Phil Jordan

Professor Phil Jordan is Professor of Catchment Science in the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Ulster University. His research explores how nutrients, pesticides, and sediments move through river catchments and the impacts these substances have on water quality, with a strong focus on informing agri-environmental policy and management.

Phil uses high-frequency environmental monitoring to understand water quality dynamics, combining field-based research with applied solutions. He collaborates closely with policymakers, agri-environmental agencies, and land managers across Ireland and internationally.

His current research focuses on two main areas. The first investigates diffuse pollution from agricultural land, studying how nutrients travel to rivers and lakes and identifying critical areas where targeted mitigation can have the greatest impact. The second examines carbon dynamics in upland peat catchments, including carbon fluxes in rivers and their significance for whole-system carbon budgets and emissions reporting.