Essay 3 for Professor Geoff Wilson: The main research focus and the contribution to

advancing geographical knowledge of Professor Andrew Goudie.

Introduction

Born in 1945, Cheltenham, Professor Andrew Goudie has constructed a reputation

of being one of the worlds’ leading physical geographers, in both research and

publication, through conducting decades of research and specialising in desert

geomorphology, dust storms, weathering, climatic change in the tropics, and the

impacts of humans on the environment (University of Oxford) Staff Profile). Having

first graduated from Oxford University, Goudie went on to develop a close

relationship with Oxford University by becoming Professor of Geography and a

Fellow of Hertford College(within Oxford University) from 1984-2003; becoming a

Professor of Geography involved international recognition of Goudies' achievements

in his research, books, cites, journals and research projects which was

commemorated in the form of Andrew Goudie being a university academic of the

highest rank, and the holder of a chair within the university(Oxford Dictionary). This

essay will investigate Professor Andrew Goudies' main research focus and evaluate

the contribution of his work to the advancement of geographical knowledge.

The discussion of Professor Goudies' research and the subsequent contribution to

geographical knowledge.

Professor Andrew Goudies' main focus of research was on desert geomorphology,

dust storms, weathering, climatic change in the tropics, and the impacts of humans

on the environment. Throughout his illustrious, and presently ongoing, career,

Goudie conducted research projects that spanned over each continent of Planet

Earth and led to the production of many books, cites, and journal articles(his list of

publications is featured on the first listed reference) that gained him international

recognition and prestigious awards that include:

The DSc (Doctor of Science) by Oxford University in 2002.

A Royal Medal from the Royal Geographical Society in 1991.

The Prize of the Royal Belgian Academy for 2002.

Elected President of the International Association of Geomorphologists from

September 2005-2009.

Delegate of the Oxford University Press and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Oxford

University.

Geological Society of America's Farouk El-Baz Prize for desert research in

2007

David Linton Award of the British Society for Geomorphology in 2009.

Other, more recent, achievements include being Director of the China Centre

(Oxford), President of the Geographical Association and Chairman of the British

Geomorphological research Group. All of these achievements, rewards and prizes

are a result of Goudies' desire to broaden the range of knowledge within the domain

of Physical Geography, and enlighten the general public, fellow researchers, and

universities of his discoveries, which were found during his many research projects,

in the form of accurate, and reliable, books, and journal articles. One example of

Goudies' recent publications is: Geomorphological Hazards and Disaster Prevention

(Cambridge University Press). This book explains the impacts of human activities on

the environment and landscape; through industrialisation and land-use change;

leading to deforestation, climate change, desertification, land degradation, and air

and water pollution. Reading this book enables you to see through your own eyes

the passion, and the driving force, behind Goudies' work, showing a man full of

determination, desire and a researcher who respects all stakeholders who're

involved with his work and all organisms who're affected by the subject in

hand(humans, plants and animals). These essential skills that Goudie applies to

each of his publications has led to him being given a large amount of respect by

fellow researchers and professors from across the globe, who each provide a clear

reflection of how his work has contributed to the advancement of geographical

knowledge through their detailed reviews and peer-assessments. For example, one

of the reviewers (Professor Stefan Grab of the University of the Witwatersrand) of

Geomorphological Hazards and Disaster is quoted as saying:' … surely one of the

most relevant and timely Earth science texts for the early 21st century given the

rapidity of current global climate change and predicted increase in associated natural

disasters and infrastructural consequences. This comprehensive text on hazards

brings fresh relevance and application to geomorphology and is an essential read for

environmental consultants, land managers and scholars in Earth and environmental

science.' Professor Stefan Grab clearly outlines that Goudies' work has contributed

to the advancement of geographical knowledge in the specific subject of

geomorphology within Physical Geography by saying: ‘brings fresh relevance and

application to geomorphology', as well as reflecting Goudies' aim to enlighten the

general public and, specifically in this book, environmental consultants, land

managers and scholars in Earth and environmental science. An example of Goudies'

relatively recent work, 2011 specifically, is his work on World Heritage Desert

Landscapes (PDF File, published by IUCN). This article reflects Goudies' specific,

and specialised, interests in desert geomorphology, dust storms, and also reflects

the impacts on humans on desert environments; reading through this article shows

again how Goudie takes every living organism into account by alerting readers to the

threats, posed by climate change, that both humans, plants and animals are facing in

both the present and the future. Goudie explores every impact a changing climate

can have on desert environments and reflects on the past by exploring landforms,

unique to deserts, that are a key sign of the ever-changing tectonic setting of

deserts; also underlying the fact that if no action is taken on climate change, these

unique, and often spectacular, landforms will be under threat of destruction,

endangering the heritage of desert environments. It is Goudies' outstanding

collection of work, where each individual piece of work fits into his criteria and

framework of precision, accuracy, reliability and his passion for success, which has

led to him developing a global reputation as one of the leading physical geographers.

