School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology

Dr Alastair Ruffell

Dr Alastair Ruffell

Qualifications

PhD (Birmingham), B.Sc (London).

Reader

Email: a.ruffell@qub.ac.uk

Address

School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology (GAP)
Queen’s University Belfast
Belfast, BT7 1NN
Northern Ireland, UK

Telephone

+44(0)28 9097 3407

Current Teaching:

GAP1007 Dynamic Earth
GAP2002 Climate Change and Geographical Information Systems
GGY2040 Techniques in Earth Science

Current Administrative Roles:

Director of Education, GAP

Current Research: Environmental Change

Member of the Environmental Change Research Cluster (Geomaterials Research Group).

Publications:

Books:

Ruffell, A. & McKinley, J. 2008. Geoforensics. Wiley & Sons, Hardback, 312 pages, May 2008. ISBN: 978-0-470-05734-6

Papers:

Ghasemi-Nejad, E., Poureslami Ardakani, E. & Ruffell, A. 2010. Palaeoclimate change recorded in Upper Cretaceous (Albian – Cenomanian) Kazhdumi Formation Borehole spectral gamma-ray logs, South Pars Gas Field, Persian Gulf. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, in press.

Parker, R., Ruffell, A. & Hughes, D. 2010. Geophysics and the search of freshwater bodies: a review. Science & Justice, 50, xxx-xxx.

Ruffell, A., Simms, M.J. & Marshall-Neill, G. 2009. Cretaceous of N.Ireland. In: Price, G.D. (ed), Cretaceous Field Geology of the British Isles. Geological Society of London, Special Publication, in press.

Ruffell, A. & Dawson, L. 2009. Forensic geology in environmental crime: illegal waste movement and burial in N.Ireland. Environmental Forensics, 10, 207-217.

McKinley, J.M., Ruffell, A.H. & Worden, R.H. 2008. An integrated stratigraphic, petrophysical and geostatistical approach to the understanding of burial diagenesis: Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group, South Yorkshire, UK. In: Ketzer, M. & Morad, S. (eds), International Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication ‘Sequence Stratigraphy and Reservoir Controls in Siliciclastic Successions, in press.

Swindles, G.T. & Ruffell, A. 2009. A preliminary investigation into the use of testate amoebae for the discrimination of soil samples. Science & Justice, 49, xxx-xxx. in press.

Ruffell, A., McCabe, A., Donnelly, C. & Sloan, B. 2009. Location and assessment of an historic (15-60 years old) mass grave using geographic and ground-penetrating radar investigation, NW Ireland. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 54, 15-26.

Ruffell, A. & Kulessa, B. 2009. Applications of Geophysical Techniques in Identifying Illegally-buried Toxic Waste. Environmental Forensics, 10, 196-207.

Ruffell, A., Donnelly, C.J., Carver, N., Murphy, E., Murray, E. & McCambridge, J. 2008. Suspect burial excavation procedure: a cautionary tale. Forensic Science International, 183, e11-e16.

McKinley, J., Ruffell, A., Harrison, M., Meier-Augenstein, W., Kemp. H., Graham, C. & Barry, L. 2008. The importance of spatial thinking in search methodology: case study no body murder enquiry, West of Ireland. In: Ritz, K., Dawson, L. & Miller, D. International Soil Forensics, Elsevier International.

External Grant Funding:

2009

1. Emerging technologies for underwater imaging. £62,925
2. Collaborative work with Tehran University on Uses of Gamma-rays. British Institute of Persian Studies Travel Grant. £700
3. Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Program Development Grant. (Can$7,000 + 12,000) ‘Mineral prospecting, financial speculation and grounds for belief’

2008

1. European Space Agency Remote Sensing for Detection of Buried Toxic Waste (WASTEMON) collaborative with ERA-MAPTECH. €247,384
2. Knowledge Transfer Partnership & ConSarc Design (£80,000). Assessment of Historic Stone Structures.

2006-07

1. Royal Society Conference Grant (Geological Society of America) £1800
2. Four consecutive contracts for the EHS mapping illegal waste. £4000
3. Over £7000 in humanitarian and forensic assistance