Celebrating Black Geographers: Spotlight on Dr Margaret Kadiri
Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography Education,
Department of Geography, King’s College London.
Dr Margaret Kadiri is a Physical Geographer whose research is at the intersection between social and bio-physical processes. She completed her PhD at Queen Mary, University of London, where she investigated pollutant dynamics in saltmarshes restored through coastal managed realignment to inform sustainable coastal management. Before joining King’s, she worked at Cardiff University on an interdisciplinary project assessing the hydro-environmental impacts of tidal renewable energy extraction including potential human-induced eutrophication. Her wider research explores marine renewable energy including community response to the deployment of renewable energy technologies in marine environments and sediment dynamics in estuarine systems. Margaret is also passionate about innovative geography education, and she is an advocate for the use of technology to enhance student learning. For example, she has used immersive virtual reality to enhance student engagement with field-based learning. Her work reflects a commitment to rigorous, interdisciplinary scholarship that bridges science and education in the pursuit of environmental sustainability.
What inspired you to pursue geography?
My interest in geography grew from being fascinated by the dynamic relationship between people and the environment. Growing up, I witnessed first-hand how pollution caused by human activities can transform ecological systems and how these environmental changes, in turn, influence livelihoods. This experience sparked my desire to better understand these complex interactions. Through my studies, research and teaching, I have come to appreciate the remarkable richness and depth of geography, both as a field of knowledge and as a collection of approaches and experiences which continue to inspire me. Its unique interdisciplinarity integrates multiple perspectives of the world, encompassing everything from physical processes like sediment transport and habitat loss to the social dimensions of policy and governance.
Which of your publications are you most proud of and why?
Each of my journal publications marks a unique stage in my research journey, contributing to a continually developing understanding of human–environment interactions. Choosing a single standout journal paper is challenging, as each one embodies a distinct period of curiosity, collaboration, and personal growth.
I am particularly proud of my work on innovative geography education using immersive virtual reality to enhance student engagement in field-based learning and the environmental sustainability of marine renewable energy, especially my research examining the potential water quality impacts associated with the deployment of tidal energy technologies. This research brings together computer modelling, environmental monitoring, and policy relevance, and it exemplifies how applied physical geography can inform sustainable energy transitions. I also value my recent publication that explores the factors that affect how local communities respond to the deployment of tidal renewable energy technologies as well as my ongoing work on assessing the potential cumulative impacts of offshore wind farms expansion in European waters.
Across my research themes, a unifying goal is to produce knowledge that is both rigorous and impactful, work that advances academic understanding while making a tangible contribution to environmental decision-making and student learning. Each of my research outputs holds a special place in my heart; while I cannot claim to favour one over another, together they represent my journey and growth in the pursuit of knowledge creation and research excellence.
What advice would you give to aspiring geographers?
My biggest piece of advice is to stay curious and keep an open mind. Geography is such a wide and dynamic discipline – it’s all about exploring the physical world around us, how people live in it and their experiences, and how everything connects. Don’t worry about fitting neatly into ‘physical’ or ‘human’ geography. The real beauty of geography is how it crosses boundaries and helps you look at complex real-world problems from multiple perspectives.
If you’re interested in environmental geography, try to think about sustainability not just as a scientific issue, but also as something that’s deeply moral and social. Be ready to ask tough questions about fairness, responsibility, and the long-term impact of human activities.
Most importantly, be patient and stick with it. Fieldwork can be unpredictable, data can get messy, and research often takes time. But geography rewards persistence – it helps you understand how the world really works and how we can take better care of it. It constantly reminds us how connected we all are – to the land, the oceans, and to each other.
Find out more about Dr Margaret Kadiri’s work here.