This page may contain additional navigation below.
Personal Profile For Dr David Simm
Course Leader: FD Development Geography. School of Science, Society and Management.
PhD [University of Exeter], BSc [University of Wales Aberystwyth].
Personal Statement:
David is Course Leader for Development Geography, and Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography in the Department of Geography. He joined the department in September 2001 from St Mary's University College in London, where he was a Lecturer in Physical Geography and also the Learning and Teaching Co-ordinator for the university. He studied at Aberystwyth (BSc) and Exeter (PhD). His doctorate research concerned the study of patterns of flooding and overbank deposition on the floodplains of lowland rivers using sediment traps and radionuclides. David also has an interest in pedagogic research, in particular the teaching of research methods using problem-based and experiential learning. He was a co-recipient of the St Henry Walpole Prize for Excellence in Teaching (1999), in recognition for fieldwork teaching, at St Mary's University College. He has served as a member of the British Society for Geomorphology's Executive Committee, as Editor of Geophemera, and also has been Chair of the BSG's Education and Outreach Subcommittee. At BSU he co-ordinates the GE2027 River Catchment Dynamics and GE3004 River Management modules and, with Dr Rebecca Schaaf and Alan Marvell, runs the GE3046 fieldtrip to Barcelona each year. With Dr Mark McGuinness, he has also run an innovative module involving group project work overseas in Boston, USA, that has been the subject of several published pedagaogic papers. Other modules include GE1010 Sustainable Development, GE2001 Global Environmental Issues and GE2032 Geographical Research Methods. David also oversees the running of the university's stream gauging station that is situated on campus. He has been a member of the Higher Education Academy (formerly the ILTHE) since 2000, and became a Chartered Geographer in 2007.
Professional Qualifications:
Chartered Geographer (RGS-IBG)
Membership of Professional Bodies/Subject Associations:
Higher Education Academy, Fellow (2004-).
ILTHE, member (2000-04).
Royal Geographical Society with IBG, Fellow (2006-)
British Society for Geomorphology (BSG).
International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS).
Teaching Specialism:
Fluvial Geomorphology, hydrology, development geography, sustainable development
Key Publications/Exhibitions/Performances:
Winlow, H., Simm, D. and Haslett, S. (originators) (2008) Case Study 5: Supporting independent fieldwork in developing countries. In: Maskall, J. and Stokes, A. (2008) Designing Effective Fieldwork for the Environmental and Natural Sciences. Plymouth: GEES Subject Centre Learning and Teaching Guide, p.27.
Simm, D.J. (2008) Book review - Rosemary Charlton (2008) Fundamentals of Fluvial Geomorphology. London: Routledge. In: Progress in Physical Geography, 32(3), 347-349.
Simm, D.J. (2008) Boring, boring … geomorphology? The need for Higher Education to engage with schools and Further Education. Geophemera, 102, 6-10.
Simm, D.J., Schaaf, R. and Cooper, D. (2007) Enhancing the supervision of overseas fieldwork using student feedback. In: Them and Us. p.9, Plymouth: HEA-GEES.
Winlow, H., Simm, D.J. and Haslett, S.K. (2007) Extended work-related placements in developing countries: supporting remote learning and assessment. Planet, 18, 28-32 (HEA-GEES).
Simm, D.J. (2005) Experiential learning - assessing process and product. Planet, 15, 16-19 (HEA-GEES).
McGuinness, M. and Simm, D.J. (2005) Going global? Long-haul fieldwork in undergraduate Geography. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 29(2), 241-253.
Simm, D.J. and McGuinness, M. (2004) Crisis resolution of student-led research projects at distant localities. Planet, 13, 8-11 (HEA-GEES).
Current Scholarship:
Recent grants:
Simm, D. and Marvell, A. (2008-09) 'Supporting Foundation Degree Students in Higher Education'. HEA-GEES Small-Scale Funding for Learning and Teaching Research and Development.
Simm, D.J. (2008-09) 'Supporting Foundation Degree Students in Higher Education: Student Peer Mentoring and Skills Training using VLE'. BSU VLE Beacon Development Grant.
Haslett, S., Simm, D.J. and Winlow H.(2005-06) 'Extended international work-related placements: the challenges of supporting remote learning and assessment'. HEA-GEES Small-scale Funding for Learning and Teaching Research and Development.
Recent presentations:
Simm, D. and Schaaf, R. (2007) 'Using student peer mentoring to promote retention on a Foundation Degree embedded in the undergraduate degree structure at a HE institution'. Poster presented at HEA-GEES Summer Conference 'Recruitment and Retention', Birmingham: 25-26 July 2007.
Simm, D.J. and McGuinness, M. (2006) Home and Away: Integrating research and teaching through local and overseas fieldwork. HERG session: Developing research-led teaching opportunities for the next ten years. RGS-IBG Annual Conference, London: 30 August 2006.
Simm, D.J., Koh, A., Skellern, A. and Watts, D. (2006) The 'Doorstep Challenge': Making effective use of campus resources. Research and LT Seminar Series, School of Science and the Environment, Bath Spa University: 23 March 2006.
External Examiners:
Other External Roles:
Executive Committee of British Society for Geomorphology, member (2004-08).
Editor, Geophemera (2005-08).
Chair, BSG Education and Outreach Sub-Committee (2004-05).
Referee: Journal of Geography in Higher Education; Earth Surface Processes and Landforms.
Recent Professional Updating:
Overseas Fieldwork in HE: Student support and safety, LTSN 2004.
Basic First Aid training 2004.
Retention and Recruitment, GEES conference, Birmingham 2007.
Last Updated: 05 February 2010.
This page is created by the above named individual. The views expressed are theirs and are not those of Bath Spa University. BSU is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced.
