Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Focus
My research is broad and interdisciplinary, integrating Earth System Science, Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Hydrology. I am particularly interested in the temporal and spatial dynamics of environmental and climatic changes—past, present, and future. My work spans a wide range of ecosystems, from Arctic tundra to Irish peatlands to tropical rainforests, exploring the complex interactions between ecosystems, climate change, and human impacts. I was awarded the Lewis Penny Medal by the Quaternary Research Association.
Please find my full publication list at: https://swindlesgraeme.wixsite.com/publications
My specific research foci include:
- Climate change in the past-present-future;
- Long-term eco-hydrological dynamics and functioning of temperate, tropical and subarctic peatlands;
- Peatland biogeochemistry;
- Peatland hydrology;
- Carbon cycling;
- Pollution of natural ecosystems;
- Limnology and Palaeolimnology;
- Testate amoebae as environmental indicators in peatlands and lakes;
- High-resolution dating methods including tephrochronology;
- Critical examination of past human response and adaptation to climate change;
- Use of temporal data and probability modelling in geohazards research;
- Use of quantitative reconstruction and statistical modelling techniques for understanding climatic and environmental change;
- Extreme events;
- Human-environment relations in the past-present-future, the Anthropocene, and the impacts of humans on Planet Earth;
- Numerical methods in ecological and geological research (particularly using R).
Teaching
- GGY1013 Earth Systems
- GGY2058 Global Environmental Change (module co-ordinator)
- GGY2055 Geographical Research Skills
- GGY3081 Dissertation
- GGY3095 Environmental Catastrophes (module co-ordinator)
- GGY7008 Mitigation of Climate Change (module co-ordinator)
Particulars
Present positions
- 2020-Present: Professor of Physical Geography, School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, N. Ireland
- 2016-Present: Research Professor (Adjunct), Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Canada
Former positions
- 2013-2020: Associate Professor (Reader) of Earth System Dynamics, School of Geography, University of Leeds, UK
- 2010-2013: Lecturer in Earth System Dynamics, School of Geography, University of Leeds, UK
- 2007-2010: Lecturer in Physical Geography, University of Bradford, UK
Qualifications
- BSc (Hons) (2002): Geography, Durham University
- PhD (2006): Geography, Queen's University, Belfast
- PGCHEP (2010): University of Bradford
- FHEA (2010)
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 5 Active
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R1720NBE: Core Equipment Award - Carbon combustion analyser
Swindles, G. (PI), Murphy, A. (CoI) & Woods, R. (CoI)
09/01/2025 → …
Project: Research
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R1396NBE: Soil to Sea: The Fate of Terrestrial Permafrost Carbon in Aquatic Systems
Swindles, G. (PI)
17/10/2024 → …
Project: Research
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R3525BSC: Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity and Water
Emmerson, M. (PI), Barry, J. (CoI), Blaauw, M. (CoI), Caplat, P. (CoI), Cuthbert, R. (CoI), Flynn, R. (CoI), McKinley, J. (CoI), Mullan, D. (CoI), Reid, N. (CoI), Sheenan, L. (CoI), Slevin, A. (CoI) & Swindles, G. (CoI)
30/01/2024 → …
Project: Research
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R2848NBE: PIPES: Pollutants In PEatlands: from sink to Source full submission
Swindles, G. (PI)
26/01/2022 → …
Project: Research
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R6727NBE: GSI equipment - Pb-210 alpha counter
Blaauw, M. (PI), Reimer, P. (CoI) & Swindles, G. (CoI)
16/12/2021 → …
Project: Research
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Climate warming and deglaciation drive new peat formation in the Southern Alps, Aotearoa/New Zealand
Fewster, R. E., Swindles, G. T., Carrivick, J. L., Gałka, M., Roland, T. P., McKeown, M., Sutherland, J. L., Tweed, F., Mullan, D., Graham, C., Gallego-Sala, A. & Morris, P. J., 28 Feb 2025, In: Geophysical Research Letters. 52, 4, 11 p., e2024GL113786.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Process synchrony a key control of resilience in a subarctic freshwater system
Spence, C., Galloway, J. M., Hedstrom, N., Kokelj, S. V., Kokelj, S. A., Muise, P., Newton, B. W., Patterson, R. T., Pisaric, M. F. J. & Swindles, G. T., 20 Mar 2025, In: Earth's Future. 13, 3, e2024EF005518.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
Testate amoebae are informative bioindicators of critically high ammonia deposition on peatlands
Evans, C. R. C., Hatton, D. A. & Swindles, G. T., Jun 2025, In: European Journal of Protistology. 99, 17 p., 126147.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Testate amoeba functional traits and indicator taxa are important tools for tracking peatland restoration effectiveness
Evans, C. R. C., Swindles, G. & McKeown, M., 28 Jan 2025, (Accepted) In: Journal of Environmental Management.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Ecohydrological response of a tropical peatland to rainfall changes driven by intertropical convergence zone variability
Swindles, G. T., Whitney, B. S., Gałka, M., Mullan, D. J., Low, R., Gallego‐Sala, A., Lopez, R. O., Kilbride, E., Graham, C. & Baird, A. J., 03 Dec 2024, (Early online date) In: Journal of Biogeography. 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile12 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Swindles, G. (Recipient), 01 Jan 2010
Prize: Election to learned society
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Activities
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Testate amoebae are informative bioindicators of critically high ammonia deposition on peatlands.
Evans, C. R. C. (Presenter), Hatton, D. (Contributor) & Swindles, G. (Advisor)
Nov 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Queen's Peatland Research Group (QPRG) (Event)
Swindles, G. (Chair)
01 Jun 2024 → 01 Jun 2034Activity: Membership types › Membership of network
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Critical Insights in Climate Change (Journal)
Swindles, G. (Editor-in-chief)
01 Jan 2024 → 01 Jan 2030Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity
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Response of testate amoebae to peatland drain blocking: implications for biomonitoring of peatland restoration efforts
Evans, C. R. C. (Presenter), Mullan, D. (Contributor), Roe, H. (Advisor), Swindles, G. (Advisor), Fox, P. M. (Contributor) & Gray, S. (Contributor)
Dec 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Testate amoeba response to peatland rewetting.
Evans, C. R. C. (Presenter), Mullan, D. (Contributor), Fox, P. M. (Contributor), Roe, H. (Advisor), Swindles, G. (Advisor) & Gray, S. (Contributor)
Oct 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
Press/Media
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Nagłe topnienie wiecznej zmarzliny intensyfikuje emisje CO2 z gleby i napędza zmiany klimatyczne
06/05/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Peat Uncovers a Uniquely Resilient Irish Community
25/05/2022
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Remote Community in Ireland Survived a Millennium of Environmental Change
09/05/2022
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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