Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES)
Dr Andy Gibson (Director)
My applied research falls within two areas of interest. My natural hazards work involves the role of geomorphology and landscape evolution, and how natural processes influence the economic and social activities of communities and organisations, including their approaches to risk and planning decisions. I also carry out fundamental engineering geology research, principally into landslide geomorphology and the use of UV/NIR spectroscopy to understand geotechnical behaviour of soils.
Dr Brian Baily
My research utilises GIS technology and high-resolution imagery to measure and model geomorphological change and natural hazards. My coastal change research, in Southern England and the Algarve centres on the isolation of different inputs and outcomes of coastal systems and using this knowledge to enhance hazard models. I also work with the Ordnance Survey and others on the extraction of accurate data from historic and contemporary information sets.
Dr Phil Benson
My work focuses on Rock Physics and rock deformation, particular on the relatively new science of Acoustic Emission (AE) detection and analysis. This is the analogue of seismicity on the field sale, allowing me to better understand earthquakes and volcano-tectonics seismicity related to diverse processes ranging from magma intrusion to mega thrust earthquakes.
Dr Julia Brown
Julia’s research interest lie at the interface between environment and development, focussing on the governance of natural resources in developing countries, notably models of devolved management and stakeholder participation in the planning and management of natural resources. She is interested in exploring the relationship between global principles of best environmental practice, their translation into national policies and implementation on the ground and with what outcomes.
Dr James Burridge
I am a statistical physicist with a particular interest in geometric and statistical patterns that occur in nature. My applied geoscience work has concentrated so far on understanding the geometric patterns that can be found in landscapes and revealed by major geohazard events such as landslide clusters.
Dr Chris Dewdney
Chris is a theoretical physicist working mainly in the fields of quantum mechanics and energy flows. His CAG research sees Chris working on the theoretical aspects of geomorphological and environmental change, bringing physicists views of time, energy and mass into our equations.
Dr Mike Fowler
As a geochemist Mike has worked in exploration, forensics, organic chemistry and stable isotope research. Working with DustScan Ltd and Grundon Waste Management, and with sustained support from the NERC/TSB Knowledge Transfer programme, Mike has applied his interest to the emerging field of sourcing fugitive dusts. He develops new ways to measure, monitor and model the movement of dust in the environment.
David Giles
My principal research areas include the role of Quaternary processes upon landscape evolution and how these affect engineering geology and engineering geomorphology.
Dr Robert Inkpen
My applied research is principally in the area of geoconservation, particularly the analysis of variation in the patterns of rock decay, its measurement, mechanisms, spatial and temporal pattern and its value as an indicator of environmental change over the past 150 years. I am also involved in research at the interface of landscape change and society, particularly the economic and tourism impacts of natural hazards.
Mr Nick Koor
Nick has over twenty years experience in the field of engineering geology and geotechnical engineering in the UK and SE Asia. His current research includes landslide investigation and remediation design, site characterisation using proxy data, design of piling works and design in the urban environment.
Dr Derek Rust
Derek investigates volcano geodynamics and palaeo-seismology to improve earthquake, volcano and tsunami hazard assessment. His work on flank collapse mechanisms and hazards in Dominica and the Canaries concentrates on tsunami generation potential. Palaeo-seismological research on Etna, Izmit, Crete and the Tien Shan in Kyrgyzstan aims to better understand the hazards in these regions.
Dr Carmen Solana
I am a volcanologist specialising in hazards resulting from effusive volcanism. My main interest is the reduction of the impact of Natural Disasters on the population, including the assessment of eruption forecasting using the results of analogue models, lava-chronology and interpretation of seismic data.
Dr Richard Teeuw
I am a geomorphologist and remote sensing specialist with over 25 years experience investigating hazard and resource sites in Africa, South America, Asia and Europe. My current focus is on the development of on low-cost approaches to using satellite imagery and GIS for assessing hazards, vulnerability and risk, as well as geoinformatic technology transfer and capacity building in developing countries. Ongoing research projects are in SE Spain and the Caribbean.
Dr Paul Watson
My main interest is in the design and application of geosynthetics for slope stabilisation and drainage systems. I also carry out research into the processes of coastal landsliding, pile design and new techniques of soils laboratory testing.
Dr Malcolm Whitworth
I am an engineering geomorphologist with interests encompassing slope instability, terrain evaluation, remote sensing and GIS for natural hazard assessment. Current research projects include landslide hazard assessment in Kyrgyzstan and China using remote sensing and GIS, numerical modelling of natural hazards including coastal floods and lava flows, economic impacts of landslides in the UK and geotechnical characterisation and landslide distribution of the Hampshire Basin.
Current PhD Students
- Miss Sarah Brown. Effusive activity and development of eruptive sites at Vesuvius.
- Mr William Disberry. Economic Impact of Landslides in the UK.
- Ms Ritienne Gauci. Micro to macro scale processes of erosion on a hard-rock coastline, Malta.
- Miss Namphon Khampilang. Improved landslide hazard assessment in a large scale of the Tien Shan Mountain, Kyrgyzstan.
- Mr Mathias Leidig. Remote sensing for disaster risk reduction using low-cost geo-informatics for coastal regions
- Miss Naomi Morris. Resource efficient solutions for disaster management in developing nations
- Miss Mallika Nillorm. Geotourism and Risk - Changes in Risk Posed by Changes in Geotourism in a World Heritage Site (Dorset)
- Mr Ugonna Nkwunonwo. Flood vulnerability and Risk in Lagos, Nigeria – a new model of inundation and its implications
- Miss Marie Nolan. Evolution of lava flow fields through a combination of analogue models and rock strength analysis
- Miss Sarah Percival. The effects of climate change on Solent coastal communities
- Mrs Charlotte Saunders. Low-cost Satellite Remote Sensing for Disaster Risk Reduction in Mountainous Coastal Semi-Arid Regions
- Ben Williams. Source apportionment of industrial fugitive dusts: developments in passive dust monitoring
- Mrs Kwanjai Yuangdetkla. Landslides and Geotechnical Modelling of the Paleogene of the Hampshire Basin.