Geoff Wilson

Academic profile

Professor Geoff Wilson

Emeritus Professor
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

The Global 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. Geoff's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

Goal 01: SDG 1 - No PovertyGoal 02: SDG 2 - Zero HungerGoal 04: SDG 4 - Quality EducationGoal 06: SDG 6 - Clean Water and SanitationGoal 07: SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean EnergyGoal 08: SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic GrowthGoal 09: SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and InfrastructureGoal 11: SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and CommunitiesGoal 12: SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and ProductionGoal 13: SDG 13 - Climate ActionGoal 15: SDG 15 - Life on LandGoal 16: SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong InstitutionsGoal 17: SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

About Geoff

Professor in Human Geography

Supervised Research Degrees

PHDs AWARDED

1. Nicola Cooper (PhD awarded 1999; King's College London): “Street-level bureaucrats and the ESA scheme: the case of the FRCA project officer in the UK” (Funding: ESRC)

2. Joanne Hay (2001; King's College London): “Landscape ecology and the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme” (Funding: EU project)

3. Catherine Wilson (2001; King's College London): “Portrayals of the shift from productivism to post-productivism in British newspapers” (Funding: EU project)

4. Simon Papps (2003; King's College London): “The changing discourses of agri-environmental actors in England: evidence from Regulation 2078/92 and Agenda 2000” (Funding: ESRC) 

5. James Jenkins (2007; King's College London): "Implementation of the EU Drinking Water Regulation: a comparative study of the UK and Ireland" (Funding: ESRC) 

6. Afraa Sallowm (2009; University of Plymouth): "ICT access and use in the remote rural town of Hatherleigh (Devon, UK): towards citizen engagement?" (Funding: Syrian Government)

7. Clive Bastin (2010; University of Plymouth): "The partnership approach to environmental governance: the case of the Moor Trees partnership network" (Funding: GWR studentship)

8. Saer Barhoum (2010; University of Plymouth): "Risk and farmers' decisions to farm organically: the case of Devon (UK)" (Funding: Syrian Government)

9. Rob Hopkins (PhD awarded 2010, University of Plymouth): Localisation and resilience at the local level: the case of Transition Town Totnes (Devon, UK) (Funding: ESRC 1+3)

10. Wendy Miller (PhD awarded 2013, University of Plymouth): Allotments and alternative food networks: the case of Plymouth, UK (Funding: UoP studentship)

11. Andrew Fox (PhD awarded 2014, University of Plymouth): Communities, institutions and flood risk: mobilising social capital to improve community resilience (Funding: self-funded)

12. Huw Thomas (PhD awarded 2017, University of Plymouth): The resilience of fishing communities in Cornwall (Funding: EU-ESF)

PhDs AWARDED (as 2nd supervisor)

10. Cesar Vasquez-Navarrete (2007; University of Plymouth): "Productivity management of the cocoa agro-food system in Tabasco (Mexico)" (Funding: Mexican Government)

11. Rawad Echtaie (2008; University of Plymouth): "Landuse change in the Nile Delta: an application of the DPSIR model" (Funding: Syrian Government)

12. Nadine Schäfer (2008; University of Plymouth): "Young people's geographies in 2nd modernity: a case study on young people's everyday lives in rural East Germany" (Funding: University of Plymouth)

13. Sally Murrall (2011; University of Plymouth): Policy learning and the development of renewable energy policy in the United Kigdom (Funding: self-funded)

14.     Zhanping Hu (PhD awarded 2014, University of Plymouth): Socio-economic drivers of change in rural China (Funding: University of Plymouth)

15. Rike Stotten (PhD awarded 2016, University of Innsbruck, Austria): Habitus und Landschaftswahrnehumg im schweizerischen Alpenraum (Funding: University of Innsbruck)

16. Malgorzata Fryzlewicz (PhD awarded 2016, University of Plymouth): Sound recordings and the revitalisation of minority languages among the Ainu (Japan) and Frisians (Holland) (Funding: University of Plymouth)

Teaching

UNDERGRADUATE

Stage 2 courses:

Rural Geography:

This module uses perspectives from human geography to examine rural areas in first world countries. It considers economic, social, cultural and political aspects of the countryside and emphasises the nature and causes of social division, exclusion and inequality in the countryside. It is divided into two main parts. The first examines rurality, nature and society; the second rural and agricultural processes. The module has a geographical emphasis, and throughout the course particular attention is paid to space and place. The module also emphasises critical thinking and expects you to engage with theoretical ideas to explain and understand everyday issues.

Stage 3 courses:

Global Environmental Politics:

This module critically evaluates the nature, processes and constraints of global environmental politics. The module draws on material from a variety of academic disciplines, including political science, geography, European studies, international relations, economics and environmental science. The module places particular focus on critical analysis of the complex processes involved in reaching supra-national and multilateral agreements to regulate environmental problems. Emphasis is placed on understanding the roles of different actors/stakeholders in environmental politics, policy and management processes, and on analysing conflict and cooperation in global environmental politics. Specific examples ranging from climate change policies to the Antarctic Treaty System will bring students close to the research frontier by discussing environmental problems and policies currently under investigation by geographers at the University of Plymouth and beyond.

POSTGRADUATE (taught Master’s degree courses)

Rural Planning:

This module examines rural planning, using theoretical perspectives from geography, sociology and planning. It considers how planning policies reflect and affect rural economy, environment and society. Rural governance and decision-making are critically evaluated. The module is supported with local, national and international examples.

Contact Geoff

+44 1752 585981