Steve Boreham, BSc PhD

Senior Technical Officer [Geographical Services Officer] and Bye-Fellow of Girton College

Ecologist and Geologist with a special interest in Quaternary, Biogeography, Coastal, Geochemical and Forensic studies

Overall management and supervision of the laboratories
Budgetary control for equipment and consumables
Implementation of health & safety, and security policy
Expertise in analysis, data interpretation and field work
Teaching of field and laboratory content in graduate and undergraduate courses
Secretary of the Laboratories & Fieldwork Resources Committee

Biography

Steve is a University Technical Officer and the Geographical Services Officer for the Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. The role oversees the Geography Science Laboratories and the Field Equipment Service. Steve also runs the Quaternary Palaeoenvironments Group (QPG), which is part of Cambridge Quaternary. Steve has carried out research and managed laboratories in various departments within the University of Cambridge for more than 20 years.

Before this, Steve managed laboratories and organised field excursions at Queen's College, London, was a geology and ecology tutor at the Epping Forest Conservation Centre (now the Epping Forest Centre), and carried out freshwater pollution research at North East London Polytechnic (now University of East London).

Steve was educated at St. John's School, Epping, Essex, where he gained four 'A' levels in science subjects. He then came to Cambridge to study a modular science degree at Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology (now Anglia Ruskin University). After specialising in geology and ecology he gained a BSc Science (Hons) degree 2:1.

Throughout 1998 and 1999 Steve studied and obtained qualifications on NEBS certificated basic and advanced staff management skills course.

Between 1995 and 2002, Steve studied part-time for an Open University PhD entitled: "The Pleistocene Stratigraphy and Palaeoenvironments of the Cambridge District".

Research

The Quaternary geology of Britain
The Pleistocene Stratigraphy and Palaeoenvironments of the Cambridge District
Geochemistry as a preservation indicator in Archaeological deposits
The changing flora, fauna and sedimentation of the East Anglian coast
Drainage development, thermokarst activity and periglacial landscape change
Three-dimensional landscape modelling and data manipulation
Woodland ecology, methodology and urban wildlife
Lichens as air pollution indicators
Freshwater macro-invertebrates as pollution indicators and freshwater ecology
Geology, ecology, hydrology & management of Chalk springs

Other activities

Application to The Junction multimedia studio for a project entitled 'Time Machine Cambridge'.
Application to COPUS (British Association) for funds to produce a museum display entitled; 'Unseen Cambridge: Geology beneath your feet'
Cambridge Geology: TV appearance on Anglia TV's 'A Brush with the Past'
TV appearance on 'Ray Mears Wild Food'
TV appearance on 'CountryFile'
TV appearance on 'Digging up the Past'
The ecology of Coldwater Chalk springs in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire
Forensic palynology and soil analysis
The changing flora, fauna and sedimentation of the West Norfolk coast

Publications

Listed by area of research.

Forensic Science

Horton, B. P., Boreham, S., Hillier, C. 2006 The Development and Application of a Diatom-Based Quantitative Reconstruction Technique in Forensic Science. Journal of Forensic Science, Vol. 51, No. 3 643-650.

Quaternary geology of Britain

Gao, C. and Boreham, S., 2010. Ipswichian (Eemian) floodplain deposits and terrace stratigraphy in the lower Great Ouse and Cam valleys, southern England, UK. Boreas, 40, 303-319.
Gibbard, P. L., Boreham, S., Andrews, J. E. and Maher, B. A. 2010. Sedimentation, geochemistry and palaeomagnetism
of the West Runton Freshwater Bed, Norfolk, England. Quaternary International, 228, 8-20.
Boreham, S., White, T. S., Bridgland, D. R., Howard, A. J. and White, M. J., 2010. The Quaternary history of the Wash fluvial network, UK. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 121, 393-409.

