My expertise is in historical climatology and I have worked extensively on flood events, both contemporary and historical. And although I am working on learning Welsh, I unfortunately can’t say that I have mastered its intricacies yet. I speak a few languages (English, French, German, and Armenian) that I’ve picked up along the way. These include (but are definitely not limited to): the nature-culture relation and how it is influenced by climate and environmental change health and environment (especially pertaining to change) and traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). As a researcher, I’m interested in the impacts and adaptations to climatic and environmental change. I hold a PhD in geography from the Universite de Montreal where I studied the interactions between climate change and traditional ecological knowledge in northern Quebec.

To take part in this project, I moved from Montreal (Canada) to Aberystwyth (Wales) sight unseen, having never been in the UK before. I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate on the project and am based at Aberystwyth University. The climate was pleasantly cooperative to kick off the project and I experienced my first UK storms and floods shortly after my arrival from Canada. I now much prefer the warmth and sunshine of a glorious (but seemingly increasingly rare) British summer, which leads to a good, easy harvest and more leisurely times on the farm. However, my childhood favourite has become a real menace since I moved to live on my husband’s farm in addition to isolating me from the rest of the world, it means time-consuming work to keep the water flowing and sheep well-fed. It didn’t occur very often when I was a child, but I always welcomed the chance to dust off the sledge, gather my cousins and go in search of the steepest hill. Snow has always been my favourite type of weather. My research to date focuses on climatic and environmental history and human responses to unusual or extreme weather, mostly in Wales since the nineteenth century. I have been a lecturer in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University since February 2013, having contributed to the department’s Welsh-medium provision since 2008 whilst undertaking my PhD. I think the best part about researching the weather is that everyone - no matter what their age or background - takes an interest and can contribute. Being married to a farmer, I know only too well how much of an impact a dry summer or a particularly cold spring can have on grass growth! Having worked further afield for a number of years, I’m excited to be working on a project which connects with the community in which I live. In recent years, I have been developing research interests closer to home and began working with Neil Macdonald and Cerys Jones to explore the rich archival resource here in Wales.

I was introduced to the incredible potential of documentary sources as a tool for investigating past weather and climate through my research in Mexico. My work has often involved working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, which I find particularly rewarding – the differing perspectives offered by researchers from science and social science backgrounds is refreshing and fun.

Much of my research has focused on reconstructing past environmental change using lake sediments, particularly in tropical regions such as Mexico and East Africa. I am a senior lecturer in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University, where I have been based since 2002. In West Wales the weather is a major talking point! Read more I'm excited to be working on a project which connects with the community in which I live.

Ispeak udem