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Professor of Structural Geology in the Department of Earth Sciences+44 (0) 191 33 42299

Biography

2004 – present: Professor, Earth Sciences, University of Durham

2001 – 2004: Reader, Geological Sciences, University of Durham

1998 – 2001: Senior Lecturer, Geological Sciences, University of Durham

1989 – 1998: Lecturer, Geological Sciences, University of Durham

1987 – 1989: Lecturer, University of Reading

1985 – 1987: Lecturer, Geology, University of Liverpool


Career Research Highlights

Bob’s main research interests lie in the study of the structure, mechanics and transport properties of weak fault zones using fieldwork, microstructure and rock deformation experiments. Together with Nicola De Paola and Stefan Nielsen, he has recently established the Rock Mechanics Laboratory in the Earth Sciences Department at Durham. He has also pioneered studies of fractured basement reservoirs and the role played by pre-existing structures in controlling crustal deformation patterns at all scales. His international expertise in these areas has led to significant industry funding for his research, most notably in work related to the Clair oil field, the largest remaining asset in the UKCS. He also provides expert advice to the nuclear industry (new builds, geological disposal of waste) and is a member of the Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Expert Panel in Seismic Hazard and Climate Change, contributing expertise on reactivation and capable faulting in the UK. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2022.

 Bob has published 220 peer-reviewed papers and has edited 12 books. Since 2001, he has obtained research funding in excess of £2.9 Million. He is a former Head of Department (twice) and NERC KE Fellow.

Committee and Society Service

2022-Present: Chair, Scottish Geology Trust

2013 – 2016: PRC Panel Chair (RATE and Oil & Gas Decommissioning Programmes) NERC

2015 - 2016: NERC Anniversary Ambassador

2011 – present: Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Expert Panel in Seismic Hazard and Climate Change (nuclear new-builds and geological disposal of radioactive waste)

2012 – 2015: Durham University NERC Liaison Group (Chair from 2012)

2010 – 2012: Peer Review College Member NERC

2009 – 2013: NERC KE Fellow, representing the Institute for Hazards, Risk and Resilience and the Durham Energy Institute NERC

Pre-2009: Special Advisor in Structural Geology for RAE 2008; Council Member, Geological Society of London; President of the Tectonic Studies Group Geological Society of London


Conferences and Workshops

2017: Convenor of Special Session 'Dynamics in Mobile Belts' JpGU-AGU, Tokyo.

2014: Convenor of Conference: 'Geometry and Growth of Normal Faults’,Geological Society of London.

2011: Convenor: Special Session on; 'Fault zone structure, mechanics and evolution in nature and laboratory' - EGU General Assembly, Vienna.

2011: Co-organizer - Tectonic Studies Group Annual Meeting: Research in Progress, Durham.

2010: Convened Special Session on; 'Deformation Mechanisms, Microstructures, and Frictional Properties of Upper Crustal Fault Zones' - EGU General Assembly, Vienna.

2009: Convenor: Scientific session TS26: 'Tectonic Reactivation Processes and Fault Zone Weakening' - AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco.


Editorial Roles

2017- present: Editorial Board Member, Nature Scientific Reports

2017 – present: Editorial Advisory Board Member, GEOLOGY

2013 – 2016; 2023: Associate Editor, GEOLOGY

2013 – present: Editorial Advisory Board Member, Journal of Structural Geology

2004 – 2006: Editorial Advisory Board Member, Geology

2004 – 2012: Editor, Journal of Structural, Geology

1998 – 2004: Series Editor, Geological Society of London, Special Publications

Membership of Organizations and Societies


Fellow, Geological Society of America

Fellow, Higher Education Academy

Fellow, Geological Society of London

Member, American Geophysical Union

Member, European Geosciences Union


Prizes & Awards

2023: Dewey Medal - Geological Society of London

2022Fellowship - Royal Society of Edinburgh

2018: Durham University Impact & Engagement Award for ‘Fractured Basement Reservoirs’

2018: Runner-up in the 2018 NERC Impact Awards (Economic Category) for project: “Opening-up a New Type of Petroleum Reservoir to Supply Energy to the UK”

2018: Coke Medal - Geological Society of London

2017: Clough Medal - Edinburgh Geological Society 

2007: Vice Chancellor's award for Excellence in Doctoral Supervision - Durham University