However, it is not just his passion or desire to succeed that has given him this

reputation, it is also how he portrays himself, and how others portray him. In an

exclusive interview, Professor Andrew Goudie (Voices from Oxford, 2009) briefly

summarises his list of publications that date back to the start of his career, upon first

graduating from Oxford University, before going on to talk about his current research

(relevant to his 2009 work on the impacts of humans on the environment) and

finalising with his ongoing connection, and dedication, to Oxford University (Voices

from Oxford). Despite the interview having a brief duration of 18 minutes, it is clear

that Goudie is a character with strong opinions over a wide criteria, related both to

his research inside and outside of Oxford University, but has the knowledge and

intelligence to justify these opinions and also respects everyone who these opinions

may influence. It is also clear that the interviewee, Professor Denis Noble, has a

large amount of respect for his fellow professor, Andrew Goudie, and is often

cautious about what he chooses to ask Goudie. Despite this, Goudie is very open to

talking about his past work, and his background with Oxford University, as well as

the present work with himself being the Master of St Cross College; but it is clear

that Goudie very much prefers to be out in the field, by describing humans as a

‘nuisance’, and being alone with the natural environment and away from humans; the

true heart of a passionate, dedicated and most of all, an inspirational physical

geographer who has transformed Physical Geography over the past three decades

with his contribution to the advancement of geographical knowledge in the

specialised fields of desert geomorphology, dust storms, weathering, climate change

in the tropics, and the impacts of humans on the environment.

Conclusion

To conclude this essay, had Andrew Goudie, as a young Oxford University graduate,

decided not to continue into postgraduate research and begin his career in Physical

Geography, then the interest, and the awareness, that people in the modern era

have on Physical Geography wouldn’t be the same, if not present at all. Through an

illustrious career that has emulated through three decades of research, over thirty

books being published, and led to Goudie being president of numerous geographical

associations and the holder of many prestigious awards; Goudie has contributed

geographical knowledge into the fields of desert geomorphology, dust storms,

weathering, climate change in the tropics, and the impacts of humans on the

environment; to the extent that people around the world, including professors,

researchers and scientists in many different specialised fields, have gone from

seeing deserts as barren environments of little interest, and climate change always

being questionable, to seeing the true biodiversity and the dynamic ever-changing

environments that deserts are, and the true, realistic threats posed by climate

change on Planet Earth. This has revealed many new areas of study within the

realms of Physical Geography, such as the tectonic settings of deserts and the

causes of desertification, that Professor Andrew Goudie has been the driving force

behind, and still is today as he now carries out research on humans and their

impacts on the environment. I believe that without the influence of Professor Andrew

Goudie, I would have never understood deserts, global climate change, weathering,

and our dynamic environment, and most importantly I wouldn’t have the same level

of interest in Physical Geography that I do now after reading and studying some of

his research. I believe most physical geographers would agree that Professor

Andrew Goudie is an inspiration for others.

Description

Bibliography

http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/staff/agoudie.html University of Oxford School of

Geography and Environment, Academic Associates- Professor Andrew

Goudie. Also contains a list of Professor Andrew Goudies' publications.

2009 http://www.voicesfromoxford.org/video/Saving-the-Earths-

Environment/72 Voices from Oxford- Saving the Earth’s Environment:

Combating Climate Change. An Interview with Professor Andrew Goudie.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/professor Oxford

Dictionaries- A definition of a 'Professor'.

http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/earth-and-environmental-

science/geomorphology-and-physical-geography/geomorphological-hazards-

and-disaster-prevention Cambridge University Press, Geomorphology and

Physical Geography, Geomorphological Hazards and Disaster

Prevention(Goudie 2014): Description of Contents + reviews and

endorsements from fellow professors across a range of different universities.

PDF File https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/documents/2011-006.pdf Goudie

A, 2011 World Heritage Desert Landscapes, Potential Priorities for the

recognition of Desert Landscapes and Geomorphological Sites on the World

Heritage List. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.