Geography, Environmental Sciences
MARY ARGYRAKI investigates the use of management tools such as EMS (ISO 14001 and EMAS), auditing, life cycle assessments and risk assessment by businesses to improve their environmental performance. She has supervised a number of projects studying the uptake of EMS by business, the application of supplier assessments, the adoption of a life cycle approach to product design and waste management systems.
ANDREW CHERRILL conducts pure and applied research in the areas of entomology, biodiversity conservation and applied ecology. Current and recent projects include: a) developmental biology, habitat requirements and conservation of invertebrates; and b) ecology and control of non-native invasive plants. Previous research has focussed on plant biodiversity in hedgerows, survey methodology for terrestrial habitats, and species interactions in the inter-tidal zone. Andrew is an Editor of Annals of Applied Biology and regional convenor of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.
DONG-SOOK GILLS' current research interests are: globalisation and the development of global capitalism; global inequality; globalisation and women's labour (with emphasis on East and South-East Asia). Her publications reflect these interests which include: Rural Women and Triple Exploitation in Korean Development (1999, Macmillan); Women and Work in Globalising Asia (2001, Routledge, with N. Piper); 'Globalisation of Production and Women in Asia', The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science' (Special Issue on 'Globalisation and Democracy'); and 'Globalisation and National Capitalism in South Korea' (2004, Palgrave Macmillan, with B. Gills) among others. She organised and co-ordinated a British Council funded research project on globalisation and home-based contract work amongst poor urban women in India, based in four major cities including Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, and Chenai (2002-2003). She is currently involved in an international research project on Migrant Women Workers, funded by Ford Foundation.
ROBIN MURPHY uses geographical information systems (GIS) to research the spatial dimension of a number of research issues which include environmental pollution, health and crime. He has been involved in projects looking at sustainable housing for Gateshead Council and regional socio-economic data for One North-East.
MONICA PRICE carries out research in the field of environmental pollution both air quality and contaminated land. In terms of air quality her research focuses on the measurement of airborne particulate matter, work that is being used to advise upon the European reference method. This research group also manages the Tyne & Wear air quality database and web site, http://enviweb.sunderland.ac.uk.In terms of contaminated land, research here is investigating public perception of this environmental issue and devising methods for the dissemination of information.
HANS VAN ZON is a specialist in the political economy of transition economies (Central and Eastern Europe). He has published eight books and about 150 articles about Central and Eastern Europe. He also regularly publishes work on issues related to 'the future of Europe'. Hans is currently working on "Russia's Development Problem" (Palgrave MacMillan, 2007).
JULIA WALTON is a founder member of The Centre for Environmental Informatics, a research centre which was established in 1996 and has conducted a variety of innovative applied research relating to private and public sector environmental, social and ethical accountability. Key areas investigated include corporate environmental reporting (hardcopy and Internet), voluntary environmental agreements, accountability guidelines, the European Union and corporate social responsibility, and socio-environmental factors affecting health. The Centre has been funded by a variety of European Union agencies, localauthorities and private sector organisations. Current research in the area of corporate citizenship covers sector specific investigations of corporate sustainability reporting with an emphasis on stakeholder engagement and tri-sector partnerships in developing countries.
DENNIS WHEELER is engaged in studies of climates of the past three centuries using old instrumental and documentary sources from different parts of Europe. By improving our knowledge of past climates we can better predict those of the future. Dennis has secured a number of major funded awards and is currently helping to lead the EU-supported Millennium Project in which 39 institutions across 15 EU member states are endeavouring to produce a 1000-year climate record for Europe. He has a particular interest in the use of ships' logbooks for climate studies and is working with scientists in the UK and US Governments to help utilise and make available this important resource. His other specialist fields are the regional climatologies of the British Isles and Iberia. He has published extensively in all these areas with over 100 scientific articles and three text books.
