51��

Professor Bronwen Whitney

Professor

Department: Geography and Environmental Sciences

Bronwen Whitney I studied for my PhD at the University of Edinburgh (2005 – 2009) where I examined climate and vegetation change from the last glacial period until present in the world’s largest tropical wetland. From there, I continued my research into human and climatic causes of tropical environmental change and I joined 51�� in January 2015

Campus Address

Ellison Building A207

Key Publications

A tropical Sphagnum peatland ecosystem in lowland Belize, Whitney, B., Swindles, G., Cameron, I., Gałka, M., Meerman, J. 4 Aug 2025, In: Current Biology
Ecohydrological response of a tropical peatland to rainfall changes driven by Intertropical Convergence Zone variability, Swindles, G., Whitney, B., Gałka, M., Mullan, D., Low, R., Gallego-Sala, A., Lopez, R., Kilbride, E., Graham, C., Baird, A. 1 Mar 2025, In: Journal of Biogeography
Forest change in the northern Yucatan lowlands (Mexico) during Maya cultural periods: insights from a paired lake reconstruction, Bermingham, A., Whitney, B., Metcalfe, S., Jones, M., Martinez-Dyrzo, H., Medina-Gonzalez, R. 4 Aug 2025, In: The Holocene
Culture, Climate and Landscape shape the savanna and wetland mosaic of the Bolivian Amazon, Whitney, B., Walker, J., Duncan, N., Loughlin, N. 13 Sep 2024, In: Frontiers in Water
Insights into past land-use and vegetation change in the Llanos de Moxos (Bolivia) using fungal non-pollen palynomorphs, Loughlin, N., Mayle, F., Nuñez Otaño, N., O'Keefe, J., Duncan, N., Walker, J., Whitney, B. 1 Jun 2021, In: Journal of Archaeological Science
Island resource exploitation by the ancient Maya during periods of climate stress, Ambergris Caye, Belize: Island climate refuge of the ancient Maya, Bermingham, A., Whitney, B., Loughlin, N., Hoggarth, J. 1 Jun 2021, In: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
Pre-Columbian fire management and control of climate-driven floodwaters over 3500 years in southwestern Amazonia, Duncan, N., Loughlin, N., Walker, J., Hocking, E., Whitney, B. 5 Oct 2021, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
A Tale of Maize, Palm, and Pine: Changing Socio-Ecological Interactions from Pre-Classic Maya to the Present Day in Belize, Rushton, E., Whitney, B., Metcalfe, S. 17 Oct 2020, In: Quaternary
Identifying drivers of forest resilience in long-term records from the Neotropics, Adolf, C., Tovar, C., Kühn, N., Behling, H., Berrío, J., Dominguez-Vázquez, G., Figueroa-Rangel, B., Gonzalez-Carranza, Z., Islebe, G., Hooghiemstra, H., Neff, H., Olvera-Vargas, M., Whitney, B., Wooller, M., Willis, K. 29 Apr 2020, In: Biology Letters
Palaeoecological potential of phytoliths from lake sediment records from the tropical lowlands of Bolivia, Plumpton, H., Mayle, F., Whitney, B. 1 Apr 2020, In: Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology

Current and Recent Projects

MAPPP - Maya Archaeology and Paleoecology Partnership Project, Whitney, B. (Principal Investigator), Arts & Humanities Research Council, 03/05/21 - 02/05/23, 0.00
Shifted Ecological Baselines in the Brazillianb Savannah (SEBBS), Whitney, B. (Principal Investigator), Natural Environment Research Council, 01/09/19 - 31/01/21, £91,901.00
Paleoethnobotany and Landscape in the Southwestern Amazon, Whitney, B. (Principal Investigator), Arts & Humanities Research Council, 01/06/18 - 31/05/20, £189,234.00
Climate and Landscape Change in the Pantanal: Assessing environmental vulnerabilities and future water security in Brazil’s wetland wilderness, Whitney, B. (Principal Investigator), British Council, 01/04/16 - 31/10/16, £42,500.00

PGR Supervision

Loretta-Ann Jilks Palaeoenvironmental evidence of wetland domestication in the Llanos de Mojos, Bolivian Amazon. Start Date: 01/10/2021

Qualifications

Geography PhD June 29 2009
Fellow (FHEA) Higher Education Academy (HEA) 2016

Latest News and Features

Rendered image of Momentum by Lee Thackray

Top Awards for Architecture students

12.08.25

Two Northumbria students have been announced as winner at the RIBA North East Student Awards…

Clearing hotline

Northumbria expands results day support for students

08.08.25

51�� is expanding and enhancing the support it provides to students receiving…

pesticide sprayer

OLED materials have potential new uses in detecting pesticides for the farming industry

07.08.25

Researchers are set to shine a different kind of light on the farming industry after receiving…

Dr Elizabeth Griffiths

Northumbria academic honoured for transforming legal education

07.08.25

An Associate Professor at 51�� has been recognised by Advance HE as a National…

Universities for North East England (UNEE) response to the exclusion of Northern universities from the Global Talent Fund

07.08.25

Universities for North East England (UNEE) have issued a response echoing the concerns of the…

NHS Hospital Ward

51�� leads major study to tackle NHS fraud

31.07.25

51�� is spearheading vital research to enhance counter-fraud strategies within…

More news

More events

Upcoming events

Aspiring Advanced Clinical Practitioner - Online Event - 3rd September 2025

Sep
03

Aspiring Advanced Clinical Practitioner - Online Event - 3rd September 2025

Online Event

10am - 4pm

UK Arctic Science Conference 2025

Sep 09 - 11

UK Arctic Science Conference 2025

51��

9am

Turning that ship around

Sep
16

Turning that ship around

Lecture Theatre 003

9am - 4pm

Celebrating Children and Young People’s Nursing Conference, 2025 ‘Our Present, Our Future’

Sep 18 - 19

Celebrating Children and Young People’s Nursing Conference, 2025 ‘Our Present, Our Future’

51��

9am

Back to top