I am a geological research scientist of long standing, most recently in Engineering Geomorphology at GNS Science, New Zealand, and Visiting Professor, State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China. I have a broad scientific background, though much of it has disappeared over my interest horizon. I have an enduring interest in earth-surface processes of all kinds and especially those relating to long-runout rock avalanches. I enjoy thinking “outside the box” and challenging established dogma.

I am an Associate Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA. My research interests are broadly centered on soil geomorphology with applications towards deciphering climatic and pedogenic controls on landscape evolution and Quaternary geology. In particular, I have focused recent work on mechanical weathering processes and their environmental drivers. I have come to appreciate that subcritical crack growth has been largely overlooked in the geomorphology community despite the fact that it likely plays a significant role in physical weathering of surface and near surface rock in all environments on Earth.

Research Interests: Fracture processes in rock; Permeability and transport properties of rock; Time-dependent deformation of rock; Stress corrosion and brittle creep; Quantitative acoustic emission monitoring of brittle rock deformation; Fracture healing and sealing processes in rock.

I hold the Chair for Rock Mechanics at the Geotechnical Institute at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany and have a background in geotechnical engineering and... Read More

Professor of Geological Engineering at Queen’s University, Kingston Canada.  Research interests include tunnelling ground behaviour of all kinds with a particular focus on high stress... Read More

Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at UPC, Barcelona. Landslides in soils and rocks is currently a major research area in our Group. Main subjects: Development of... Read More