Durham geographer named CIFAR Global Scholar

The prestigious programme, run by CIFAR, helps rising analysis leaders whose work crosses disciplines and has the potential to create world affect.

Dr Turnbull was chosen as a part of a extremely aggressive course of that attracted greater than 450 purposes from researchers throughout 41 international locations.

Exploring the hidden world of city nights

Dr Turnbull’s analysis examines how environmental information is created and understood elsewhere and communities.

His present challenge, Nightlife within the More-than-human City, appears at how animals and other people share city areas after darkish.

The challenge explores the ecological significance of metropolis nightscapes, an space that continues to be largely under-researched.

Working alongside ecologists, citizen scientists and concrete rewilding teams, Dr Turnbull is growing new methods to review the nighttime lives of animals in cities.

His analysis focuses on cats in London, raccoons in Berlin and hedgehogs in Newcastle, utilizing participatory and multisensory strategies to higher perceive how wildlife adapts to city environments.

Supporting subsequent technology of analysis leaders

The CIFAR Global Scholars programme gives researchers with CAD $100,000 in unrestricted funding, alongside mentorship and entry to worldwide analysis networks.

The initiative goals to assist early-career teachers pursue formidable concepts and construct collaborations throughout disciplines and international locations.

This 12 months’s cohort consists of researchers working in areas corresponding to synthetic intelligence, quantum supplies, public well being and local weather change.

Dr Turnbull joins the programme below CIFAR’s ‘Future Flourishing’ analysis theme, which explores new approaches to creating extra sustainable and inclusive futures.

Find out extra

Our Department of Geography is ranked sixth within the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 and second within the UK within the Complete University Guide 2026. Visit our Geography webpages for extra data on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.