BA (Leicester), MSc, PhD (London)
Professor, Geography
Ext.: 3612
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Prof Shaw is a physical geographer by profession, and co-ordinates the Geography programme within the Faculty of Science and Agriculture, St Augustine. His research interests lie in the fields of geomorphology and the reconstruction of environmental change, and he has worked extensively in southern Africa, the Caribbean, and southern Europe. He is the author of two books and around 80 refereed papers, most of which focus on the world's drylands, in particular the Kalahari of southern Africa. When not searching for the perfect desert he enjoys cricket, beer and scuba diving.

Main Research Area

Geomorphology, Environmental Change, Physical Geography.

Current Research

1. The scientific potential of the caves of Trinidad & Tobago - see the caves website here.
   
2. The application of SIMS trace element and oxygen isotope analysis to studies of climatic change from speleothems and associated cave deposits
3. Lakes and sand dunes as evidence of Historical and Quaternary environmental change in southern Africa.

Selected recent publications

1. Burrough, S.L., Thomas, D.S.G., Shaw, P.A. & Bailey, R.M.2007. Multiple Quaternary highstands at Lake Ngami, Kalahari, northern Botswana. Palaeogeography, Palaeoecology, Palaeoclimatology 253: 280-299
2. Shaw, P.A. & Bateman, M.D.2006. The age and provenance of the Barccavechia spring mound, Mt Etna, Sicily. Bollettino della Societa Geological Italiana 125: 265-272
3. Finch, A.A., Shaw, P.A., Holmgren, K. & Lee-Thorp, J.A. 2003. Corroborated rainfall records from speleothem aragonite. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 215: 265-273
4. Shaw, P.A., Bateman, M.D., Thomas, D.S.G. & Davies, F.B. 2003. Holocene fluctuations of Lake Ngami, Middle Kalahari: chronology and responses to climatic change. Quaternary International 111: 23-35.
5. Thomas, D.S.G., Brook, G.A., Shaw, P.A., Bateman, M.D., Haberyan, K., Appleton, C., Nash, D.J., McLaren, S & Davies, F.B. 2003. Late Pleistocene wetting and drying in the NW Kalahari: an integrated study from the Tsodilo Hills, Botswana. Quaternary International 104: 53-67
6. Thomas, D.S.G. & Shaw, P.A. 2002. Late Quaternary environmental change in central southern Africa: new data, synthesis, issues and prospects. Quaternary Science Reviews 21: 783-797

Document Downloads

• Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 253 (2007) 280–299
  Multiphase Quaternary highstands at Lake Ngami, Kalahari, northern Botswana
• Quaternary Science Reviews 21 (2002) 783–797
  Late Quaternary environmental change in central southern Africa: new data, synthesis, issues and prospects
• Boll. Soc. Geol. It. 125 (2006) 000-000
  Provenance and chronology of the Barcavecchia Tufa, Southwest Etna, Sicily
• Earth and Planetary Science Letters 215 (2003) 265-273
  Corroborated rainfall records from aragonitic stalagmites
• Quaternary International 111 (2003) 23–35
  Holocene fluctuations of Lake Ngami, Middle Kalahari: chronology and responses to climatic change
• Quaternary International 104 (2003) 53-67
  Late Pleistocene wetting and drying in the NW Kalahari: an integrated study from the Tsodilo Hills,Botswana
  

Teaching

• GEOG1900: Physical Geography
• GEOG2002: Earth Surface Processes
• GEOG3000: Research Project
• GEOG3006: Global Environmental Change
• GEOG3007: Natural Hazards