Gibbard, P. L., Pasanen, A., West, R. G., Lunkka, J., Boreham, S., Cohen, K. M., Rolfe, C. J., 2009, Late Middle Pleistocene glaciation in East Anglia, England. Boreas, 38, 504-528.
Gibbard, P. L., West, R. G., Pasanen, A., Wymer, J. J., Boreham, S., Cohen, K. M., Rolfe, C. J., 2008. Pleistocene geology of the Palaeolithic sequence at Redhill, Thetford, Norfolk, England. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 119, 175-192.
Briant, R. M., Gibbard, P. L., Boreham, S., Coope, G. R., Preece, R. C., 2008 Limits to resolving catastrophic events in the Quaternary fluvial record: a case study from the Nene valley, Northamptonshire, UK. In: Gallagher, K., Jones, S. J. & Wainwright, J. (Eds.) Landscape Evolution: Denudation, Climate and Tectonics Over Different Time and Space Scales. Geological Society, London. Special Publications, 296, 79-104.
Gao, C. Boreham, S., Preece, R.C., Gibbard, P.L., Briant R.M. 2007 Fluvial response to rapid climate change during the Devensian (Weichselian) Lateglacial in the River Great Ouse, southern England, UK.Sedimentary Geology, 202, 193-210.
Langford, H. E. , Bateman, M. D. , Penkman, K. E. H. , Boreham, S., Briant, R. M. , Coope G. R. & Keen D. H. 2007 Age-estimate evidence for Middle–Late Pleistocene aggradation of River Nene 1st Terrace deposits at Whittlesey, eastern England. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 118, 283–300.
Langford, H. E. & Boreham, S. 2007 Pleistocene Drainage Development of the English Midlands: a comment on Belshaw, Smith and Hackney (2005, 2006). Quaternary Newsletter 111: 36-41. Quaternary Research Association.
Boreham, S. & Langford H. E. The Milton Formation and Late Cenozoic drainage development of the English Midlands: A comment on Belshaw, Hackney & Smith (2005). Quaternary Newsletter, 108, 14-23. Quaternary Research Association.
Gibbard, P.L., Boreham, S., Cohen, K.M. & Moscariello, A. 2005 Global chronostratigraphical correlation table for the last 2.7 million years. Boreas 34.
Gibbard, P.L., Cohen, K.M., Boreham, S. & Moscariello, A. 2004. Global chronostratigraphical correlation table for the last 2.7 million years. Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy, Cambridge.
In: Langford, H. E. & Briant, R. M. (Eds.) (2004) Nene Valley Field Guide, Quaternary Research Association.
- Langford, H. E., Bateman, M. D., Boreham, S., Coope, G. R., Fletcher, W., Green, C. P., Keen, D. H., Mighall, T., Rolfe, C. J. & Schreve, D. C. (2004) Funtham's Lane East.
- Langford, H. E., Boreham, S., Merry, J., Rolfe, C. J. & Schreve, D. C. (2004). Channels C & D at Bradley Fen.
- Langford, H. E., Bateman, M. D., Boreham, S., Knudsen, K.-L., Merry, J. & Penney, D. (2004) King's Dyke
Betts, R. T. & Boreham, S. (2004) 'Evidence For A New Hoxnian Interglacial Site At School Field, Tednambury, Hertfordshire'. Quaternary Newsletter, 104, 2-11. Quaternary Research Association.
Boreham, S. (2004) 'The Structure and Formation of the Wandlebury Area' Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society XCIII: 5-8.
Briant R. M., Coope G. R., Preece R. C., Keen D. H., Boreham S., Griffiths, H. I., Seddon M. B. & Gibbard P. L. (2004) 'Fluvial system response to Late Devensian (Weichselian) aridity, Baston, Lincolnshire, England.' Journal of Quaternary Science, 19(5): 479-495.
Boreham, S. (2004) Holocene (Flandrian) organic deposits preserved in a lowland alder carr fen at Millpond Wood, Sevenoaks, Kent. Quaternary Newsletter, 102, 5-9. Quaternary Research Association.
Moorlock, B. S. P., Sumbler, M. G., Woods, M. A. & Boreham, S. (2003) Geology of the Biggleswade district.British Geological Survey. NERC.
Moorlock, B. S. P., Boreham, S., Woods, M. A. & Sumbler, M. G. (2003) Geology of the Saffron Walden district.British Geological Survey. NERC.
Gao, C. Keen, D. H., Boreham, S., Coope, G. R., Pettit, M. E., Stuart, A. J., Gibbard, P. L. (2000) Last Interglacial and Devensian deposits of the River Great Ouse at Woolpack Farm, Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire, UK. Quaternary Science Reviews 19, 787-810
Boreham, S., Field, M.H. and Gibbard, P.L. (1999)'Middle Pleistocene interglacial sediments at Tye Green, Stansted Airport, Essex, England.' Journal of Quaternary Science 14(3), 207-222.
Bridgland, D. R., Field, M. H., Holmes, J. A., McNabb, J., Preece, R. C., Selby, I, Wymer, J. J., Boreham, S., Irving, B. G., Parfitt, S. A., Stuart, A. J. (1999) 'Middle Pleistocene interglacial Thames-medway deposits at Clacton-on-Sea, England: Reconsideration of the biostratigraphical and environmental context of the type Clactonian industry' Quaternary Science Reviews 18, 109-146.
Langford, H. & Boreham, S. (1998) 'Buried channel deposits at March, Cambridgeshire, Eastern England.' Quaternary Newsletter 86: 8-16. Quaternary Research Association.
Boreham, S. (1997) 'Holocene (Flandrian) organic deposits preserved in an icing hollow at Bardfield Bridge, Borley, Essex.' Quaternary Newsletter 82: 9-14. Quaternary Research Association.
Gibbard, P.L., Boreham S. & Roe, H.M. (1996) Middle Pleistocene lacustrine deposits in eastern Essex, England and their palaeogeographic implications. Journal of Quaternary Science, 11(4), 281-298.
Boreham S. & Gibbard, P.L. (1995) Middle Pleistocene Hoxnian Stage interglacial deposits at Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 106, 259-270.
Boreham S. & West, R. G. (1993) Late Quaternary sediments with Chara encrustations in southern Fenland. Geological Magazine, 130(4), 543-544.
Bennett, K. D. Boreham, S., Sharp, M. J. and Switsur, V. R. (1992) Holocene history of environment, vegetation and human settlement on Catta Ness, Lunnasting, Shetland. Journal of Ecology, 80, 241-273.

