Personal profile
Biography
2020 - Professor of Glaciology
2017 - Research Director for Geography and Environmental Sciences
2013 – Senior Lecturer in Remote Sensing and GIS
2004 – 2013 Lecturer in Remote Sensing and GIS
Research Interests
Paul Dunlop is a glaciologist and geoscientist who specialises in reconstructing Quaternary glacial environments in terrestrial and marine settings. Understanding how ice sheets operate over long-time scales provides critical information on the global climate system and the processes of climate change. This research area requires a multidisciplinary approach and Paul uses a variety of cutting-edge techniques to investigate glacial landscapes and environments that includes using satellite remote sensing, GIS, geology, marine geophysics, cosmogenic and radiocarbon dating to work out what was happening during the last glacial cycle to help us better understand the role that ice sheets and glaciers play in the global climate system. Since 2020 I have been leading scientic research into the causes of Ireland's defective concrete block crisis with international researchers in Switzerland, Canada and the USA. I am recipient of the Cement and Concrete Research 2023 Le Chatelier Distinguished Paper Award.
Current and Recent Grants
2023-26: Laboratory Analysis Services in support of Geological Survey Ireland’s “Irish Construction Materials” Project: Concrete Products. Funder- Geological Survey of Ireland. PI: P Dunlop. Co-Is: A Leemann, Empa, Switzerland, N Scaglione, Concrete Research & Testing LLC, USA, B Fournier, Josee Duchesne, Laval University, Canada, K Wille, M Chrysochoou, J Mahoney, University of Connecticut, USA
Teaching Interests
Paul teaches satellite remote sensing and physical geography on a range of undergraduate modules for the BSc Hons Geography, Environmental Science & Marine Science degrees and supervises final year undergraduate dissertation projects.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, The Characteristics of Ribbed Moraine and Assessment of Theories for Their Genesis, University of Sheffield
1 Sept 1999 → 20 Jul 2004
Award Date: 7 Jun 2004
Bachelor, BSc (Hons) Geography, Queens University Belfast
1 Sept 1996 → 1 Jun 1999
Award Date: 1 Jun 1999
External positions
External Examiner for Undergraduate Geography, University of Galway
1 Sept 2025 → …
External Examiner for Undergraduate Geography,, Maynooth, National University of Ireland, Maynooth
19 Dec 2024 → …
Expert Evaluator of research proposals, European Commission
1 Oct 2023 → …
Geological Survey of Northern Ireland Science Advisory Committee, Geological Survey of Ireland
19 Sept 2019 → …
Keywords
- GB Physical geography
- Glaciation
- Ice Sheets
- Quaternary
- Remote Sensing
- GIS
- Geomorphology
- GC Oceanography
- Continental Shelf
- TH Building construction
- QE Geology
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):
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SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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The "mica crisis" in Donegal, Ireland – a case of internal sulfate attack?
