Dr Naomi Holmes FHEA
Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography
Summary
I am a geographer who is interested in teaching students about, and in, the environment. Although my background is in physical geography I now teach into environmental science, geography and human geography courses and enjoy working with students to support them to succeed. My research focuses on geography pedagogies in higher education, outdoor learning and environmental change. As well as being an academic I am an outdoor learning practitioner and have successfully integrated applied outdoor learning opportunities into the modules and courses I teach on at Sheffield Hallam.
About
I joined the Department of the Natural and Built Environment at Sheffield Hallam University in September 2015 as a senior lecturer in physical geography and enjoyed being the BSc Environmental Science course leader from 2016 to 2021. I currently teach on a range of modules which include fieldwork and skills teaching as well as subject specialist modules. My teaching is research and experience informed. I am a keen outdoor learning practitioner and have been awarded professional recognition by the Institute of Outdoor Learning. I am a qualified Forest School Practitioner and a volunteer expedition leader and integrate these outdoor learning practices into my work at SHU. Prior to working at SHU I held several positions at universities in the UK and Ireland. I graduated from the University of Exeter with a BSc in Biology and Geography and then undertook a NERC-funded PhD ('Evaluating the use of subfossil chironomids for the reconstruction of Holocene climate in N and NW Iceland') at Exeter. During my PhD I spent three months with the Department of Biology at the University of Bergen in Norway as a Marie Curie Predoctoral Fellow. I then worked as a postdoctoral researcher on a number of projects at the University of Exeter and University College Dublin. Following my postdoctoral positions I was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Northampton.
Senior Lecturer
Teaching
Department of the Natural and Built Environment
Social Sciences and Arts
Level 4
Personal Tutor
Level 5
Glaciers and Glaciation
International Fieldwork (Amsterdam)
International Fieldwork (Iceland)
Outdoor Learning for the Environment and Geography
Research Methods for Environmental, Geographical and Social Sciences [Co-module Leader]
Personal Tutor
Level 6
Advanced Field Research (Snowdonia) [Module Leader]
Quaternary Environmental Change [Module Leader]
Dissertation project supervisor
Personal Tutor
Research
I am a geographer with interdisciplinary research interests. The initial focus of my research was on palaeoenvironmental change, reconstructing Holocene environmental changes from lake sediments. Since becoming a full-time lecturer I have developed an interest in pedagogic research on the following topics:
• developing assessment design as an engagement strategy
• using technology in teaching, assessment and fieldwork
• embedding outdoor and experiential learning into the curriculum
• equality of access to geographical fieldwork for marginalised groups of learners.
In the last few years I have combined my research interests and an interest in outdoor learning by coordinating and leading the scientific programme of youth expeditions to remote locations including Finnmark, Ladakh and the Yukon.
Recent projects include:
• Student experiences of virtual fieldwork learning opportunities [as a response to C-19]
• Giving the students their (anonymous) voices: encouraging engagement in online sessions I have led several funded staff-student research projects (supporting SHU students as researchers) including:
• Producing a justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) impact assessment and checklist for local field visits
• Perceptions of change in the local landscape
• Palaeolimnological evidence of Holocene environmental change in south east Iceland.
• Investigating landscape change in the Peak District
• Glacial Geomorphology of the Suru Valley, Indian Himalayas
• A critical exploration of equality of access to Geographic fieldwork in Higher Education
My research is interdisciplinary and as a result I am fortunate to work with many collaborators. This includes colleagues at Sheffield Hallam, at other higher education institutions, and at other organisations.
