I studied for my first degree (BA in History with a special paper in archaeology) at the University of Leeds, after which I moved onto the Department of Archaeology at the University of Sheffield for an M.Sc. in Environmental Archaeology and Palaeoeconomy (1991-1992). Not content with moving across the disciplines sufficiently, I then studied for my Ph.D. (entitled 'Human-Environment Relations on Bodmin Moor During the Holocene) in the Department of Geographical Sciences at the University of Plymouth (1992-1996). Following that, I was fortunate to work in another geography department, in the University of Exeter, on a post-doctoral position on the now rather legendary Lisheen Mine Archaeology Project (1996-1998).

After that, I travelled back up north to the University of Hull and a job as palaeoenvironmentalist with the Humber Wetlands Project based in the Centre for Wetland Archaeology. The CWA subsequently morphed into the Wetland Archaeology and Environments Research Centre, where I worked on a range of commercial and research projects. I then headed to the Midlands and the University of Birmingham where I took up a post as a Project Manager and Research Fellow with Birmingham Archaeology, based in the Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity. This resulted in the establishment of Birmingham Archaeo-Environmental, a research and consultancy unit specialising in environmental and wetland archaeology. Finally, and following the effective demise of archaeology in the IAA (shortly after I took up a position as Lecturer...), I moved to my current post as Lecturer in Environmental Archaeology in the Department of Archaeology at UCC. 

Dr Benjamin Gearey is Lecturer in Environmental Archaeology, University College Cork. He has a wide range of research and teaching interests in palaeoecology, wetland archaeology, experimental archaeology, public engagement and heritage management and has published three books and numerous peer reviewed journals. He has an interest in transdisciplinary approaches to communicating science and environmental issues: recent research funding on this theme: 2019 (with Dr Maureen O’ Connor) Irish Research Council ‘Creative Connections’; ‘“A Revolution in How We Live”: An Interdisciplinary Workshop on Creative Approaches to Education for Environmental Understanding and Responsibility’ (€11,579); 2016 (with Dr Maureen O’ Connor), Irish Research Council New Foundations - ‘Peatlands in the 21st Century: Trans-disciplinary Perspectives on Heritage, Sustainability, and “Wise Use” of Resources’ (€5,000). and recently (2022) the IRC/COALESCE funded project “IPeAT: Irish Peatland Archaeology Across Time” (€220,000).  He has contributed to a number of national and international policy based initiatives and documents over the last decade and was co-author of the IUCN Policy Document ‘Commission of Enquiry on Peatlands’ (2011): https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/10103 A submission by BG (and CO-I, R. Everett) arising from the ‘WetFutures’ Project (JPICH funded project; 2018-2020) was referenced in the United Nations Human Rights Commission: ‘Report on Climate Change, Culture and Cultural Rights: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/CulturalRights/Pages/ClimateChange.aspx and was co-organiser of the event ‘Peatlands, climate change and cultural heritage: global perspectives, problems and solutions’ COP26 (Glasgow 2021) held in the ‘Peatlands Pavilion’ (Green Zone). He is an elected member of the Joint Planning Initiative Programme (Horizon 2020) Scientific Advisory Committee.  

My current undergraduate teaching includes the following courses: Introduction The Archaeology of Ireland in Context (Ar1001), The Development of Archaeological Thought (Ar2016), Introduction to Environmental Archaeology (AR2037), Coastal and Martitime Archaeology (Ar3000), Wetland Archaeology and Palaeoenvironments (AR3051), and Archaeo-Palynology/Landscape Palaeoecology and Palynology (Ar3050/GG3051) and Dissertation in Archaeology (Ar3010/3030). I also contribute to teaching at postgraduate level including Dissertation in Museum Studies (Ar6027), the University Wide Module Sustainability (UW0005) and I am an ID+ Teaching Fellow (SS1031).