David Favis-Mortlock
Encyclopedia
Dr David T. Favis-Mortlock is an English
geomorphologist and musician
.
Born David Mortlock on 27 August 1953, he grew up in Barking
, Essex
, later moving to Basildon
New Town
. He studied environmental sciences at Lancaster University
, graduating in 1975. After several years as a musician, he commenced a PhD
study on soil erosion modeling at Brighton Polytechnic (now the University of Brighton
), under the supervision of geomorphologist John Boardman. Subsequently, he worked with Boardman at the University of Oxford
's Environmental Change Unit (now the Environmental Change Institute).
Publications include the first quantitative
study of the impact of climate change
on soil erosion by water
, and a novel modelling
study of soil erosion in prehistory
together with archaeologist Martin Bell. In 1996 he began work on a self-organising systems model
for rill
initiation and development, RillGrow. He is also responsible for the Soil Erosion website. Favis-Mortlock was elected a Council Member for the British Society of Soil Science, 2001–2003, and a member of the Executive Committee of the British Geomorphological Research Group, 2003-2006. Until 2010 he was a lecturer
at Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland
. He has now returned to the Environmental Change Institute.
He is married to fellow musician and painter
Joanna Davies; they live near Hook Norton
, Oxfordshire
. His stepson Reuben Beau Davies is an actor
.
-based folk group named after the nearby Rollright Stones
, together with morris dance
r Bryan Sheppard (now a member of The Hookey Band). At one stage, the Rollrights included fellow fiddle
r Chris Leslie on bass guitar
. The group supported Fairport Convention
and recorded with Fairport's Dave Pegg
. Subsequently, Favis-Mortlock played fiddle with guitarist Frank Underwood
, and with the Brighton-based folk-punk band Tricks Upon Travellers. Currently he plays jazz violin
with the trio FiddleBop.
12 papers of his have been cited 11 times or more.
He has also co-edited the book: Modelling Soil Erosion by Water.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
geomorphologist and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.
Born David Mortlock on 27 August 1953, he grew up in Barking
Barking
Barking is a suburban town in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, in East London, England. A retail and commercial centre situated in the west of the borough, it lies east of Charing Cross. Barking was in the historic county of Essex until it was absorbed by Greater London. The area is...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, later moving to Basildon
Basildon
Basildon is a town located in the Basildon District of the county of Essex, England.It lies east of Central London and south of the county town of Chelmsford...
New Town
New Town
New Town may refer to:*New town, a generic name for a planned city development or expansion*In the United Kingdom, any of a specific set of towns created under various Acts of Parliament for population moved out of overcrowded conurbations-Places:...
. He studied environmental sciences at Lancaster University
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
, graduating in 1975. After several years as a musician, he commenced a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
study on soil erosion modeling at Brighton Polytechnic (now the University of Brighton
University of Brighton
The University of Brighton is an English university of the United Kingdom, with a community of over 23,000 students and 2,600 staff based on campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. It has one of the best teaching quality ratings in the UK and a strong research record, factors which...
), under the supervision of geomorphologist John Boardman. Subsequently, he worked with Boardman at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
's Environmental Change Unit (now the Environmental Change Institute).
Publications include the first quantitative
Quantitative
A quantitative property is one that exists in a range of magnitudes, and can therefore be measured with a number. Measurements of any particular quantitative property are expressed as a specific quantity, referred to as a unit, multiplied by a number. Examples of physical quantities are distance,...
study of the impact of climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
on soil erosion by water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
, and a novel modelling
Ecosystem model
An ecosystem model is an abstract, usually mathematical, representation of an ecological system , which is studied to gain a deeper understanding of the real system.Ecosystem models are formed by combining known ecological relations An ecosystem model is an abstract, usually mathematical,...
study of soil erosion in prehistory
Prehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
together with archaeologist Martin Bell. In 1996 he began work on a self-organising systems model
Ecosystem model
An ecosystem model is an abstract, usually mathematical, representation of an ecological system , which is studied to gain a deeper understanding of the real system.Ecosystem models are formed by combining known ecological relations An ecosystem model is an abstract, usually mathematical,...
for rill
Rill
A Rill can be a:*1.) natural fluvial topographic feature;*2.) functional constructed channel to carry a water supply from a water source some distance away;*3.) aesthetic garden water feature.-Natural:...
initiation and development, RillGrow. He is also responsible for the Soil Erosion website. Favis-Mortlock was elected a Council Member for the British Society of Soil Science, 2001–2003, and a member of the Executive Committee of the British Geomorphological Research Group, 2003-2006. Until 2010 he was a lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
at Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He has now returned to the Environmental Change Institute.
He is married to fellow musician and painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
Joanna Davies; they live near Hook Norton
Hook Norton
Hook Norton is a village and civil parish in the Cotswold Hills in Oxfordshire, England. It is northeast of Chipping Norton.-Toponym and early history:...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. His stepson Reuben Beau Davies is an actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Music
Favis-Mortlock is also a musician; in 1978 he formed a BanburyBanbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
-based folk group named after the nearby Rollright Stones
Rollright Stones
The Rollright Stones are a complex of three Neolithic and Bronze Age megalithic monuments located near to the village of Long Compton on the borders of Oxfordshire and Warwickshire in England...
, together with morris dance
Morris dance
Morris dance is a form of English folk dance usually accompanied by music. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers. Implements such as sticks, swords, handkerchiefs and bells may also be wielded by the dancers...
r Bryan Sheppard (now a member of The Hookey Band). At one stage, the Rollrights included fellow fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
r Chris Leslie on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. The group supported Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
and recorded with Fairport's Dave Pegg
Dave Pegg
Dave Pegg is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, arguably most visible as a bass guitarist. He is the longest-serving member of the pre-eminent electric folk band Fairport Convention and has been bassist with a number of important folk and rock groups including The Ian Campbell...
. Subsequently, Favis-Mortlock played fiddle with guitarist Frank Underwood
Frank Underwood
Frank Underwood is a folk and blues musician, also known for work in the early music field, who presently lives and works in Oxfordshire.He was the leader of the 1970s band Windsong, which featured Annie Lennox prior to her involvement with The Tourists and fame with the Eurythmics...
, and with the Brighton-based folk-punk band Tricks Upon Travellers. Currently he plays jazz violin
Jazz violin
Jazz violin is the use of the violin or electric violin to improvise and perform utilizing scales and chord progressions unique to the compositions of Jazz musicians . The earliest references to jazz performance using the violin as a solo instrument was during the first decades of the 20th century...
with the trio FiddleBop.
Publications
He has published, as of 2009, 30 peer-reviewed articles in professional journals. The most cited have been:- "Evaluation of field-scale and catchment-scale soil erosion models" by Jetten, V., De Roo, A., Favis-Mortlock, D. 1999 Catena 37 (3-4), pp. 521–541, cited 71 times according to ScopusScopusScopus, officially named SciVerse Scopus, is a bibliographic database containing abstracts and citations for academic journal articles. It covers nearly 18,000 titles from over 5,000 international publishers, including coverage of 16,500 peer-reviewed journals in the scientific, technical, medical,...
- "A self-organizing dynamic systems approach to the simulation of rill initiation and development on hillslopes" by Favis-Mortlock, D. 1998 Computers and Geosciences 24 (4), pp. 353–372, cited 43 times
- "Nonlinear responses of soil erosion to climate change: a modelling study on the UK South Downs " by Favis-Mortlock, D., Boardman, J. 1995 Catena 25 (1-4), pp. 365–387, cited 37 times.
12 papers of his have been cited 11 times or more.
He has also co-edited the book: Modelling Soil Erosion by Water.