Katherine Ficken

Dr. Katherine Ficken is a Senior Lecturer in Geography at Swansea University's School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics. With a background in geology and organic geochemistry, her academic focus centers on paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Quaternary sediments. She teaches undergraduate field and laboratory methods in geography and geology, translating theoretical concepts into practical applications.

Her research explores organic geochemistry applications in paleoenvironmental studies, specializing in Quaternary ecosystem reconstruction through multi-proxy analysis of lacustrine sediments. Key interests include carbon cycling, isotope geochemistry, vegetation history, and climate interactions in African and European contexts. She employs biomarkers, isotopic analysis, and sedimentology to decode past environmental changes.

Ficken's publications demonstrate consistent focus on Quaternary paleoenvironments, with recent work expanding into insect ecology and agricultural sedimentology. Her research spans East African lakes, Estonian water bodies, agricultural catchments, and neotropical ecosystems, utilizing isotopic, phytolith, and biomarker approaches to reconstruct past climate-ecosystem dynamics.

She actively contributes to academic training through postgraduate supervision and teaches diverse modules including Geomechanics, Field Methods in Geology, Geographical Data Analysis, and specialized field courses. Her instruction emphasizes practical skills development in sediment analysis, GIS applications, and interdisciplinary fieldwork methodologies.