I am a planetary scientist specialising in planetary geomorphology. I mainly work on Mars-related research topics with a focus on aeolian and cold-climate processes. I am a senior lecturer at Open University, and work in the Planetary Environments research group - part of the School of Physical Sciences
My research interests are generally in planetary science and, more specifically, planetary geomorphology and geology. My main research interest at present is to understand the recent geological history of Mars, and how climate (and possibly climate change) has shaped the surface. I also have a strong research interest in terrestrial dust devils (small, dust loaded "mini-tornadoes" driven by insolation) and in application of GIS to planetary surfaces. Much of my research is based on remote sensing, especially using the totally awesome NASA HiRISE instrument onboard the Mars Reconaissance Orbiter spacecraft.
Recent funding success includes a UK Space Agency grant to help define the landing sites for the ExoMars 2020 Rover and an STFC consolidated grant project "Liquid water and climate change on Mars: combining high resolution imaging studies with high resolution climate models".
Ongoing research at Open University in my group includes:
2015-2017 S141 module team chair: "Investigative and Mathematical Skills in Science".
2013-2015 S141 module team member: "Investigative and Mathematical Skills in Science".
2011 S288 topic specialist: I was topic specialist for both the "Remote Sensing" (GIS) and "Planetary Formation and Habitability" topics.
2012-2013 S288 production team: "Planetary Formation and Habitability". I conceived and designed the Mars Online Viewer (MOV) tool (although the hard coding work was done by Andy Sutton from LTS!), I wrote course materials for investigation 4 of the topic, and also wrote the TMAs.
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