Richard Yarwood

Academic profile

Professor Richard Yarwood

Director of Doctoral College
Doctoral College

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. Richard's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

Goal 01: SDG 1 - No PovertyGoal 02: SDG 2 - Zero HungerGoal 04: SDG 4 - Quality EducationGoal 07: SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean EnergyGoal 08: SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic GrowthGoal 09: SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and InfrastructureGoal 10: SDG 10 - Reduced InequalitiesGoal 11: SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and CommunitiesGoal 12: SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and ProductionGoal 13: SDG 13 - Climate ActionGoal 14: SDG 14 - Life Below WaterGoal 15: SDG 15 - Life on LandGoal 16: SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong InstitutionsGoal 17: SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

About Richard


I am a Professor of Human Geography and the Director of the Doctoral College.

Supervised Research Degrees

  • Dr Kieran Green, Awarded 2023, University of Plymouth. 'The Cartographies of Young People utilising Host-Dependent Shelter' ESRC funded
  • Dr Eva McGrath. Awarded 2021, University of Plymouth 'Across the River: ferries as a vehicle for exploring riverborderscapes'
  • Dr Leonie Boland. Awarded March 2018, University of Plymouth (2nd supervisor): 'Moving On. Transitioning from homelessness into a sustained tenancy: What enables a successful transition?'
  • Dr Gina Kallis. PhD Awarded December 2016 by Plymouth University. 'An Intergenerational Perspective on Migrant Senses of Identity and Belonging: the case of Greek-Cypriot Families in South-West England'
  • Dr Rebecca Wheeler. PhD Awarded March 2015 by Plymouth University. ‘Experiences of Place and Change in Rural Landscapes: Three English Case Studies’ 
  • Dr Wendy Miller. PhD awarded September 2013 by Plymouth University and funded by Plymouth University (2nd Supervisor). 'Allotments and alternative food networks: the case of Plymouth, UK’ 
  • Dr Tilll Paasche. PhD awarded December 2011 by Plymouth University and funded by Plymouth University. ‘The Governance of Security in the Revanchist City: the Case of Cape Town, South Africa’
  • Dr Fiona Ferbrache. PhD awarded March 2011 by University of Plymouth and funded by University of Plymouth. ' Transnational Spaces within the European Union: the everyday lives of British migrants in France'.
  • Dr Marion Parish. PhD awarded Dec 2010 by University of Plymouth and funded by ESRC on 'A Life Geographic; self and landscape in Peter Lanyon's Land, Sea and Air' 
  • Dr Nadine Schaefer. PhD awarded September 2008 by University of Plymouth, 'Rural Youth: Geographies of Everyday Life and future trajectories of young people in Mecklenburg-Vorpomen (East Germany)'
  • Nicholas Bennett. MPhil awarded by University of Worcester (2nd Supervisor) ‘Parish Councils, Social Development and Rurality’
  • Dr Linda Price. PhD awarded September 2004 by Coventry University (2nd supervisor) 'Stress in Agriculture: the Patriarchal Way of Life of Farm Families in Powys'
  • Dr Christine Corcoran. PhD awarded October 2003 by Coventry University. 'The Role of Strategic Partnerships in the Governance of Rural Areas: the case of youth'
  • Dr Penelope Mell. PhD Awarded May 1999 by Coventry University. 'The Theory and Practice of Community Based Planning in Rural Areas'

Teaching

I have a wide range of teaching interests. Although I specialise in rural and social geography, I also make contributions to broader modules on geographical thought, methodologies and field teaching. I helped established fieldtrips to Bath, Brittany and Sweden and have made contributions to other fieldtrips, from Hong Kong to the USA!


I established and led our Masters in 'Human Geography Research', which fulfils the ESRC’s training requirements for doctoral students. I also contribute to the Masters in Planning through a specialist module on Rural Planning.

I am Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in recognition of my teaching quality and contributions to national teaching agendas.

My current teaching contributions are in:

Level 1

GGH1204 People and Place (module leader)

Level 2
GGH2206 Nature, Country and Society
GGX2201 Principles and Applications of Geography I

Level 3
GGH3208 Citizenship, territory and war 
GGX3200 Dissertation in Geography

Masters in Planning
PLG513 Rural Planning
PGL510/511 Masters Dissertation

Finally, I deliver teaching and training on our Researcher Development Progamme that includes supervisor training and 'getting published'.

Contact Richard

3 Kirkby Terrace, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
+44 1752 585983