Physical Geographer, SFHEA. Likes mountains, glacial geomorphology, virtual field trips, real fieldwork.
Worcester, UK
Joined April 2009
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I've added another two virtual tours to the VR Glaciers resources, using imagery captured in June 2026:
Plan Bertol to the terminus of the Haut Arolla Glacier fieldwork.wp.worc.ac.uk/arol…
Moiry Valley: Upper car park, western LIA moraine, and dead ice zone fieldwork.wp.worc.ac.uk/moir…
Thanks, Dave. This paper builds on an @RGS_IBG conference session. Thanks to Ewan Woodley @ExeterGeography for pulling the paper together🙂
The future of Geography field course pedagogy in the UK:
Reflections by @DesMcD @AlanMarvell @LynchKenny & others
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.…
As we approach the end of @The_GA's #NationalFestivalofFieldwork, it's worth remembering how truly transformative the field experience is for most students. This cannot be replicated in class, not even using VR (which I am a big fan of; yes, I kept that one quiet). [1/2]
ALT Two smiling students standing in front of a glacier.
The image above is from our Alps 2024 field course (just last week!). We run field courses in all three years. We also have local fieldwork in most modules. To learn more about @GeographyUoW, why not visit our lovely new webpage? Go on... worcester.ac.uk/courses/geog…
Fieldwork in schools and universities should be as inclusive as possible. For example, our Alps field course @worcester_uni is supported by immersive virtual fieldwork (for preparation, follow-up, fall-back, and extension). This is part of a... [1/2] #NationalFestivalofFieldwork
ALT Snow and ice-covered mountain summit, with a silhouette of trees in the foreground.
...much broader approach that starts with field course planning. For more information on good practice in the field, see cultivate-project.com/. For more information on using virtual fieldwork to support in-person fieldwork, see fieldwork.wp.worc.ac.uk/word…
ALT A smiling person standing in a snowy mountain landscape with their arms open and held aloft.
We've been taking students to the Moiry Glacier (Switzerland) for more years than I care to (or can) remember. As you'd expect, there have been dramatic changes over this period - as illustrated in these photos from 2004 and 2024. #NationalFestivalofFieldwork
Day 4 of our field course was spent in the Moiry Valley, where students continued to work on Late Holocene landscape change. In addition to evidence for glacier fluctuations, students also considered other processes (e.g. slopes, fluvial). #NationalFestivalofFieldwork
ALT Two students looking at their notebooks in a mountain landscape.
Day 2 focused on recent (Late Holocene; last 4,200 years) landform and landscape development in the Arolla Valley. There was a strong emphasis on glacier fluctuations (evidence, causes). Students collected data they will use to produce a field guide. #NationalFestivalofFieldwork
ALT group photo of students in mountain environment
This is a dynamic landscape, and changes are visible from one year to the next—especially glacier melt! The glacier at the head of the valley (Bas Arolla Glacier) is sadly no more. All that remains is some dead ice. #NationalFestivalofFieldwork
We’re back in Arolla (Switz.) for our Mountain Environments field course! Students dev. specialist skills and knowledge in topics including landscape interpretation and mapping, drone flying, hydrological monitoring, and river channel surveying. #NationalFestivalofFieldwork
ALT Student sitting in mountain landscape with arms wide open.
Day 1 was spent in the Ferpècle Valley, where we introduced some key field course themes. The weather was mixed, so we adjusted the programme to suit the conditions. The cloud did clear from time to time, revealing some impressive landforms and landscapes!
ALT Mont Miné Glacier, terminating above a bedrock cliff. Avalanched snow and dead ice lies below.
The drone footage is great for spotting all the crocodiles we didn't see whilst we were actually there. 😬
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It's great when our Geography graduates come in and talk to our current students about their careers. Thanks, James!
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One week ago today, I took some @worcester_uni physical geography students to Glen Roy (nr Fort William) to study the landscape. Glen Roy is famous for its valley-side shorelines, produced by an ice-dammed lake ~12,900-11,700 years ago.
One week ago today, I was with our second-year physical geography students in Creag Megaidh NNR (Lochaber, W. Scotland). Stunning weather and stunning landscapes! [1/3]
ALT Mountain landscape, with trees in the foreground and moraines in the middle distance.
This location is supported by an immersive virtual field trip, which acts as a fallback in case of poor visibility or cancellation due to bad weather (what are the chances in Scotland, though?). It also supports inclusion in several ways. [2/3]
fieldwork.wp.worc.ac.uk/arda…
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James (@Worldwidevillan) and I were back in the Moiry Valley today, collecting resources for an updated virtual field trip for our students. We're looking forward to sharing these new resources in the autumn. #geography #glaciers #switzerland #vr #fieldwork
On Monday, I was out and about in the Arolla valley and the slopes above collecting resources for an updated virtual field trip. This will complement the ones from 2006 and 2018/19. These capture dramatic changes in the landscape over this period.
The Moiry Glacier (20 June 2023). It's still an interesting site to visit with students, although the rate of ice loss in the lower (disconnected) reach is startling. You can view it in slightly better times in 2018 and 2019, via the VR Glaciers site...
...which you can access here: vrglaciers.wp.worc.ac.uk/wor…
@Worldwidevillan and I will attempt to produce a revised virtual field trip (fingers crossed!).
The Bas Arolla glacier, Switzerland (18 June 2023). The ice on the valley floor, which is fully disconnected from the rest of the glacier above, is melting rapidly. Tomorrow, I'm planning to get up to the Haut Arolla glacier with my VR camera kit.
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Dent Blanche towering imposingly over Bricola and the Ferpècle Valley today (17 June 2023). You can take a virtual tour up past Bricola via the link below. This is one of many available through the VR Glaciers and Glaciated Landscapes site. vrglaciers.wp.worc.ac.uk/bri…
ALT Snow-covered mountain towering above an abandoned building.
This video is ideal for all those wanting to watch me talk about a new Geography course. I can't recommend it enough.
Are you (or someone you know) thinking about studying Geography at university? Our new Geography course @worcesteruni may be just what you're looking for! Find out more in our short overview video here:
vimeo.com/781021194/d43cc897…
@RGS_IBGschools
Thanks to everyone who attended one of this week's online seminars on the benefits of using virtual reality to support (not replace) in-person fieldwork. Very pleased with the turnout. Time to start thinking about the follow-up session...
I enjoyed today's lunchtime seminar:
'Supporting in-person fieldwork with virtual reality (VR): A beginner’s guide'
It was so good, we're repeating it on Wednesday.
#fieldwork #virtualfieldwork #vr #geography @RGS_IBGhe @GeogEd_RGS