2006: Aberconway Medal - Geological Society of London

2004: Elected Fellow - Geological Society of America

2000: Lyell Fund - for 'excellence in published research' - Geological Society of London

Bob's PhD students have also won several major international awards, including:

Ramsay Medal (6 times: Nic De Paola 2006, Juilin Guo 2010, Steve Smith 2011, Rich Walker 2012, Chris Harbord 2018; Kit Hardman 2021)

GSL Young Author/Early Career Award (Nic De Paola 2005, Kit Hardman 2021, Alex Tamas 2023)

GSL Presidents Award (Steve Smith 2008)

AGU Best Paper (twice: Steve Smith,2008, Rachael Bullock 2014)

EGU Tectonics and Structural Geology Division Outstanding Young Scientists Award (Steve Smith 2013).

Recent Research Grants and Consultancy

2015 - NERC capital grant (as Co-I), “HiFAST, A portable, high-frequency acquisition system to measure dynamic stress and strain in natural rocks experimentally deformed at seismic, high strain-rates”

2015 - BP: "Understanding the Clair Field Fractured Basement: Implcations for Reservoir Appraisal"

2014 - EDC Philippines, "Fracture systems in a volcanic geothermal field, Philippines"

2013 - NERC Oil & Gas Catalyst Award (as Co-I): "Commercial development & application of the Re-Os geochronometer"

2012  - Clair Joint Venture Group: "Re-Os Geochronology, Scotland"

2011 - Clair Joint Venture Group: "Fracturing in the Orcadian Basin"

2011  - NERC Standard Grant (as Co-I): "Fault lubrication during earthquake propagation in thermally unstable rocks"

2009 - Statoil/SINDRI: "Fractures in Crystalline Rocks"

2009 - Leverhulme Fellowship: "Frictional slip localisation along weak faults"

2009 - NERC KE Fellowship


Research Interests

Reactivation tectonics in continental settings.

Long-term and dynamic weakening mechanisms along faults.

Fractured crystalline reservoirs.

Strain partitioning in deformation zones.

Flow kinematics in crustal and mantle shear zones.

Study areas: NW Scotland, Greenland, Newfoundland, Brazil, SW Cyprus, California, Central Norway, Shetland, Faroes, Northern England, SW England, SE Scotland, Italy, Japan, Vietnam, Middle East, Philippines.


Selected Invited Keynotes

2017: AAPG ICE, London:"Cracked and full of sand: insights into how fractures enable ingress of oil into crystalline basement"

2017: EGU Annual General Meeting, Vienna: "Tectonic Inheritance, Reactivation and Long Term Fault Weakening Processes"

2016: JpGU Dynamics of Mobile Belts Conference, Takayama, Japan: "Going Beyond Brittle Deformation: Insights into Seismogenic Slip Processes from Natural and Experimental Faults".

2015: AGU Annual General Meeting, San Francisco:"Beyond Brittle Deformation: Insights into Seismogenic Slip Processes from Natural and Experimental Faults"

2013: Tectonic Studies Group: “Geological constraints on fault dynamic weakening mechanisms from natural slip surfaces in carbonate faults.”

2010: Padova University International Workshop on Faults and Seismicity: "When seismic faults go bad: some geological insights into the causes of weakening & creep"

2009: AGU Annual General Meeting, San Francisco: "The microstructural character and evolution of fault rocks from the SAFOD core and potential weakening mechanisms along the San Andreas Fault"

2009: AGU Annual General Meeting, San Francisco: Continental basement inheritance and multiscale rifted ocean margin architectures: case studies from the N Atlantic-Greenland region.”


Esteem Indicators

  • 2018: Coke Medal:

    Awarded by the Geological Society of London for outstanding research and contributions to the geosciences community.

  • 2018: NERC Impact Award (Runner-up):

    Runner-up in the 2018 NERC Impact Awards (Economic Category) for project: “Opening-up a New Type of Petroleum Reservoir to Supply Energy to the UK”

  • 2018: Durham University Impact & Engagement Award: Overall winner for Impact Case Study on ‘Fractured Basement Reservoirs’

Publications

Authored book

Chapter in book

Conference Paper

Edited book

Journal Article

Report

Supervision students