Richard Davies is a British

geologist A geologist is a scientist who studies the structure, composition, and History of Earth, history of Earth. Geologists incorporate techniques from physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and geography to perform research in the Field research, ...

academic An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...

and the

Vice-Chancellor A vice-chancellor (commonly called a VC) serves as the chief executive of a university in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, other Commonwealth of Nati ...

of the

University of Plymouth The University of Plymouth is a public research university based predominantly in Plymouth, England, where the main campus is located, but the university has campuses and affiliated colleges across South West England. With students, it is the ...

. As of 2024, he has published over 100 academic papers, and is an expert on

fracking Fracking (also known as hydraulic fracturing, fracing, hydrofracturing, or hydrofracking) is a well stimulation technique involving the fracturing of formations in bedrock by a pressurized liquid. The process involves the high-pressure inje ...

geology Geology (). is a branch of natural science concerned with the Earth and other astronomical objects, the rocks of which they are composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Earth ...

and environmental sciences.

Education

Davies achieved his BSc in Geology from the

University of Reading The University of Reading is a public research university in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1892 as the University Extension College, Reading, an extension college of Christchurch College, Oxford, and became University College, ...

in 1990, and his PhD in Geology from the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

in 1995.

Career

Davies began his career working at various oil and gas companies, and stopped working in this industry to persue research into climate change in 2003. Davies was the director of the

Durham Energy Institute Durham Energy Institute (DEI) is a research institute located within Durham University, England. It was launched in September 2009 for research in the fields of energy technology and society. Background The current Executive Director is Profess ...

Durham University Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament (UK), Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by r ...

from 2009–2013. In 2006, Davies led a team to identify the cause of the Lusi mud volcano eruption, resulting in the oil and gas company paying millions in compensation to the over 50,000 affected local residents. In 2011, he co-authored a paper further investigating the eruption. Davies became a professor of geo-energy and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Global at

Newcastle University Newcastle University (legally the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It has overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia. The university is a red brick university and a mem ...

in 2014. Whilst at Newcastle, he continued his work on

Fracking Fracking (also known as hydraulic fracturing, fracing, hydrofracturing, or hydrofracking) is a well stimulation technique involving the fracturing of formations in bedrock by a pressurized liquid. The process involves the high-pressure inje ...

research which resulted in heavy criticism against him. Davies was accused of being biased towards fracking companies, a claim which he rejected. In 2017, Davies received a commendation by the

John Maddox Prize The John Maddox Prize is an international prize administered by Sense about Science in partnership with ''Nature (journal), Nature''. One or two individuals are recognised annually by the Prize for their work promoting sound science and evidence de ...

. During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, Davies researched the linked between

Methane hydrate Methane clathrate (CH4·5.75H2O) or (4CH4·23H2O), also called methane hydrate, hydromethane, methane ice, fire ice, natural gas hydrate, or gas hydrate, is a solid clathrate compound (more specifically, a clathrate hydrate) in which a large am ...

and the release of

methane Methane ( , ) is a chemical compound with the chemical formula (one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms). It is a group-14 hydride, the simplest alkane, and the main constituent of natural gas. The abundance of methane on Earth makes ...

from the seafloor. The biggest form of mobile carbon on earth, Davies showed that vast quantities of it could be vulnerable to thaw and melt releasing methane into the ocean and potentially the atmosphere. Davies was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Plymouth in October 2024 following Judith Petts's retirement. In his first official message to the University, Davies said that he would "put students first" and that he is "optimistic about the future". In May 2025, as his role as vice-chancellor at the university of Plymouth, Davies proposed hundreds of staff cuts and multiple course closures in the school of art design and architecture. Many students have petitioned against this, and the outcome is yet to be finalised.

References

External links

* Official website: {{DEFAULTSORT:Davies, Richard British geologists Academics of the University of Plymouth Living people British academic administrators Year of birth missing (living people) Alumni of the University of Reading Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Academics of Durham University Academics of Newcastle University