellisch@lboro.ac.uk
www: http://www-staff.lboro.ac.uk/~gyuw/index.htm
Managing Creativity in Cultural Economies - Geographies of Visual Artists in
Paris
My research focuses on the spatiality of cultural economies by looking at
working conditions and network practices of visual artists in Paris. In the
past decades, the contemporary visual arts sector has undergone
transformation such as internationalisation, professionalization and new
technologies. This resulted in highly spatial clustered art markets with
permanent art neighbourhoods in cultural and economic powerful cities such
as New York or Paris and temporary hot spots in form of biennales, fairs or
exhibitions. The study outlines spatial and network strategies of
contemporary visual artists to give a detailed insight view into individual
and collective practices of creative production. Artists are embedded in a
social network of colleagues, friends, collectors, galleries, family etc. on
a multi-scale level that allows them to reproduce their status, increase
their visibly on the market and "to stay in the loop". Hence, the spatiality
of studios is relational to those social networks. |
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Allan Watson
email: A.Watson3@lboro.ac.uk
www: http://www-staff.lboro.ac.uk/~gyaw/index.html
Creativity and Multi-Scalar Knowledge Networks in London's Music Industry
My research project investigates the formal and informal knowledge networks that foster creativity across multiple scales in London’s music industry. The research will in particular focus on how the cosmopolitan environment of London attracts creative talent and fosters the coming together of music industry actors in creative ‘episodes’ in certain places and at certain times. |
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Tom Worrall
email:T.P.Worrall@lboro.ac.uk
The Influence of Hydromorphology on Instream Ecology
This research project aims to examine how river hydromorphology and physical channel management activities influence instream ecological communities with specific reference to macroinvertebrates. The proposed research will incorporate information from River Habitat Survey (RHS) data, appropriate metrics derived from it and additional fluvial geomorphological data to explore its potential influence on instream ecology. |