Thermokarst activity and periglacial landscape change

Boreham, S. & Horne, D.C. (1999) 'The role of thermokarst and solution in the formation of Quidenham Mere, Norfolk, compared with some other Breckland meres.' Quaternary Newsletter 87: 16-27. Quaternary Research Association.
Boreham, S. (1996) 'Thermokarst landforms in the Cambridge area.' Nature in Cambridgeshire, 38, 16-23.
Boreham, S. (1996) Possible thermokarst landforms near Theydon Bois, Essex. The London Naturalist 75, 21-26

Three-dimensional landscape modelling and data manipulation

Boreham, S. (1998) Three-dimensional stratigraphic data representation using a personal computer. Quaternary Newsletter 84, 9-18. Quaternary Research Association.

Archaeology, woodland ecology, methodology and urban wildlife

Boreham, S., Conneller, C., Milner, N., Taylor, B., Needham, A., Boreham, J. and Rolfe, C. J. 2011 Geochemical Indicators of Preservation Status and Site Deterioration at Star Carr. Journal of Archaeological Science, XX, 1-25. (In Press)
Beresford-Jones, D., Lewis, H. & Boreham, S. 2009 Linking cultural and environmental change in Peruvian prehistory: Geomorphological survey of the Samaca Basin, Lower Ica Valley, Peru. Catena Volume 78, Issue 3, 234-249
Evans, C., Edmonds, M. & Boreham, S. 2006 'Total Archaeology' and Model Landscapes: Excavation of the Great Wilbraham Causewayed Enclosure, Cambridgeshire, 1975-76. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 72: 113-162.
William D. Gosling, Francis E. Mayle, Timothy J. Killeen, Marcelo Siles, Lupita Sanchez and Steve Boreham (2003) A simple and effective methodology for sampling modern pollen rain in tropical environments. The Holocene 13,4, 613-618
Boreham, S. and Moxey, P.A. (1997) A century of vegetation change in Epping Forest determined from pollen analysis of pond sediments. The London Naturalist 76, 21-25.
Boreham S. and F. Applin (1995) Lower Wood. Nature in Cambridgeshire. 37, 24-34.
Boreham, S., and Albrecht, J. S. (1992) Observations on the wildlife potential of cities with particular reference to Cambridge. Nature in Cambridgeshire 34, 52-57.

Lichens as air pollution indicators

Boreham, S. (1993) 'Changes in the lichen flora on birch Betula pendula in northern Epping Forest' London Naturalist 72, 25-30.
Boreham, S. (1992) 'A study of corticolous lichens on London Plane Platanus x hybrida trees in West Ham Park, London.' London Naturalist 71, 61-69.

Freshwater macro-invertebrates as pollution indicators and freshwater ecology:

Boreham, S. (1994) 'A study of freshwater invertebrate distribution and abundance from fieldwork by secondary school students in an Epping Forest pond.' Journal of Biological Education 28(1), 32-38.
Boreham, S. (1993) Macro-invertebrates as water quality indicators in the Quy Water stream system. Nature in Cambridgeshire, 35, 3-13.
Boreham, S. (1991) 'Brookhouse Brook Revisited: Notes on the recovery of macro-invertebrates following livestock slurry pollution in a clay stream' London Naturalist 70, 69-72.
Boreham, S. (1991) Macro-invertebrates as water quality indicators in Bin Brook, a polluted Cambridge clay stream. Nature in Cambridgeshire, 33, 14-20.
Boreham, S. and Birch, P. (1990) 'Changes in the macro-invertebrate benthos of a rural Essex clay stream following pollution by the pesticide Dursban' London Naturalist 69, 79-84.
Boreham, S. (1990) Macro-invertebrates as water quality indicators in two Cambridge chalk streams. Nature in Cambridgeshire, 32, 67-73.
Boreham, S. (1990) 'Freshwater pollution studies in an urban catchment.' School Science Review 72(258), 84-87.
Boreham, S, Hough A. R., and Birch, P. (1989) 'The effects of livestock slurry pollution on the benthic macro-invertebrate fauna of a clay stream' London Naturalist 68, 77-80.
Boreham, S. (1989) 'A study of freshwater succession from fieldwork by secondary school students in an Epping Forest pond' Journal of Biological Education 23(1), 17-22.
Boreham, S. (1989) 'Observations on the seasonal variation of a macro-invertebrate community in an Epping Forest stream' London Naturalist 68, 63-66.
Boreham, S, Rostron, J., and Birch, P. (1988) 'Preliminary observations on the dynamics macro-invertebrate communities in two Epping Forest streams' London Naturalist 67, 69-74.
Boreham, S. (1987) 'The use of indicator organisms to assess aquatic pollution following a motorway insecticide spill' The Science of the Total Environment 59, 477-480.

External activities

Member of the Quaternary Research Association
Forensic Consultant
Environmental Consultant
Geological Consultant
Trustee of the Hobson's Conduit Trust
Member of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
Member of the Wicken Vision Committee