Geography - Staff Details
Dr Stuart B. Downhill (Head of Department) BA, MSc, PhD, PGCE, FRGS
Dr Downhill joined Strathallan to head the Geography Department in Autumn 2002 from the University of Manchester. After completing a year of teaching practice in Liverpool, he was appointed to the Department of Geography and became a Residential Tutor at Forest School adjacent to the Epping Forest. He has interests in both physical and human geography including biogeography, natural hazards and the regeneration of the urban landscape in the post industrial era. Whilst teaching in London for a period of 5 years, he undertook part-time MSc research concerned with the multi-dimensional ecological pressure on the British estuarine resource and the legislation designed to protect such fragile environments. The main focus of his doctoral research programme was Holocene landscape stability and cultural response with a detailed examination of the alluvial geoarchaeology of the Mersey floodplain leading to the derivation of a modern radiocarbon-dated type sequence of sedimentation for north-west England under the supervision of Dr David W. Shimwell and Dr Mike J. Robinson. The period of research began in October 1995 as a member of the Palaeological Research Unit (PERU) at the University of Manchester which led to his appointment of lecturer within the School of Geography. His work with PERU afforded him the opportunity to work closely with a variety of clients including the Manchester Airport Authority and the Greater Manchester Development Corporation leading to a range of publications. He has held a variety of residential pastoral posts during the last 17 years ranging from House Tutor at Forest School to Senior Tutor and Warden within the University Halls of Residence. Currently, he is the Residential & Senior Tutor of Ruthven House. Also, he is an experienced examiner, moderator and subject reviewer for the Assessment & Qualifications Alliance and the University of Cambridge Examinations Syndicate. Beyond the classroom, he has a keen interest in martial arts, travel, rugby, skiing, food, and he has been known to "mix" at VI Form events guesting as a DJ incorporating music stretching from Latin America, crossing the Balearic Islands to Eastern Europe!!
Mr David J. Barnes BSc, PGCE, PGCG, FRGS
Mr Barnes gained his Geography degree from Loughborough University. He is Second Master having been a Housemaster for 9 years, yet he somehow still finds the time to teach GCSE and AS/A2 level classes. His particular interests include the role of perception in the decision-making processes for industrial location and applied fluvio-geomorphology, the latter influenced by the work of Dr Geoff Petts and Dr Stan Scumm. Following a year spent as a courier cum ski instructor, glaciology has been added to this list. Time spent working in the local community has seen the Geography of Social Deprivation and its impact on society coming to the fore. The flimsiest of excuses (marketing, rugby tours) is used by him to justify extravagant trips to unusual places but this itinerant member of the Department has no plans to change his ways. Do they play rugby in Alaska? Is the shortest way to Singapore really via Manchester, Munich, Frankfurt then London?
Miss Kate E. Wilkinson BSc, PGCE
Miss Wilkinson joined Strathallan in Autumn 2005. She completed her degree at Glasgow University and worked in the geotechnical industry for a year before returning to the North East to complete her teacher training at Durham University. Her geological background reiterates her interest in aspects of physical geography especially plate tectonics and glaciology.
Outside the classroom, she is the Resident Tutor of Thornbank House and she enjoys travelling and participates in a variety of sports including skiing, tennis and rugby where she won her cap for Scotland.
Dr Matthew Gibson BSc, PhD, PGCSE
Dr. Gibson joined Strathallan in September 2008 from The Nelson Thomlinson School in North Cumbria. He gained a degree in Geology at The University of Edinburgh where he went on to complete a PhD. His area of research was unraveling the thermo-tectonic evolution of the Pyrenean orogen through the application of stratigraphic and structural field geology, isotope geochemistry and digital topographic analysis. Post research, he was employed as a laboratory scientist in a commercial nuclear fission laboratory and as an independent consultant on geochemical and isotopic investigations into groundwater flow below UK mainland nuclear facilities.
His general love of the outdoors has also seen him work extensively in outdoor education and as a landscape gardener. Matt is currently a tutor in Riley House and is involved in climbing, hockey and cricket coaching.