Dr Philip Marren
Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography
Biography
Philip Marren is a physical geographer with a wide range of research interests and expertise but with a particular emphasis on fluvial geomorphology, hydrology and sedimentology. He has over 25 years' experience of university level research and teaching, and has worked at universities in the UK, Australia, Canada, and South Africa. He is the Senior Postgraduate Research Tutor for the School of Humanities and Social Science.
Teaching and Supervision
Dr Marren teaches across the Geography and Natural Hazard Management programmes at the University of Chester, making contributions at all levels. As well as undergraduate teaching, he also teaches on many of the modules in the Flood Risk Assessment, Modelling and Engineering Masters degree. His main teaching focus is on aspects of physical geography including hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, river management, and natural hazards. He also teaches physical geography research methods and statistics.
Research and Knowledge Exchange
As a physical geographer who has conducted research on river landscapes on four different continents, Philip Marren's research has encompassed a wide range of physical landscapes. His primary research interest is on the impacts of extreme floods and environmental change (especially glacier retreat) on rivers in glaciated environments, particularly in Iceland. He has been carrying out research in these environments since 1996, and this continues to be his main research focus to the present day. Postdoctoral work in South Africa added a new dimension to his research, focusing on the geomorphology of low-energy meandering and anabranching rivers in dryland environments. This work on dryland, low-energy rivers continued when he was based in Australia, where he also investigated landscape change in catchments impacted by extreme floods, bushfires, and extensive anthropogenic modification. More recently, he has investigated the effectiveness and longevity of natural flood management interventions in the UK.