Dr Anna Bird

Dr Anna Bird

Reader in Geology

Faculty and Department

  • Faculty of Science and Engineering
  • School of Environmental Sciences

I am currently the Programme Director for the Earth Science and Earth and Environmental Science programmes, including all their variants (study abroad and year in industry). I teach across all levels of the programmes and also on the Geography programmes. Currently I module lead the Earth Science Dissertation module and Igneous and Metamorphic rocks, as well as teaching on modules like Geoscience Fieldcourse and Sedimentology.

I love teaching in the field and lead fieldcourse to UK locations like the Isle of Skye, the Lake District and overseas locations like SE Spain.

Recent outputs

View more outputs

Journal Article

Ikaite formation in streams affected by steel waste leachate: First report and potential impact on contaminant dynamics

Bastianini, L., Rogerson, M., Brasier, A., Prior, T. J., Hardman, K., Dempsey, E., …Mayes, W. M. (2024). Ikaite formation in streams affected by steel waste leachate: First report and potential impact on contaminant dynamics. Chemical Geology, 644, Article 121842. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2023.121842

Eclogites and basement terrane tectonics in the northern arm of the Grenville orogen, NW Scotland

Bird, A., Thirlwall, M., Strachan, R. A., Millar, I. L., Dempsey, E. D., & Hardman, K. (2023). Eclogites and basement terrane tectonics in the northern arm of the Grenville orogen, NW Scotland. Geoscience Frontiers, 14(6), Article 101668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2023.101668

Older than you think: Using U-Pb calcite geochronology to better constrain basin-bounding fault reactivation, Inner Moray Firth Basin, W North Sea

Tamas, A., Holdsworth, R. E., Tamas, D. M., Dempsey, E. D., Hardman, K., Bird, A., …Selby, D. (in press). Older than you think: Using U-Pb calcite geochronology to better constrain basin-bounding fault reactivation, Inner Moray Firth Basin, W North Sea. Journal of the Geological Society, 180(5), Article jgs2022-166. https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2022-166

The strike-slip influenced stratigraphic and structural development of the Foula Sandstone Group, Shetland: implications for offshore Devonian basin development in the northern UKCS

Utley, T., Holdsworth, R., Blackbourn, G., Dempsey, E., Strachan, R., McCaffrey, K., …Walker, R. (2023). The strike-slip influenced stratigraphic and structural development of the Foula Sandstone Group, Shetland: implications for offshore Devonian basin development in the northern UKCS. Journal of the Geological Society, 180(3), Article jgs2022-148. https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2022-148

Using UAV-Based Photogrammetry Coupled with In Situ Fieldwork and U-Pb Geochronology to Decipher Multi-Phase Deformation Processes: A Case Study from Sarclet, Inner Moray Firth Basin, UK

Tamas, A., Holdsworth, R. E., Tamas, D. M., Dempsey, E. D., Hardman, K., Bird, A., …Selby, D. (2023). Using UAV-Based Photogrammetry Coupled with In Situ Fieldwork and U-Pb Geochronology to Decipher Multi-Phase Deformation Processes: A Case Study from Sarclet, Inner Moray Firth Basin, UK. Remote Sensing, 15(3), Article 695. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15030695

Research interests

I use geochemistry and geochronology along with field observations to establish timing(s) of orogenic events and the provenance of sediments. My research interests are broad and I like to look at lots of different earth science problems. I run Hull University's Laser Ablation and Mass Spectrometry Lab, https://hulams.wordpress.com/ and work on samples that range from biological, to geological to engineered materials.

For my own research projects, I have worked materials from all over the Highlands of Scotland and Shetland to better constrain the timing of mountain building events by dating minerals like garnet, mica, monazite and zircon. I have also dated later faulting events by dating calcite fault-fill.

Lots of my work is around establishing the provenance of palaeo-dust (loess) from China, Africa and Europe to evaluate the interplay between tectonics and climate on sediment deposition and provenance. The big output from this work is to relate dust source and transport to atmospheric circulation.

Lead investigator

Project

Funder

Grant

Started

Status

Project

When and Why does it Rain in the Desert: Utilising unique speleothem and dust records on the northern edge of the Sahara

Funder

NERC Natural Environment Research Council

Grant

£44,368.00

Started

19 April 2022

Status

Ongoing

Project

Analysing the mobility of metals and Rare Earth Elements during deformation in calcite within the Flamborough Head Fault Zone

Funder

Yorkshire geological society

Grant

£1,000.00

Started

1 September 2020

Status

Complete

Co-investigator

Project

Funder

Grant

Started

Status

Project

Barcoding Magmas: applying machine learning in zircon geochemistry to increase provenance accuracy

Funder

NERC Natural Environment Research Council

Grant

£48,910.00

Started

1 November 2022

Status

Ongoing

Awards and prizes

Journal of the Geological Society Young Author of the Year

2013 - 2013

Kirsty Brown Memorial Award

2008 - 2008

Charity role

Member of the Geological Society of London Council

2022

Member of the Geological Society of London Scientific Committee

2019

Committee/Steering group role

Mineralogical Society Committee member

2016 - 2019

Chair of Metamorphic Studies Group

2016 - 2019

Member of Metamorphic Studies Group Committee

2014 - 2020

Geochemistry Group Committee member

2011 - 2016

Conference organisation

Tectonic Studies Group AGM, Co-organizer

2020 - 2020

Trans-Iapetus Workshop Chair of organizing committee

2017 - 2017

Metamorphic Studies Group Conference Organization

2015 - 2018

External examiner role

External Examiner for BSc (Hons) Earth Science University of Portsmouth

2023 - 2026

Funder panel member

UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship Round 8 Panel Member

2024 - 2024

NERC Pushing the Frontiers Panel Member

2023 - 2023

Panel Member of AAPG 2023 CE01, Agence nationale de la recherche

2022 - 2024

Chair of Panorama DTP shortlisting panel

2022 - 2022

Member of Fonds Wetenschappelijik Onderzoek Vlaanderen (FWO) review College

2021 - 2024

UK Future Leaders Fellowship Sifting Panel member

2021 - 2021

NERC Panel A Standard Grant panel member

2020 - 2020

Journal editorial role

Deputy Editor in Chief for the Journal of the Geological Society

2022 - 2027

Associate Editor for Geological Society of America Bulletin

2017

Editor for the Journal of the Geological Society

2014 - 2017

Membership/Fellowship of professional body

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

2020

Fellow of the Geological Society

2014

Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

2008 - 2020

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