Leemann, A., Lothenbach, B., Münch, B., Campbell, T. & Dunlop, P., 15 Mar 2023, (Published online) In: Cement and Concrete Research. 168, June 2023, p. 1-14 14 p., 107149.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile40 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)692 Downloads (Pure) -
Glacier area changes in Novaya Zemlya from 1986-89 to 2019-21 using object-based image analysis in Google Earth Engine
Ali, A., Dunlop, P., Coleman, S., Kerr, D., McNabb, R. & Noormets, R., 9 Oct 2023, In: Journal of Glaciology. 69, 277, p. 1-12 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile12 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)135 Downloads (Pure) -
Character of advance and retreat of the southwest sector of the British-Irish Ice Sheet during the last glaciation
Giglio, C., Benetti, S., Plets, R., Dunlop, P., Ó Cofaigh, C., Sacchetti, F. & Salomon, E., 1 Sept 2022, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. 291, p. 1-25 25 p., 107655.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)102 Downloads (Pure) -
Exploring controls of the early and stepped deglaciation on the western margin of the British Irish Ice Sheet
Benetti, S., Chiverrell, R. C., Cofaigh, C. Ó., Burke, M., Medialdea, A., Small, D., Ballantyne, C., Bateman, M. D., Callard, S. L., Wilson, P., Fabel, D., Clark, C. D., Arosio, R., Bradley, S., Dunlop, P., Ely, J. C., Gales, J., Livingstone, S. J., Moreton, S. G. & Purcell, C. & 4 others, , 1 Jul 2021, In: Journal of Quaternary Science. 36, 5, p. 833-870 38 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile17 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)128 Downloads (Pure) -
Early deglaciation of the British-Irish Ice Sheet on the Atlantic shelf northwest of Ireland driven by glacioisostatic depression and high relative sea level
ó Cofaigh, C., Weilbach, K., Lloyd, J., Benetti, S., Callard, L., Purcell, C., Chiverell, R., Dunlop, P., Saher, M., Livingstone, S., Van Landeghem, K., Moreton, S., Clark, C. & Fabel, D., 15 Mar 2019, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. 208, p. 76-96 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile42 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)291 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Outstanding Student Paper Award - Cryosphere
Schiele, K. (Recipient), Dunlop, P. (Recipient) & Benetti, S. (Recipient), 12 Dec 2016
Prize
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Le Chatelier Distinguished paper 2023
Dunlop, P. (Recipient), Leemann, A. (Recipient), Lothenbach, B. (Recipient), Münch, B. (Recipient) & Campbell, T. (Recipient), 30 Mar 2025
Prize: Honorary award
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Winner of the Overall University Champion Award in the Senior Distinguished Research Award category 2026
Dunlop, P. (Recipient), 6 May 2026
Prize: Honorary award
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Winner of the Senior Distinguished Research Award, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences 2026
Dunlop, P. (Recipient), 6 May 2026
Prize: Honorary award
Activities
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Journal of Maps (Journal)
Dunlop, P. (Member of editorial board)
1 Jan 2018Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work
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2nd International Conference on Iron-Sulfide Reactions in Concrete – 2026 (Event)
Dunlop, P. (Chair)
12 May 2026 → 14 May 2026Activity: Membership › Membership of committee
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Living the Crisis, Leading the Science: Activism, Evidence and Changing the Narrative of the Irish Defective Concrete Crisis
Dunlop, P. (Speaker)
22 Apr 2026Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Research insights into the cause of Ireland's defective concrete crisis
Dunlop, P. (Speaker)
28 Feb 2025 → 2 Mar 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Ulster Talks - Defective Concrete Conference 2025
Dunlop, P. (Organiser), Kirby, K. (Organiser), Doherty, E. (Organiser), Morgan, J. (Organiser), Keenan, O. (Participant), Leemann, A. (Participant), Fournier, B. (Participant), Fecteau, P.-L. (Participant) & McGrath, E. (Participant)
14 Apr 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference, workshop, ...
File
Press/Media
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Coast Season 5, Episode 5: Galway to Arranmore Island
11/04/14
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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‘Donegal has the most profound housing crisis in Ireland’
6/06/26
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
Profiles
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Jack Mason, (PhD Researcher)
Person: Doctor of Philosophy
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Grant For Research And Development – RD10201545 - Energy & Environment tool
McKenzie, P. (PI), Dunlop, P. (CoI), Quinn, R. (CoI) & Bhatti, S. (CoI)
1/02/23 → 31/03/24
Project: Research
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Grant For Research And Development - RD10201545 - Energy & Environment tool
McKenzie, P. (PI), Dunlop, P. (CoI), Quinn, R. (CoI) & Bhatti, S. (CoI)
1/02/23 → 31/03/24
Project: Research
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Adaption and resilience tools for monitoring climate change impacts in NPA communities - Lead Partner
Kerr, D. (CoI), Coleman, S. (CoI), Benetti, S. (CoI), Dunlop, P. (PI) & Mc Dowell, S. (CoI)
1/11/18 → 31/07/21
Project: Research