Personal profile
Teaching Interests
Deputy Head of the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences and Academic Lead for Learning and Teaching.
Colin teaches aspects of conflict, environmental and landscape change and development on the geography and environmental science degrees. He has been course director for the Combined Subjects degree programmes, undergraduate Geography programmes, postgraduate maritime archaeology degree and leads the annual 2nd year Geography fieldschool to Scotland and the 3rd year programme to Catalonia.
Research Interests
Colin’s research focusses on historic landscape and societal change, environment and conflict, and the historical archaeologies of past maritime societies. He is currently engaged in research across the Middle East and Africa, as well as across the Atlantic maritime zone of NW Europe.
He is leading on an Impact Case Study for REF 2029 on nature/ culture approaches towards marine protection in Africa and the Middle East. This is linked to acting as PI on the £2m Arcadia funded MarEA project in partnership with Southampton University on documenting endangered cultural heritage across the Middle East and North Africa, and most recently was Co-I on the UKRI Global Challenges RftD programme in East Africa. He is currently working with UNESCO as a high-level expert on Cultural Heritage and climate change adaptation in advance of MONDIACULT and COP 30.
Elected Fellow Society of Antiquaries (FSA) 2006
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
Current and Recent Grants
2019-23: Maritime endangered archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa (MarEA). Co. PI: C Breen. The Arcadia Fund. £2m (with Southampton University)
2017-2022: Rising from the depths: utilising marine cultural heritage in East Africa to develop sustainable social, economic and cultural benefits. RCUK Global Challenges Fund Co I C Breen £2.4m (led by Edinburgh University)
2017-18 Syria Coastal Heritage Management and Environmental Change. PI C Breen. HFF £68,000.
2013-14 Heritage, Community and Sustainability. PI C Breen. AHRC £79,493.
2013-14 Ulster and Western Scotland heritage and community sustainability. PI C Breen. AHRC £53,082.
2012-15: Climate change, maritime and freshwater archaeology services. PI: C Breen. Co-Is: W Forsythe and R Quinn. Funding: NI Environment Agency. £390,000
2012-13 Community-led heritage knowledge co-production for sustainable development. PI C Breen. AHRC £18,990
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, National University of Ireland, Galway
Unknown, Postgraduate Certificate Conflict and Development, Open University
Master, MSc Peace and Conflict, Ulster University
Bachelor, Archaeology/ Sociology, University College Cork
Master, MPhil Maritime Studies, University of St Andrews
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
-
SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
-
Everyday Possibilities for Peace through Cultural Heritage: Navigating Ireland’s Role in a Chaotic World
Breen, C., Reid, A., Deevy, M., Smyth, J. & Andreou, G., 9 Jan 2026, (Published online) In: Irish Studies in International Affairs. 36, 1, p. 1-20 20 p., 1.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Downloads (Pure) -
Heritage, tourism and social conflict in Barcelona, Catalonia
Breen, C., 1 Jan 2026, Contested Heritage . Ichumbaki, E. (ed.). Abingdon : Routledge, p. 15-28 14 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
-
Lords of the Sea An archaeology of the medieval Gaelic maritime world
Breen, C., 16 Apr 2026, Cork. 368 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
File12 Downloads (Pure) -
Alternative City, an historical geography of Barcelona
Breen, C., 2025, 1 ed. Belfast. 151 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
File56 Downloads (Pure) -
Coastal Saltworks and Atlantic Opportunities at Two Early Modern Sites on the North Coast of Ireland
Forsythe, W., Mc Conkey, R. & Breen, C., 30 Nov 2025, In: European Journal of Archaeology. 28, 4, p. 460-479 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile22 Downloads (Pure)
Press/Media
-
The Coalition of Aid and Development Agencies in Northern Ireland (CADA) One World Festival: Climate injustice: transforming many small actions into a collective response
Dunlop, P., Mc Dowell, S., Breen, C. & Benetti, S.
13/10/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
-
Maritime Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa - Phase II
Breen, C. (PI) & Nikolaus, J. (CoI)
1/07/24 → 30/06/27
Project: Research
-
IAA - Voices of Pemba - Zanzibar International Film Festival 2023
McGonigle, C. (PI), Breen, C. (CoI) & Prince, M. (CoI)
Arts and Humanities Research Council
21/06/23 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
-
The Madill Archive Project
Forsythe, W. (PI), Breen, C. (CoI) & Westley, K. (CoI)
1/03/20 → 30/09/23
Project: Research
-
MarEMENA: Maritime endangered archaeology Middle East and North Africa
Plets, R. (CoI), Forsythe, W. (CoI), Breen, C. (PI), Quinn, R. (CoI) & Westley, K. (CoI)
1/01/19 → 30/06/24
Project: Research
-
Inshore Survey Vessel
Quinn, R. (CoI), Douglas, R. (CoI), Breen, C. (CoI), Jordan, P. (CoI), Arnscheidt, J. (CoI), Loureiro, C. (CoI), Hunter, W. R. (CoI), Jackson, D. (CoI), Benetti, S. (CoI), Plets, R. (CoI), McGonigle, C. (PI), Dunlop, P. (CoI), Forsythe, W. (CoI) & Westley, K. (CoI)
1/11/18 → 31/07/20
Project: Research