Colm O'Cofaigh

Professor Colm O'Cofaigh serves as Professor and Head of Department in the Department of Geography at Durham University, where he maintains an active research program in glacial geology and Quaternary science. His work focuses on reconstructing past ice sheet behavior using marine geological and geophysical data, with extensive field experience in polar regions including Greenland, Arctic Canada, Svalbard, and the Norwegian-Greenland Sea, as well as long-term research on the British-Irish Ice Sheet.

Professor O'Cofaigh's research interests center on glacial sedimentology, ice sheet reconstruction from marine and terrestrial records, glacimarine sedimentation processes on polar continental margins, Late Quaternary history of the Greenland Ice Sheet, ice sheet-ocean interactions preserved in marine sedimentary archives, and the history of the British-Irish Ice Sheet. His work integrates field observations, marine geophysical data, and sedimentological analysis to understand ice sheet dynamics during past climate changes.

His publication record shows consistent focus on ice sheet reconstruction, particularly examining the British-Irish and Greenland Ice Sheets across multiple glacial cycles. Recent work emphasizes high-resolution chronologies of ice margin positions, ice stream dynamics, and the role of ocean forcing in ice sheet retreat. His research increasingly incorporates multi-proxy approaches and GIS technologies for spatial analysis of glacial landforms.

• Lewis Penny Medal by the Quaternary Research Association
• Lyell Fund by the Geological Society

Professor O'Cofaigh has supervised numerous postgraduate students, both at Durham University and externally, focusing on glacial geomorphology, sedimentology, and ice sheet history. His current research is supported by significant grants including NERC projects 'Kang-Glac' (2024-2027) examining Greenland Ice Sheet response to warming, 'Inception, growth and decay of the British-Irish Ice Sheet' (2022-2024), and previous major projects including BRITICE-CHRONO and GLANAM. He serves as Editor for Quaternary Science Reviews and represents Geology on the RRS Sir David Attenborough Science Commissioning Group.