Work includes using Geology in forensic sciences, both in the search for hidden objects (bodies, buried materials) and in trace evidence analysis. Funding from: ERC; EPSRC; @CreativeIreland funding; consultancy; KTP.

I currently supervise two PhD students. 1.  Ben Rocke (crime scene mapping and sampling); 2. Amy Lally (Deglaciation in Iceland).

Overview

• Geoforensics Impact Statements in UK Government Research Excellence Framework (2014 and 2021).
• Total (including collaborative) grant earnings exceed £9 million over 30 years.
• Published over 165 peer-reviewed papers and one book.
• Completed over 130 major (over £1000) consultancy projects, mainly on Geoforensics.
• Collaborative projects in 10 countries worldwide, Training Officer for the IUGS-funded Initiative on Forensic Geology
• Health & Safety Coordinator.
• Teaching includes geology, geomorphology, GIS, climate change, field classes throughout the UK, Ireland, Mediterranean, Geoforensics, Masters level geophysics.

Grants

1. @CreativeIreland outreach funding: search and archaeological excavation/recovery of a crashed and burieed WW2 P38 Lightning, Monaghan.

2. Remote sensing and geophysics for archaeology (€2.6 million European Research Council FRAGSUS grant: PI Professor Malone).

3. SALINAS - saline aquifer intrusion monitoring and modelling, PI Professor Gerry Hamill.

4.. TellusBorder peat depth monitoring for carbon stocks (£4.5 million INTERREG [EU] with £72,000 to Ruffell & colleagues).

5. TellusBorder remote sensing of illegally buried waste (£72,000 to Ruffell & colleagues).

6.  Volcanology/glaciology (£47,000 EPSRC Ph.D studentship: CI Ruffell)

Interests

- Using non-destructive geological techniques in landscape and material analysis for forensic, archaeological, geological and geomorphological research.

- Forensic research. Multiproxy methods (remote sensing, geophysics, landscape interpretation) for the search of buried and sunk items. Trace evidence analysis methods for criminal investigations.

- Consultancy for engineering companies, the police and environment agencies and the Independent Commission for the Recovery of Victims Remains.

GGY1007 Earth Fire and Ice

GGY2002 Landscapes & Geographic Information Systems

GGY3049 Geoforensics