Studentship at University of Stirling

Historic Scotland / University of Stirling Studentship Award

Turf Wars: the battle to conserve earth-built structures during
rapid climate changes

Dr Paul Adderley (Supervisor)
Dr Craig Kennedy (Co-Supervisor - Historic Scotland)

Earth-built structures are major and valued components of the
landscape across Scotland and Northern Europe; such structures
include field-boundary walls in historic landscapes, domestic
dwellings and farm byres. Climate changes are an obvious cause of
disruption to such structures yet little beyond empirical
observation is understood about their long-term fate under such
conditions. This studentship aims to address this issue through
developing a process-based understanding of the interaction between
the materials used in the construction of these structures and
individual climate factors. Three hypotheses will be tested:

    (i) that microscale features of turf and clay-organic building
    materials sensitive to phenomena associated with climate change
    can be identified; and

    (ii) that through comparative sampling across contexts that rate
    variables associated with changes in these features can be
    obtained for past-climates; and

    (iii) that the parameters for a predictive model of disturbance
    to earth-built structures--at scales useful to the development
    of conservation policy--can be established.

Research Activities: The first phase of the project will examine
historical sources and develop field sampling and monitoring of
earth-built structures. The second phase of project will use the
School of Biological and Environmental Science's new
controlled-environment facility to simulate the effects of changed
climate factors (elevated temperature and oscillating moisture
regimes) on these materials. The third and final phase of the
project will be a comparison between these results in order to
identify rate variables associated with the decay of earth-built
structure features relative to changes in exogenous climate
variables.

Research Support and Environment: The University of Stirling is
Scottish University of the Year for 2009/2010 (Sunday Times) and is
consistently ranked best in the UK for 'a good place to be'
(International Student Barometer). Stirling offers a lively research
community and postgraduate research students have access to the
supportive environment offered by the Stirling Graduate Research
School. Internationally recognised research expertise in
Geoarchaeology and Environmental History including the Research
Centre of Environmental History and Policy is supported by
facilities including dedicated state-of-the-art soil and sediment
analysis laboratories.

The project will have undoubted value in respect to policy and
knowledge transfer to relevant stakeholders including Historic
Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), National Trust for
Scotland, and Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical
Monuments of Scotland. The advanced training and relevance of the
topic to such a range of stakeholders therefore offers strong
prospects for further career advancement for the successful student.

Enquiries/Application: Applications are invited from candidates
suitably qualified in architectural, environmental or heritage
science backgrounds. An interest in archaeology or built-heritage is
essential. Skills in soils or sediment analysis are desirable.

Informal enquiries to Dr Paul Adderley <w.p.adderley<-at->stir<.>ac<.>uk>

Formal applications including: Letter of Application, CV, and
details of two referees should be sent to

    Dr Paul Adderley
    School of Biological and Environmental Sciences
    University of Stirling
    Stirling FK9 4LA
    Scotland, UK

by Friday 10 September 2010.

Funding Notes: Historic Scotland / University of Stirling
Studentship Award

Dr. Craig Kennedy
Head of  Science
Historic Scotland Conservation Group
7 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh EH12 9EB
+44 131 314 0753


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 24:14
                  Distributed: Monday, August 30, 2010
                       Message Id: cdl-24-14-012
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