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My 2002 Sabbatical
The University granted me sabbatical leave for the 1st semester of 2002-3 (ie August 2002 - January 2003). People  keep asking me what I've been doing with my sabbatical, so this page is a list of things I've done. For those of you who wonder what "academics" do when they aren't teaching or doing administration, here's a clue!

    Wrote a new book about how to do essays and exams (co-authored with Tony Parsons for publishers Nelson Thornes), and submitted finished manuscript to publisher. Book manuscript submitted.

    Assembled an international team of contributors for a new book about "Glaciology and Earth's changing environment" that I am editing for Blackwell Publishing.  Book Editing work in progress. 

    Started work on a new, revised edition of the best-selling textbook "How to do your dissertation in Geography" that I wrote in 1995 with Tony Parsons. The new 2nd Edition is due to be published in 2003. New Book Edition in preparation.

    Signed the contract for a new book deal with the Geographical Association to produce a school text "Glaciers and Glacial Landscapes". Had originally planned to write this during 2004, but have agreed to bring deadline forward to summer 2003. Book writing contract signed.

    Wrote a project proposal and submitted an application for funding from The Royal Society. Grant application submitted. Proposal follows time spent developing ideas for the next phase of my long-term research programe about sediment entrainment and deposition by ice sheets. 

    Wrote a project proposal and submitted an application for funding from The Leverhulme Trust. Grant application submitted. Proposal follows time spent developing ideas for a laboratory-based extension of my previous research on ice-sheet sedmentation. 

    Prepared groundwork for an application for funding from NERC to be submitted in 2004. Grant application in preparation.

    Wrote 2 entries that I had been invited to contribute for a new Encyclopedia of Geomorphology being published by Routledge with the International Association of Geomorphologists. Articles submitted.

    Received an invitation to contribute 7 entries to Kluwer's new "Encyclopedia of Paleoclimatology and Ancient Environments": My entries will be Cirques, Drumlins, Kames, Kettles, Moraines, Basal ice and Outwash plains. (Isn't that ironic!)

    Worked with Richard Waller on a paper that he is lead-authoring about our research in Greenland, and submitted it for publication. Paper submitted.

    Worked with Will Adam, my postgraduate student, on a paper that he is lead-authoring about our research in Greenland, and submitted it for publication. Paper submitted.

    Worked on a paper that I am authoring about my research in Greenland and Iceland, and submitted for publication. Paper submitted.

    Started the final write-up of what will be the final paper from my 1999 project in Greenland. This will be the 4th major "Knight et al." paper to come out of the project, and its publication will mark the official end of the project. New paper in preparation.

    Examined a PhD thesis for the University of Aberystwyth. Studied the thesis and went to Aberystwyth to lead the viva voce examination of the candidate. Thesis examined. 

    Completed the project, and wrote and submitted the final report, for "Undergraduate Student Profiling" that was carried out with £2000 funding from the University's Learning and Teaching Innovation fund. Report submitted

    Was commissioned by Oxford University Press to supply a photograph of icebergs in a pro-glacial lake for publication in a text book for students of French as a second language. Photograph submitted.

    Started a new research project about glacier morphology. Lots of reading, thinking and pilot investigations in the laboratory, and then wrote a short paper presenting the preliminary results. Paper submitted.

    Celebrated the publication of a new paper in Journal of Glaciology! The paper was completed and submitted before the sabbatical started, but appears in the Journal issue published December 2002. New paper published.

    Received notification that paper submitted jointly with Will Adam (see above) is accepted for publication in Quaternary Science Reviews. Paper accepted for publication.

    Jointly with Richard Waller submitted an abstract for the INQUA meeting in Reno next summer. Conference abstract submitted

    Set up pilot experiments in the Low-Temperature Lab  for a new project  modelling the release of water through subglacial tunnels. Laboratory experiments in progress.

    Had to start doing some preparation for teaching that begins immediately at the end of my sabbatical: rewriting and updating my GEOG-312 Glaciers course. Lecture course revised.

    Was required to produce an official "Personal Research Strategy" and to attend a "Research Strategy Away Day" with the rest of the School of Earth Sciences and Geography. Although this interfered with sabattical activities it came in useful as the Research Strategy made a good supplement to my CV in an exploratory job application at another University! Attended Departmental Away-day.
     

    Summary:

    • Submitted 4 research papers 
    • Worked on a 5th  research paper
    • Submitted 2 grant applications and started work on a 3rd 
    • Submitted 1 book manuscript 
    • Worked on 2 additional new books in progress 
    • Signed the contract for another new book writing project
    • Submitted 2 invited entries for a new encyclopedia 
    • Submitted 1 conference abstract 
    • Submitted 1 photograph for publication
    • Served as external examiner for a Phd
    • Was invited to write entries for another new encyclopedia
    • Carried out research in the Low-temperature laboratory
    • Attended research strategy discussions and research group meetings 
    • Continued Supervision of PhD Research Student
    • Prepared lectures for start of next semester