Dr Des McDougall

Principal Lecturer in Geography

Geography and Environment

Contact Details

Qualifications

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
PhD: Loch Lomond Stadial Plateau Icefields in the Lake District, NW England
BSc (Hons) Geography

About me

I am a physical geographer interested in glaciers and glaciation, mountain geomorphology, and Quaternary climate and environmental change.

I have twenty years’ experience in developing and using virtual reality (VR) to support my teaching in these areas. During this time, I have released—as an open educational resource (OER)—a suite of immersive virtual field trips used by educators and learners around the world (see VR Glaciers and Glaciated Landscapes). These have allowed me to: (i) create innovative in-class practical activities and assessments; (ii) support the teaching of glaciers and glaciated landscapes, topics often considered to be ‘difficult’ because these environments are remote and unfamiliar to most students; and (iii) prepare and support students for residential fieldwork to mountain environments (see More Inclusive Fieldwork).

I have held various leadership roles during my time at Worcester, including Course Leader, Head of Department, Deputy Head of School, and Acting Head of School. I have also been a Staff Governor at the University. I am currently an external examiner at the University of Dundee, following previous appointments at Oxford Brookes and Staffordshire.

Teaching

Geography Fieldwork (GEOG1501)
Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (GEOG1510)
Second-Year Residential Course (GEOG2300)
Mountain Geomorphology (GEOG2520)
Mountain Environments Field Course (GEOG3310)
Mountain Glaciers and Landscape (GEOG3323)
Quaternary Environments and Climate Change (GEOG3324)

Responsibilities (Internal and External)

Recruitment Lead (Geography and the Environment)
Academic Integrity Tutor
External Examiner: University of Dundee

Previous Internal Roles include:
Staff Governor
Acting Head of School
Deputy Head of Institute / School
Associate Head (Development)
Head of Geography and Archaeology
Course Leader

Publications

Yorke, L., McDougall, D, Hutchinson, S.M. (2022) Virtual field trips: Equitable, sustainable, develops the learner? Geography Directions.

Bjune AE, Bacon KL, Bunting MJ and McDougall DA (2022) Editorial: Teaching palaeosciences to future generations. Front. Ecol. Evol. 10:1061873. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1061873

McDougall, D.A. (2019). Spotlight on VR Glaciers and Glaciated Landscapes. Geography, 104, 148–153.

McDougall, D.A. (2016) Landforms of High Mountains (book review). Mountain Research and Development, 36, 250-251.

Evans, D.J.A. and McDougall, D.A. (2015) Bedrock Geology and Physiography. In: The Quaternary of the Lake District Field Guide. Quaternary Research Association, London, pp. 1-8. ISBN 0 907 780 164 ISSN: 0261 3611

Bickerdike, H.L., Evans, D.J.A., McDougall, D.A. and Vieli, A. (2015) Overview of the Younger Dryas Glaciation in the Lake District. In: The Quaternary of the Lake District Field Guide. Quaternary Research Association, London, pp. 29-64. ISBN 0 907 780 164 ISSN: 0261 3611

McDougall, D.A., Bickerdike, H.L. and Evans, D.J.A. (2015) Glaciation Style and Moraine Development in the Pasture Beck and Hayeswater Valleys. In: The Quaternary of the Lake District Field Guide. Quaternary Research Association, London, pp. 111-128. ISBN 0 907 780 164 ISSN: 0261 3611

McDougall, D.A., Bickerdike, D.J.A., Evans, D.J.A. and Vieli, A. (2015) Glaciation in Deepdale. In: The Quaternary of the Lake District Field Guide. Quaternary Research Association, London, pp. 541-254. ISBN 0 907 780 164 ISSN: 0261 3611

McDougall, D.A. and Pearce, D. (2015) Little Gatesgarthdale (Honister Pass). In: The Quaternary of the Lake District Field Guide. Quaternary Research Association, London, pp. 191-200. ISBN 0 907 780 164 ISSN: 0261 3611

McDougall, D.A. and Evans, D.J.A. (2015). The Quaternary of the Lake District: Field Guide. Quaternary Research Association, London. 268pp

McDougall, Derek (2014) The Climate of Worcestershire. In Maskew, R. (ed) The Flora of Worcestershire. Roger Maskew.

