Professor Christian Dunn

Professor / Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor / Director of Marketing-College

c.dunn@bangor.ac.uk

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Professor Christian Dunn

View Professor Christian Dunn’s profile on the Bangor Research Portal

Professor Christian Dunn is a wetland scientist and Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Sustainability at Bangor University.

He conducts research on Nature-based Solutions (NbS), particularly focusing on wetlands for water management, pollution control, and carbon sequestration. His work regularly gains recognition in the press, especially in areas such as microplastics, water pollution, and peatland restoration.

Professor Dunn is the Associate Director of the Bangor Wetlands Group, and Director of Marketing and Recruitment for the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, and the College of Science and Engineering.

In addition to his academic accomplishments, Professor Dunn is a passionate communicator and advocate for environmental sustainability. He is a former journlaist and news editor, and regularly engages with the public and media through TV, radio, and print, contributing to outlets such as the BBC, Sky News and national newspapers.

In 2024 Prof. Dunn made his first full-length documentary for BBC Radio 4, reenacting a WWII commando operation to take soil samples from the D-Day landing beaches: The Beaches. In 2025, he travelled to Ukraine to present another BBC Radio 4 documentary (Scarred), investigating possible contamination of the country's soil and water due to ordnance.

A sought-after public speaker, he is an award-winning environmental campaigner and has delivered three TEDx talks: 

  1. The Accidental Eco-Warrior 
  2. How We Can Stop Microplastic Pollution
  3. Wetlands: the superheroes of the natural world

In 2024 Prof. Dunn was named one of the top 100 UK environmental professionals making the greatest impact by the ENDS Report Power List.

He serves as chair of the British Ecological Society’s Welsh Policy Group, is a trustee of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), and a Governor for Coleg Cambria.

• Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Sustainability 

• Director of Marketing and Recruitment (SENS)

• Director of Marketing and Recruitment (CoSE)

• c.dunn@bangor.ac.uk

• 4th Floor Brambell Building

• +44 (0) 1248 382098

• linktr.ee/profchristiandunn

In 2013 Professor Christian Dunn established the Wetland Science and Conservation MSc – the only one of its kind in the UK.

Professor Dunn has lectured on a wide variety of undergraduate and postgraduate modules, covering a range of topics from climate change science and statistical analysis, to plant identification and writing for the press.

His main teaching interests are now wetland science and practical fieldwork skills. He is is the module organiser of Life in Wetlands, and the Florida feildtrip in the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences.

Every year Professor Dunn supervises around 15 undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD student projects.

Professor Christian Dunn’s research spans a wide range of wetland science topics, with a particular focus on wetland biogeochemical cycles and the role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS).

His work explores how wetlands - and NbS more broadly - can influence ecosystems, environmental quality, and climate. This includes research into wetland management and conservation practices, the impacts of climate change on wetland systems, and the use of Constructed Treatment Wetlands (CTWs) for water quality improvement.

Another key area of Professor Dunn’s research is plastic and microplastic pollution, with a particular emphasis on microplastics in inland water systems and the potential of wetlands to capture and remove them.

Another area of his research is plastic and microplastic pollution, with a particular emphasis on microplastics in inland water systems and the use of wetlands to remove them.

Professor Christian Dunn welcomes enquiries from prospective PhD students interested in all areas of wetland science, particularly wetland ecology, biogeochemical cycles, and the application of wetlands in Nature-based Solutions (NbS). He is especially keen to supervise projects focused on Constructed Treatment Wetlands (CTWs), wetland conservation and management, and the role of wetlands in responding to climate change. He is also actively recruiting students to research plastic and microplastic pollution, with an emphasis on inland water systems and the potential for wetlands to mitigate their impacts.

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

  • PublishedPeatland Catchments and Natural Flood Management
    Allott, T., Auñón, J., Dunn, C., Evans, M., Labadz, J., Lunt, P., MacDonald, M., Nisbet, T., Owen, R., Pilkington, M., Proctor, S., Shuttleworth, E. & Walker, J., 2 Dec 2019, IUCN UK Peatland Programme. 43 p.
    Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report › peer-review

2018

2016

2014

2013

2011

2025

  • Nature-based Solutions Q&A

    London Rivers Week is a week-long annual campaign inspiring the public to celebrate all of London’s rivers and the many projects taking place to protect them.. Organised by Thames 21.

    "London Rivers Week talk by Professor Sir Dieter Helm on solutions to fix our broken water system - plus special guest Professor Christian Dunn.

    Special guest will be Professor Christian Dunn - wetland scientist and Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Sustainability at Bangor University. Professor Dunn will be staying for a Q&A session to answer your questions."

    30 May 2025

    Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)

2021

2020

2019

2018

  • Bascamp 2018

    Main Marquee - How to get a city to give up plastic

    1 Jun 2018

    Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Festival/Exhibition (Contributor)