• Quaternary environmental change
• Human-environmental interactions over different timescales
• Using palaeolimnology to reconstruct pollution history
• The origin of agriculture and civilisations

Tengwen was trained as a physical geographer (2002-2006; BSc Geography) and Quaternary scientist (2006-2009; MSc Geology). He has a broad interest in earth and environmental sciences but in the research field of human-environmental interactions in particular. His research closely integrates traditional disciplines such as Earth science, bioscience, and historical social sciences. He specialises in palaeoecology- and geochronology-related techniques. His research was highlighted in top academic journals such as Nature Plants and Science Advances. A number of his studies (e.g. a reconstruction of the history of cannabis across Eurasia) also attracted wide public interests and were reported by science magazines such as New Scientist. He currently serves as a reviewer for academic journals in a wide range of fields, such as Nature Plants, Science Advances, Marine Geology, Quaternary Science Reviews, and Geomorphology. He also sits as a guest editor for the journal Quaternary International, a recently edited special issue being ‘Holocene Environments, Human Subsistence and Adaptation in Northern and Eastern Eurasia’.

Before joining Nottingham, Tengwen worked as a PhD researcher at Trinity College, the University of Dublin (School of Natural Sciences), and as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Freie Universität Berlin (Section Palaeontology) and German Archaeological Institute (Eurasia Department). Interdisciplinarity is always a feature of his journey in science. He has much enjoyed collaborations with colleagues from different disciplines and backgrounds.

Tengwen is always happy to collaborate in the broad field of environmental change and welcomes motivated students to discuss potential research projects (e.g. internships, MRes, and PhD projects). Please contact him for further information.

Expertise Summary

Tengwen uses sediment-based techniques to reconstruct environmental/societal change on a wide range of timescales. He specialises in palaeoecological analysis (e.g. diatoms, pollen and spores, phytoliths, and charcoal) and geochronology (e.g. ¹⁴C dating and modelling).

Tengwen teaches Principles of Ecology (GEOG1022) and Techniques in Environmental Science (GEOG2050). He is the course co-ordinator for Dissertation Preparation (GEOG2043) and Dissertation (GEOG3046).