Publications
Journal articles
Kaufman, D., McKay, N., Routson, C., Erb, M., Davis, B., Heiri, O., ... Zhilich, S. (2020). Publisher Correction: A global database of Holocene paleotemperature records (Scientific Data, (2020), 7, 1, (115), 10.1038/s41597-020-0445-3). Scientific Data, 7 (1). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-0515-6
Kaufman, D., McKay, N., Routson, C., Erb, M., Davis, B., Heiri, O., ... Zhilich, S. (2020). Author Correction: A global database of Holocene paleotemperature records (Scientific Data, (2020), 7, 1, (115), 10.1038/s41597-020-0445-3). Scientific Data, 7 (1), 246. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-00584-1
Kaufman, D., McKay, N., Routson, C., Erb, M., Davis, B., Heiri, O., ... Zhilich, S. (2020). Erratum: Publisher Correction: A global database of Holocene paleotemperature records (Scientific data (2020) 7 1 (115)). Scientific data, 7 (1), 271. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-00611-1
Kaufman, D., McKay, N., Routson, C., Erb, M., Davis, B., Heiri, O., ... Zhilich, S. (2020). A global database of Holocene paleotemperature records. Scientific Data, 7 (1), 115. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-0445-3
Hawkins, A., Sharpe, R., Spence, K., & Holmes, N. (2018). Inappropriate flushing of menstrual sanitary products. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Water Management. https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/toc/jwama/0/0
Holmes, N. (2018). Mapping glacial landscapes: a case study from the Himalaya. Geography Review, 31 (4), 2-5. https://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/geographyreview
Holmes, N. (2017). Engaging with assessment: increasing student engagement through continuous assessment. Active Learning in Higher Education, 19 (1), 23-34. http://doi.org/10.1177/1469787417723230
Rodrigo-Rech, A., Dalsgaard, B., Sandel, B., Sonne, J., Svenning, J.-.C., Holmes, N., & Ollerton, J. (2016). The macroecology of animal versus wind pollination: ecological factors are more important than historical climate stability. Plant Ecology and Diversity, 9 (3), 253-262. http://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2016.1207722
Holmes, N., Langdon, P.G., Caseldine, C.J., Wastegard, S., Leng, M.J., Croudace, I.W., & Davies, S.M. (2016). Climatic variability during the last millennium in Western Iceland from lake sediment records. The Holocene, 26 (5), 756-771. http://doi.org/10.1177/0959683615618260
Turner, J.N., Holmes, N., Davis, S.R., Leng, M.J., Langdon, C., & Scaife, R.G. (2015). A multiproxy (micro-XRF, pollen, chironomid and stable isotope) lake sediment record for the Lateglacial to Holocene transition from Thomastown Bog, Ireland. Journal of Quaternary Science, 30 (6), 514-528. http://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.2796
Holmes, N. (2014). Student perceptions of their learning and engagement in response to the use of a continuous e-assessment in an undergraduate module. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 40 (1), 1-14. http://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2014.881978
Holmes, N., Langdon, P.G., Caseldine, C., Brooks, S.J., & Birks, H.J.B. (2011). Merging chironomid training sets: Implications for palaeoclimate reconstructions. Quaternary Science Reviews, 30 (19-20), 2793-2804. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2011.06.013
Holmes, N. (2010). Palaeoecology, sedimentology and archaeology: investigating climate change and the adoption of agriculture in Ireland. Quaternary Newsletter, 120, 31-33.
Langdon, P.G., Leng, M.J., Holmes, N., & Caseldine, C.J. (2010). Lacustrine evidence of early-holocene environmental change in northern Iceland: A multiproxy palaeoecology and stable isotope study. Holocene, 20 (2), 205-214. http://doi.org/10.1177/0959683609354301
Holmes, N., Langdon, P.G., & Caseldine, C.J. (2009). Subfossil chironomid variability in surface sediment samples from Icelandic lakes: Implications for the development and use of training sets. Journal of Paleolimnology, 42 (2), 281-295. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-008-9276-5
Langdon, P., Holmes, N., Stefánsson, S.M., Hannesdóttir, E., & Axford, A. (2008). The 8th European Subfossil Chironomid Workshop, Reykjavik. Quaternary Newsletter, 114, 28-32.
