Geography
Top 200 in the World
for Geography
QS World Rankings 2020Geography combines the study of physical environments and human societies and provides a unique framework for understanding the world in which we live.
Geography embraces the study of both human and physical aspects of the world and the relations between them. Our flexible degree programme is accredited by the Royal Geographical Society and enables you to gain an understanding of major global, regional and local processes that shape our world and the constant challenges we face in it. At Queen’s, you will engage with issues like sustainability, climate change, global development and inequality and explore the intellectual richness of a vibrant and diverse subject that includes topics and methods that span the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. You will also have the opportunity to apply this subject knowledge in the real world through field trips, workshops and a range of hands-on, practical work.
Study Geography at QUB
James Rodgers talks about his experience of studying Geography at the School of Natural and Built Environment. The videos below highlight two of the urgent questions for Geographers today that students will tackle in our degree programmes.
VIDEO: How should we manage our borders?
VIDEO: How should we manage Climate Change?
RESEARCH
Geography at Queen’s, founded in 1928, is a well-established and influential unit. Queen’s geographers have shaped key research agendas across the discipline spanning the physical and human worlds, both past and present. Our research covers key strands of the discipline. In human geography we have led debates on the role of space and place in the global geographies of knowledge, politics and power, and made major contributions to understanding the cultural legacies of war, the intellectual history of climate reductionism, and the changing geographies of ethnic diversity and migration.
In physical geography our work is contributing to debates on the impact of climate change on peatlands, soil erosion and Quaternary oceanographic change, and our innovative work in geoforensics is having wide application in crime scene investigations. In Geographical Information Science (GISci), novel interdisciplinary research using big data approaches is helping us to address issues relating to health and the environment and to develop new tools for tracking migration. Interdisciplinarity, and a commitment to the co-production of knowledge with non-academic partners, are hallmarks of our work, giving geographical research at Queen's a central role in contemporary debates about social, cultural and environmental futures.
KEY RESEARCH PROJECTS
Heritage/Historical Geography
Living Legacies 1914-1918
AHRC-funded (>£1.5M)"Living Legacies 1914-18" led by Professor Keith Lilley provides communities with access to information, expertise and support for projects that explore the impacts that World War One had in Britain and Ireland, and the war's continuing legacies today.
Population Geography/Demography
Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study
The ESRC-funded (>£2M) Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study (NILS) led by Dr Ian Shuttleworth in partnership with NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), has supported investigations of Northern Irish labour market mobility and provided a substantive resource for social science and public health research.
The research expertise of Geography’s academic staff covers the following broad areas:
- Climate Science
- Critical Geopolitics
- Coastal Geomorphology
- Cultural Geography
- Development Geography
- Economic Geography
- Environmental Change
- Geoforensics
- Geographical Information Science
- Geostatistics
- Health and Place
- Historical Geography
- History of Geography
- Political Geography
- Population Geography
- Postcolonial Geography
- Social Geography
Research Expertise of Geography Staff:
- Climate Science
- Critical Geopolitics
- Coastal Geomorphology
- Cultural Geography
- Development Geography
- Economic Geography
- Environmental Change
- Geoforensics
- Geographical Information Science
- Health and Place
- Historical Geography
- History of Geography
- Political Geography
- Population Geography
- Postcolonial Geography
- Social Geography
STUDY
UNDERGRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE PATHWAYS
Geography embraces the study of human societies and their environment and is one of the few subjects in which human and physical aspects of the environment are integrated. Our flexible degree programme, accredited by the Royal Geographical Society, enables students to gain an understanding of the major global, regional and local processes that shape our world and the challenges we will face in the future. We offer the following programmes:
RESEARCH CENTRES
Centre for Data Digitisation
(CDDA)
Centre for Data Digitisation (CCDA)
One of the leading Digital Humanities units within the UK and Ireland, the centre aims to develop digital humanities in a holistic way, producing resources that use the latest technologies and working with innovative methodologies to interrogate digital resources and 'big data'.
Centre for GIS and Geomatics
(CGISG)
Centre for GIS and Geomatics (CGISG)
The centre supports research across the Geography discipline and more widely, promoting research, teaching and outreach in the fields of spatial science, geomatics/geodetics, geostatistical analysis, geo-programming and digital mapping, and hosts a diverse array of spatial data resources via web-based mapping portals.
Centre for Canadian Studies
(CCS)
Centre for Canadian Studies (CCS)
The CCS aims to promote a better understanding of Canadian society, culture and environment within both the University and wider community. Working across disciplines, it connects research in Canada to international research and policy agendas.
OUR STAFF
| STAFF NAME | RESEARCH INTERESTS | |
| Dr Merav Amir | Cultural and Political Geography | m.amir@qub.ac.uk |
| Dr Gemma Catney | Population and Social Geography | g.catney@qub.ac.uk |
| Dr Oliver Dunnett | Cultural, Historical and Political geography | o.dunnett@qub.ac.uk |
| Dr Paul Ell | Historical Geography | paul.ell@qub.ac.uk |
| Dr Diarmid Finnegan | Historical Geography | d.finnegan@qub.ac.uk |
| Dr Rory Flood | Coastal Geomorphology | r.flood@qub.ac.uk |
| Prof Nuala Johnson | Historical and Political Geography | n.johnson@qub.ac.uk |
| Dr Satish Kumar | Historical and Cultural Geography | s.kumar@qub.ac.uk |
| Prof Keith Lilley | Historical Geography | k.lilley@qub.ac.uk |
| Prof David Livingstone | History of Geography | d.livingstone@qub.ac.uk |
| Prof Chris Lloyd | Geographical Information Science, Population Geography and Historical Geography | c.lloyd@qub.ac.uk |
| Dr Niall Majury | Economic Geography | n.majury@qub.ac.uk |
| Prof Jennifer McKinley | Environmental Change, Geostatistics | j.mckinley@qub.ac.uk |
| Dr Donal Mullan | Climate Science | d.mullan@qub.ac.uk |
| Dr Andrew Newton | Carbon capture and glacial geomorphology | a.newton@qub.ac.uk |
| Prof Helen Roe | Enviromental Change | h.roe@qub.ac.uk |
| Dr Alastair Ruffell | Enviromental Change, Geoforensics | a.ruffell@qub.ac.uk |
| Dr Ian Shuttleworth | Social and Population Geography | i.shuttleworth@qub.ac.uk |
| Dr Tristan Sturm | Political Geography | t.sturm@qub.ac.uk |
| Prof Graeme Swindles | Environmental Change | g.swindles@qub.ac.uk |
| Dr Patricia Warke | Environmental Change | p.warke@qub.ac.uk |