Pearce, D., Rea, B, Bradwell, T and McDougall, D (2014) Glacial geomorphology of the Tweedsmuir Hills, Central Southern Uplands, Scotland. Journal of Maps, 10, 457-465.

McDougall, D.A. (2013) Glaciation style and the geomorphological record: evidence for Younger Dryas glaciers in the eastern Lake District, northwest England. Quaternary Science Reviews, 73 (1). pp. 48-58. ISSN 0277-3791

McDougall, D.A. (2001) The geomorphological impact of Loch Lomond (Younger Dryas) Stadial plateau icefields in the central Lake District, northwest England, Journal of Quaternary Science 16, pp. 531–543.

Rea, B.R., Whalley, W.B., Evans, D.J.A., Gordon, J.E. and McDougall, D.A. (1998) Plateau icefields: geomorphology and dynamics. Quaternary Proceedings. Quaternary Proceedings, 6, 35-54

Conferences

McDougall, D.A. (2023). Using VR to make in-person fieldwork in the environmental sciences more inclusive. (Talk at 5th Virtual Geoscience Conference, Dresden, September 2023)

McDougall, D.A. (2023). Supporting in-person fieldwork with VR. (Talk at UA Summer School, Romania, September 2023)

McDougall, D.A. (2022). More inclusive fieldwork. (Talk and panel discussion at the Royal Geographical Society Annual Conference, August 2022)

McDougall, D.A. (2021). Free virtual field trips to support, not replace, the real thing (Invited talk at the Quaternary Research Association Annual Discussion Meeting, January 2021)

McDougall, D.A. (2020). VR Glaciers and Glaciated Landscapes (Keynote presentation). (Enhancing Fieldwork Excellence Online Conference).

McDougall, D.A. (2020). Recent mountain glaciation in the Helvellyn Range, NW England (Poster presentation at the QRA Annual Discussion Meeting, University of Leeds, January 2020)

McDougall, D.A. (2019). VR glaciers and glaciated landscapes in the classroom. (Workshop at the Geographical Association Conference, Manchester, April 2019)

McDougall, D.A. (2018). VR Glaciers (Oral presentation at the Janet Watson Meeting on Big Data. Geological Society, London)

McDougall, D.A. (2018). Virtual glaciers and glaciated landscapes. (Workshop at the GA Geographical Association Conference, Sheffield, April 2018)

McDougall, D.A. (2018). Virtual Glaciers and Glaciated Landscapes. (Poster presentation at the QRA Annual Discussion Meeting, Plymouth, January 2018)

McDougall, D.A. (2014). Younger Dryas glaciation in the eastern Lake District, NW England. (Poster presentation at the QRA Annual Discussion Meeting, London, January 2014)

McDougall, D (2012). Glaciation Style, Paraglacial Reworking and the Geomorphological Record: The Challenges of Reconstructing Younger Dryas Glaciers. (Oral presentation at EGU AGM, Vienna.).

McDougall, D. (2008) Virtual Fieldwork: Enhancing the Student Experience? (Oral Presentation at the Higher Education Academy Annual Conference, Harrogate, July 2008)

McDougall, D. (2007) Hazard Mapping in Mountain Environments: A Virtual Field Course. (Oral presentation at Virtual Fieldwork in the GEES Disciplines: Pedagogy and Technology, University of Worcester, May 2007).

Pearce, D, Rea, B and McDougall, D. (2012) Lateglacial geomorphology in the Tweedsmuir Hills, Scotland - Implications for retreat patterns, glacier reconstruction and chronology. (Poster presented at the EGU AGM, Vienna)

Conference / Field Meeting Organisations

QRA Lake District Field Meeting (May 2015) (with D.J.A. Evans)

Virtual Fieldwork in the GEES Disciplines: Pedagogy and Technology (University of Worcester, May 2007).