Langdon, P.G., Holmes, N., & Caseldine, C.J. (2008). Environmental controls on modern chironomid faunas from NW Iceland and implications for reconstructing climate change. Journal of Paleolimnology, 40 (1), 273-293. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-007-9157-3
Holmes, N. (2008). Validation of chironomid-inferred temperature reconstructions in Iceland: The potential for reconstructing quantitative changes in holocene climate. Geographica Helvetica, 63 (1), 4-14. http://doi.org/10.5194/gh-63-4-2008
Langdon, P., Holmes, N., Stefánsson, S.M., Hannesdóttir, E., & Axford, Y. (2007). The 8th European Subfossil Chironomid Workshop, Reykjavik. Chironomus Newsletter on Chironomidae Research, 20, 10.
Caseldine, C., Langdon, P., & Holmes, N. (2006). Early Holocene climate variability and the timing and extent of the Holocene thermal maximum (HTM) in northern Iceland. Quaternary Science Reviews, 25 (17-18), 2314-2331. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2006.02.003
Conference papers
Biddulph, M., Collins, A.L., Foster, I.D.L., & Holmes, N. (2017). The scale problem in tackling diffuse water pollution from agriculture : insights from the Avon Demonstration Test Catchment programme in England. River Research and Applications, 33 (10), 1527-1538. http://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3222
Evans, J., Foster, I., Boardman, J., & Holmes, N. (2017). SMART – Sediment Mitigation Actions for the River Rother, UK. Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences, 375, 35-39. http://www.proc-iahs.net/375/35/2017/
Lotter, A., Poska, A., Huusko, A., Lučeničová, B., Odgaard, B., Caseldine, C., ... Veski, S. (2008). The use of modelling and simulation approach in reconstructing past landscapes from fossil pollen data: A review and results from the POLLANDCAL network. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 17 (5), 419-443. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-008-0169-3
Book chapters
Holmes, N. (2014). Section 4.1.3: Chironomid analysis: background, methods and geomorphological applications. In Cook, S.J., Clarke, L.E., & Nield, J.M. (Eds.) Geomorphological Techniques (Online Edition). London, UK: British Society for Geomorphology: http://www.geomorphology.org.uk/sites/default/files/geom_tech_chapters/4.1.3_Chironomids.pdf
Holmes, N., Warren, G., & Davis, S. (2010). Palaeoenvironmental analyses from Cregganmore. In North Mayo. IQUA Field Guide No. 31. Irish Quaternary Association
Reports
Holmes, N. (2017). Canadian Yukon 2017 Science Report.
Holmes, N. (2017). Canadian Yukon 2017 Science Report.
Holmes, N. (2016). Indian Himalaya 2016 Science Report.
Holmes, N. (2015). Indian Himalaya 2015 Science Report.
Holmes, N. (2015). Arctic Finnmark 2014 Science Report.
Lewis, H., Gallagher, C., Davis, S., Turner, J., Foster, G., Courtney, L., ... Meehan, R. (2009). An integrated, comprehensive GIS model of landscape evolution and land use history in the River Boyne valley. Phase II Report. The Heritage Council.
