Dr Ruth Shaw

BA (Hons) Geography; MSc Water Science, Policy and Management; PhD Environmental Science

Physical Geography Demonstrator, HOPE Impact Research Fellow and Associate Lecturer

School of Law and Social Sciences

ruthshaw@brookes.ac.uk

Role

I teach physical geography techniques in the laboratory and supervise student research including conducting risk assessments. I demonstrate lab and field techniques and manage the equipment and budget for these. I contribute to teaching physical geography modules (e.g., quaternary environments) and contribute to departmental research (e.g., the human origins and palaeoenvironments group: HOPE).

Teaching and supervision

Courses

Geography (BA (Hons), BSc (Hons))

Modules taught

GEOG4002, GEOG4007, GEOG4008, GEOG5003, GEOG5009, GEOG5011, GEOG6012

Research

My own research involves the impacts of land-use, weather events on aquatic carbon biogeochemistry, and modelling the responses of such systems to different emissions scenarios. I'm currently working on environmental microplastics research with colleagues at Brookes. Previous research has included both human and physical geography topics, such as work on coral reef ecosystems and biodiversity surveys, housing and planning policy, ocean core sediments, natural attenuation for environmental pollution remediation, environmental impact assessments, climate policy and nature based solutions.

Projects as Co-investigator

Phytolith Analysis Univ. Michigan(01/08/2023 - 31/07/2024), funded by: University of Michigan, funding amount received by Brookes: £1,563, funded by: University of Michigan

Professional information

Memberships of professional bodies

RGS (Fellow)

Consultancy

I also create content and/or teach for SOAS and the University of Cambridge for Master's students, I teach both geography and study skills at Homerton College, Cambridge, and I work on data analysis on a self-employed consultancy basis.

Further details

I work 3 days per week at Brookes and am happy to discuss research or labwork with anyone interested in using the facilities we have in Geography. We have worked with students in fields such as Archaeology and the Built Environment and we're always interested in projects using physical geography techniques.