Summary
Dr Kirstin Lemon is the Science Programme Manager and member of the Executive at the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI). Kirstin’s individual expertise is in the use of geoscience for sustainable development with a particular focus on responsible geological tourism and climate change. She has specific responsibility for the Science for Society work programme at GSNI that includes spatial planning, climate action and sustainable development, geological tourism and geoheritage, skills and education, and public engagement.
Kirstin Lemon’s biography
- 2023 to present: Science Programme Manager for Northern Ireland
- 2021 to 2026: Ministerial appointment to the Board of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
- 2019 to 2022: MSc in Climate Change and Development (SOAS, University of London)
- 2019 to 2023: Senior Geologist at GSNI
- 2015 to 2019: Social Media Manager for BGS
- 2012 to 2015: Landscape Geologist at GSNI
- 2004 to 2012: Geopark Geologist for Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark
- 2000 to 2004: PhD in Geological Sciences (University of Durham). Thesis title: The climatic, eustatic and tectonic controls on the Mid-Carboniferous cycles of Northumbria, England
- 1997 to 2000: BSc (Hons) in Geology (Queen’s University Belfast)
Current projects and collaborations
- Project: Coastal Monitoring and Adaptation Planning (CMAP) – Project delivering environmental evidence and mapping tools to improve climate resilience, support sustainable development, and inform climate adaptation decision-making across NI and the border region
- Project: Co-Creating Coastal Resilience (CoCOR) – Project that uses science and community participation to monitor coastal change and support climate-resilient coastal management
- Project: UNESCO Together – Project that brings UNESCO sites across Ireland together to strengthen collaboration, support sustainable tourism and celebrate shared natural and cultural heritage
- Project: Platform for Atlantic Geohazard Risk Management (AGEO) – Project that combined citizen science and innovative monitoring tools to improve geohazard risk management and community resilience
- Collaboration: NI Peat Slide Susceptibility Map – Innovative geospatial tool that identifies areas vulnerable to peatland instability across NI. Developed with BGS SGEO Team, NIEA, and QUB
- Collaboration: Climate Action Toolkit – Development of a practical resource designed to help UNESCO Global Geoparks strengthen climate action, adaptation and community resilience. Developed with partners across the European Geoparks Network
ORCID: 0009-0002-7254-8457
Books
- Hilario, A, Asrat, A, de Vries, B V W, Mogk, D, Lozano, G, Zhang, J, Brilha, J, Vegas, J, Lemon, K, Carcavilla, L, and Finney, S. 2022. The first 100 IUGS geological heritage sites. International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)
Key papers
- Jaud, M, Le Dantec, N, Parker, K, Lemon, K, Lendre, S, Delacourt, C, and Gomes, R C. 2022. How to include crowd-sourced photogrammetry in a Geohazard Observatory—Case Study of the Giant’s Causeway Coastal cliffs. Remote Sensing, 14(14), p.3243.
- Lemon, K. 2022 UNESCO Global Geoparks in the UK: fighting against climate change. Belfast, UK, Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, 8pp. https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/533333
Chapters
- Parker, K, Lemon, K, and Gomes, R C. 2025. Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland: Developing a Geohazard Citizen Observatory to Assist Risk Management. In Citizens’ Observatories on Geohazards: Lessons from Five Pilots (pp. 211-228). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland
- Lemon, K, and Parker, K. 2024. Landslides in Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark – understanding climate change through geohazards. In Geohazards in European Geoparks (pp. 46-50). Vadi Printing Press, Ankara, Turkey
- Lemon, K, Wyse Jackson, P N, Cooper, M, and Dempster, M. 2022. The Paleocene volcanic rocks of the Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast, United Kingdom. In: The First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites, International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), pp. 30–31, 270–271
Other
- Lemon, K, and Dempster. M. 2025. Northern Ireland’s Geodiversity Charter 2025–2030
- Lemon, K, Parker, P, and Patton, M. 2025. Building on solid ground: Why geohazards must inform Northern Ireland’s infrastructure planning. AgendaNI, April 2025. https://www.agendani.com/building-on-solid-ground-why-geohazards-must-inform-northern-irelands-infrastructure-planning/
- Lemon, K. 2020. Geology and sustainable tourism: The benefits of UNESCO in Northern Ireland. AgendaNI, September 2020
Skills
- UNESCO Global Geoparks
- Climate change adaptation
- Geoheritage and geoconservation
- Spatial planning
- Geoscience and sustainable development
- Geoscience education and skills
Other qualifications
- Diploma in Local Government Studies
- Qualified in First Aid and Mental Health First Aid
- APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ)
Professional associations
- 2025 to present: Professional Geologist (PGeo) Chartered by the Institute of Geologists of Ireland
Boards and committees
- 2026 to present Member of the European Geoparks Network Advisory Committee
- 2026 to present: Chairperson of the Cuilcagh Lakelands Global Geopark Scientific Advisory Committee
- 2025 to present: Chairperson of the Mourne Gullion Strangford Global Geopark Scientific Research Advisory Committee
- 2025 to present: Chairperson of the EuroGeoSurvey Geoheritage Expert Group
- 2025 to present: Member of the Board of the Institute of Geologists of Ireland
- 2025 to present: Co-Chairperson of the Irish Global Geopark Committee
- 2025 to present: Vice-Chairperson of the UK Global Geopark Committee
- 2024 to present: Member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council
- 2024 to present: Member of the Royal Irish Academy’s Climate Change and Environmental Sciences Multidisciplinary Committee
- 2018 to 2025: Chairperson of the UK Global Geopark Committee
- 2016 to 2020: Member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Committee
- 2015 to ongoing: Member of the UNESCO Global Geopark Evaluation Team