Presentations
Holmes, N. (2015). Boggy Places. Presented at: .PLACE. symposium: Celebrating ten years of Geography at the University of Exeter Penryn Campus, Penryn, UK
Biddulp, M., Collins, A., Foster, I.D.L., & Holmes, N. (2014). Testing the efficacy of on-farm pollution mitigation measures in agricultural catchments in England. Presented at: International Association for Sediment Water Science Conference, Grahamstown, South Africa
Holmes, N., Warren, G., Davis, S., & Turner, J. (2013). Developing quantitative records of past climate and environment in Ireland: a palaeoecological, sedimentological and archaeological approach. Presented at: Subfossil Chironomid Workshop, New Forest, UK
Davis, S., Warren, G., & Holmes, N. (2010). Palaeoenvironmental and archaeological investigations of the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in western Ireland. Presented at: Annual Conference of the Association for Environmental Archaeology, Kyoto, Japan
Holmes, N., Caseldine, C., Langdon, P., Thompson, G., Wastegård, S., Larsen, G., & Davies, S. (2010). Determining temperature changes in Western Iceland over the last millennium: chronological issues. Presented at: UCD Chronology Day, Dublin, Ireland
Warren, G., Holmes, N., & Davis, S. (2010). Climate change and the Neolithic in North Mayo. Presented at: Re-Framing the Neolithic, Dublin
Caseldine, C., Holmes, N., Langdon, P., Thompson, G., Wastegård, S., Larsen, G., & Davies, S. (2010). Determining temperature changes in Western Iceland over the last millennium: issues and results. Presented at: EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria
Turner, J., Davis, S., Scaife, R., Langdon, C., Holmes, N., Leng, M., ... Cummins, T. (2010). A multiproxy (pollen, stable isotope, chironomid and µXRF) record for the Late Glacial to Holocene transition from Thomastown Bog, Ireland. Presented at: EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria
Holmes, N., Warren, G., & Davis, S. (2010). Investigating the environmental and human history of north Co. Mayo, Ireland. Presented at: Wetland Archaeology in Ireland and Beyond, Dublin
Warren, G., Holmes, N., & Davis, S. (2009). Belderrig: extreme weather, climate and history. Presented at: Theoretical Archaeology Group 31st Annual Meeting, Durham, UK
Warren, G., Holmes, N., Davis, S., & Turner, J. (2009). Palaeoclimatology and Archaeology of a Prehistoric Landscape in North Mayo. Presented at: Dealing with Neolithic Landscapes, Belfast
Holmes, N. (2009). Climate change and the adoption of agriculture in Ireland. Presented at: Irish Quaternary Association Spring Meeting, Dublin, Ireland
Holmes, N. (2009). Chironomids and climate: investigating the adoption of agriculture in Ireland. Presented at: Chironomid Workshop, Copenhagen, Denmark
Holmes, N., Langdon, P., Brooks, S., & Caseldine, C. (2007). Comparing and merging chironomid training sets: implications for palaeoclimate reconstructions. Presented at: XVII INQUA Congress, Cairns, Australia
Holmes, N., Langdon, P., & Caseldine, C. (2007). Development of a high resolution chironomid record from Baulárvallavatn, W Iceland. Presented at: Chironomid Workshop, Reykjavik, Iceland
Langdon, P., Axford, Y., Holmes, N., & Caseldine, C. (2007). Holocene development of the Icelandic chironomid fauna: palaeolimnological evidence from lakes in northern Iceland. Presented at: Arctic Workshop, Skaftafell, Iceland
Holmes, N., Langdon, P., & Caseldine, C. (2006). Validation of Chironomid-Inferred Temperature Reconstructions in Iceland: The Potential for Reconstructing Quantitative Changes in Holocene Climate. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, USA
Langdon, P., Holmes, N., & Caseldine, C. (2005). Environmental controls on modern chironomid faunas from NW and W Iceland: implications for reconstructing climate change. Presented at: EGU General Meeting, Vienna, Austria
Caseldine, C., Langdon, P., & Holmes, N. (2005). Palaeoecological Quantitative Estimates of the Extent and Timing of the Holocene Thermal Maximum in Iceland. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, USA
Holmes, N. (2004). Reconstructing Holocene climate and environment in NW Iceland. Presented at: Chironomid Workshop, Barcelona, Spain
Caseldine, C., Langdon, P., & Holmes, N. (2004). Terrestrial Responses to Holocene Climatic Forcing – Examples from N/NW Iceland. Presented at: Arctic Workshop, Boulder, USA
Holmes, N. (2002). Comparing biotic palaeoclimatic proxies for the last 11Kyr from NW Iceland. Presented at: Chironomid Workshop, Exeter, UK
Posters
