Peter Ryan

Peter Ryan is a Lecturer in Geography (Teaching Focused) at the University of Manchester's School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED). He holds a PhD in Physical Geography from the University of Manchester (2006) and has been affiliated with the institution since completing his undergraduate degree there in 1997. His research focuses on prehistoric human-environment interactions, particularly using palynological methods to study Mesolithic land use, upland deforestation processes, and the transition to Neolithic agriculture.

Key research areas include:

• Environmental impact of Late Mesolithic cultures
• Deforestation mechanisms in upland Britain
• Paleoecological proxies (pollen, charcoal, fungal spores)
• Prehistoric land use transitions

Teaching responsibilities span undergraduate modules in Quaternary Environments, Geoarchaeology, and field-based studies. He has supervised 4 academic works and contributed to datasets on peatland proxies and pollen morphology. Ryan collaborates on projects like the Welsh Ice Cap ice loss study and uses the SEED laboratories for advanced environmental analysis.