Glacial geology in Scotland

Firstly, I’d like to sincerely thank the QRA for awarding me the Lewis Penny Medal. It is an honour to have my research recognised in this way, and to join the list of existing recipients. The catalyst for my interest in Quaternary studies was Colin Ballantyne’s enthusiastic lectures on the Quaternary geomorphology of Scotland, while I was an undergraduate at St Andrews. Upon graduating in 2001, I based myself in the amazing landscape of the Canadian Rockies where I became convinced that a geomorphology-related career was the path for me. In 2004 I completed the excellent MSc in Quaternary Science at Royal Holloway, led at the time by John Lowe, and made thoroughly enjoyable by a positive peer group. I was employed by BGS the following year, where I was fortunate to join a growing Quaternary team in the Edinburgh Office. My work at BGS led me onto investigating landforms and stratigraphic sequences in the Scottish glacial record. In 2009 Tom Bradwell suggested that I talk with David Sugden about starting a part-time PhD at Edinburgh University, and the project took off immediately. Tom and David’s advice, enthusiasm and confidence made it an extremely rewarding experience, and I submitted the PhD at the end of last year.