Storrar, R., Holmes, N., & Bradwell, T. (2019). A refined size frequency approach to lichenometric dating and spreadsheet for surface age estimations. Presented at: British Society for Geomorphology Annual Meeting, Sheffield
Holmes, N., & Lem, R. (2016). Wild science: undertaking geomorphological research on youth expeditions. Presented at: British Society for Geomorphology Annual Meeting, Plymouth, 2016
Holmes, N., Storrar, R., Wright, H., Stefaniak, A., Cranmer, R., Feng, H., ... Sterrow, C. (2016). Investigating recent environmental change through geomorphological mapping of glacial landforms in Ladakh, India: a geomorphological outreach project. Presented at: British Society for Geomorphology Annual Meeting, Plymouth, 2016
Sharpe, R., Holmes, N., & Douterelo, I. (2016). A methodological proposal to investigate the long term storage of pollutants in freshwater sediment biofilms and their response to environmental disturbances. Presented at: British Society for Geomorphology Annual Meeting, Plymouth, 2016
Holmes, N., Warren, G., Davis, S., Turner, J., McCarron, S., Leng, M., & Brooks, S. (2010). Developing quantitative records of past climate and environment in Ireland: a palaeoecological, sedimentological and archaeological approach. Presented at: EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria
Cunningham, L., Holmes, N., Bigler, C., Dadal, A., Bergman, J., Caseldine, C., & Langdon, P. (2010). Reconstructing temperatures from lake sediments in northern Europe: what do the biological proxies really tell us? Presented at: EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria
Holmes, N., Davis, S., & Warren, G. (2009). Palaeoecology, sedimentology and archaeology: beginning to untangle the environmental and human history of Belderrig, north County Mayo, Ireland. Presented at: Association for Environmental Archaeology 30th Anniversary Meeting: Environmental Archaeology in a Changing World, York, UK
Davis, S., Holmes, N., & Warren, G. (2009). Climate change and the adoption of agriculture in Ireland. Presented at: Quaternary Research Association Annual Discussion Meeting, Oxford, UK
Holmes, N., Davis, S., & Warren, G. (2009). Climate change and the adoption of agriculture in Ireland. Presented at: Irish Quaternary Association Meeting, Dublin, Ireland
Langdon, P., Caseldine, C., Holmes, N., Thompson, G., & Croudace, I. (2007). Climate over the last Millennium in western Iceland: lacustrine evidence from Baulárvallavatn. Presented at: XVII INQUA Congress, Cairns, Australia
Langdon, P., Caseldine, C., Holmes, N., Thompson, G., Croudace, I., & Leng, M. (2007). Climate of the last Millennium in Iceland: as assessment of the sediments from Baulárvallavatn, W Iceland. Presented at: Arctic Workshop, Skaftafell, Iceland
Holmes, N., Langdon, P., Caseldine, C., & Thompson, G. (2007). Development of a high resolution chironomid record from Baulárvallavatn, W Iceland. Presented at: Arctic Workshop, Skaftafell, Iceland
Caseldine, C., Langdon, P., & Holmes, N. (2006). Quantitative Terrestrial Palaeoclimatic Records From Iceland: A Comparison With Marine Data. Presented at: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, USA
Caseldine, C., Langdon, P., & Holmes, N. (2003). Biological proxies for Holocene climate change in Iceland – Patterns and Issues. XVI INQUA Congress, Reno. Presented at: XVI INQUA Congress, Reno, USA
Other publications
Holmes, N. (2014). Science Report.
Other activities
Membership of Professional Bodies
• Higher Education Academy (Fellow)
• Institute of Outdoor Learning (Professional member)
• Quaternary Research Association
• RGS-IBG Geography and Education Research Group (Ordinary Committee Member 2021- to date) External Examining • BSc Environmental Science at the University of Plymouth (2021 - to date)
• BSc Environmental Science at the University of Central Lancashire (2019 - to date)
• BSc Geography and Archaeology at the University of Brighton (2014 - 2018). Member of the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement Advisory Group for Geography (2021)
Postgraduate supervision
I am interested in supervising projects on topics related to environmental change, outdoor learning and fieldwork, and higher education pedagogies. Please do get in touch if you have an idea and want an informal chat.
Research students
• Sarah Walton: Holocene climate and environmental change in south east Iceland (2020 - to date)
• Matilda Biddulph: Testing the effectiveness of mitigation measures for reducing delivery of fine sediment and associated contaminants to and through watercourses in agricultural catchments of England and Wales (PhD awarded 2017)