My research is primarily concerned with the behaviour of the world’s ice sheets and glaciers, addressing what is causing most of the Earth’s ice to retreat and how quickly it will contribute to global sea-level rise.

My predominant focus is on Antarctica, but I conduct research across multiple regions of the world with collaborators and research supervisions taking me to the Arctic, high-mountain regions, and deglaciated regions such as Patagonia and the Scottish Highlands! Similarly, while I have a primary methodological focus on geophysical techniques, and especially ice-penetrating radar, my projects always deploy a broad array of methods, including the acquisition of multiple field measurements, satellite remote sensing and glaciological theory.

I am a great believer in glaciological fieldwork as being a vital means of calibrating remote measurements and forming an important aspect of scientific training for the glaciologists of the future. I have spent over two years working out of tents on the Antarctic Ice Sheet and various Arctic ice caps and glaciers, and members of my group have gained field experience in West Antarctica, Greenland, Svalbard, Peru and Patagonia.

There are various ways of considering what I do. You can scan the titles of my publications (and read them if they capture your attention!). On these pages I’ve attempted to capture the flavour of my research by region or by scientific topic. Additionally, you could leap straight to the webpages of the two major projects I have running at the moment, AntArchitecture and the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration.

Opportunities for Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Research: If you have a strong curriculum vitae/resume, like what you see on these pages, and would like to undertake glaciological research in Edinburgh, I would be delighted to guide you towards funding schemes and help to develop applications. More details on the Opportunities page.