Dougal Jerram
Encyclopedia
Dougal Alexander Jerram (born 1969) is a British geologist/earth scientist, television and media presenter/contributor, and author.
As an earth sciences expert he has appeared on the BBC
, National Geographic, Discovery Channel
, History Channel and Channel 4
, as well as many media appearances on the news/radio, relating the earth sciences to the general public. Academically Dougal has published over 45 scientific publications and has edited for journals and held posts on various committees e.g. the Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group of the Geological Society. He was awarded The Murchison Fund
by the Geological Society of London
in 2006 for his early career contribution to geology.
, at the end of the sixties, Dougal grew up in the London suburbs (with a brief stint living in Manchester). His love for geology and the Earth was first realised whilst studying at Northwood School (London) and he has been working with rocks ever since. He studied geology, and graduated from Cardiff University
(Cardiff, Wales) in 1992 and obtained his doctorate
in 1996 at the University of Liverpool
with a research theme looking at how rock textures in volcanic and igneous rock
s are formed and can be studied.
Hi professional career started in 1996 with a two year postdoctoral position at the University of Würzburg
, Germany. In 1998 he moved back to the UK to the University of Durham where he spent 13 years as research fellow, lecturer and senior lecturer. In June 2011 he set up DougalEARTH Ltd. where he combines a mixture of consultancy/media/research and teaching.
with Andrew Marr
. Subsiquently he has appeared on a number of science related films, usually at or very near live volcanoes. In 2010 he reported extensively about the air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption
on live TV interviews e.g. on the BBC
, Sky News
Sky News 4th May 2010], [ITV]], various live radio interviews, news articles e.g. Channel 4 news
, BBC
, The Guardian
. He has also made Live TV appearances as Dr Volcano for The One Show
on the BBC
TV and media contributions include:
"In The Hottest Place on Earth a team of scientists and adventurers descended on a low-lying part of Ethiopia to analyse volcanic activity, the landscape and the way of life of the tribe. Dougal Jerram, the geologist, was fantastic, explaining how the rocky landscape was tilted along cracks in the Earth's crust."....the TIMES, March 20th 2009.
, EU, Royal Society
, and Industry, and he has been a guest editor for Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
, ELEMENTS (Elements: An International Magazine of Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Petrology
), and Geological Magazine
, and convened sessions at many international meetings. In 2006 He was awarded the Murchison
Fund of the Geological Society of London
, in recognition of his early significant contribution to Earth Sciences. In 2010 he set up the Volcanic Margins Research Consortium at the University of Durham, and is providing knowledge transfer between academia and industry through workshops, training, consultancy and field trips through DougalEARTH Ltd.
As an earth sciences expert he has appeared on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, National Geographic, Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
, History Channel and Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, as well as many media appearances on the news/radio, relating the earth sciences to the general public. Academically Dougal has published over 45 scientific publications and has edited for journals and held posts on various committees e.g. the Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group of the Geological Society. He was awarded The Murchison Fund
The Murchison Fund
The Murchison Fund is an award given by the Geological Society of London to researchers under the age of 40 who have contributed substantially to the study of hard rock and tectonic geology. It is named in honour of Prof. Roderick Impey Murchison.-Recipients:...
by the Geological Society of London
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
in 2006 for his early career contribution to geology.
Early life and career
Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, at the end of the sixties, Dougal grew up in the London suburbs (with a brief stint living in Manchester). His love for geology and the Earth was first realised whilst studying at Northwood School (London) and he has been working with rocks ever since. He studied geology, and graduated from Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
(Cardiff, Wales) in 1992 and obtained his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in 1996 at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
with a research theme looking at how rock textures in volcanic and igneous rock
Igneous rock
Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava...
s are formed and can be studied.
Hi professional career started in 1996 with a two year postdoctoral position at the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
, Germany. In 1998 he moved back to the UK to the University of Durham where he spent 13 years as research fellow, lecturer and senior lecturer. In June 2011 he set up DougalEARTH Ltd. where he combines a mixture of consultancy/media/research and teaching.
Television and media career
His first major TV appearance was on a popular science expedition to Ethiopia called 'The Hottest Place on Earth' for the BBC and discovery in 2009, having appeared early that year on Britain From AboveBritain From Above
Britain From Above is a 2008 six-part British television miniseries in which journalist Andrew Marr takes to the skies of the United Kingdom in search of the view of Britain from above to research all areas of past and present British life...
with Andrew Marr
Andrew Marr
Andrew William Stevenson Marr is a Scottish journalist and political commentator. He edited The Independent for two years until May 1998, and was political editor of BBC News from 2000 until 2005....
. Subsiquently he has appeared on a number of science related films, usually at or very near live volcanoes. In 2010 he reported extensively about the air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption
Air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption
In response to concerns that volcanic ash ejected during the 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland would damage aircraft engines, the controlled airspace of many European countries was closed to instrument flight rules traffic, resulting in the largest air-traffic shut-down since World War II...
on live TV interviews e.g. on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
Sky News 4th May 2010], [ITV]], various live radio interviews, news articles e.g. Channel 4 news
Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News is the news division of British television broadcaster Channel 4. It is produced by ITN, and has been in operation since the broadcaster's launch in 1982.-Channel 4 News:...
, BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
. He has also made Live TV appearances as Dr Volcano for The One Show
The One Show
The One Show is a topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD, hosted by Alex Jones and Matt Baker. Chris Evans joins Jones to present the programme on Friday...
on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV and media contributions include:
- BRITAIN FROM ABOVE (shown August 2008), Geology expert in Episode 3 of Andrew Marr’s BBC1 series.Produced by LION TV (Director - Cassian Harrison)., also shown in the United States on the Discovery ChannelDiscovery ChannelDiscovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
- HOTTEST PLACE ON EARTH (March 2009), 2x 1 hour BBC1, 3x 1hour BBC Worldwide, 1x 1hour Discovery Channel. Co-host on Popular science expedition to see the volcanoes and people of the AFAR region in Ethiopia alongside Kate HumbleKate HumbleKatherine 'Kate' Humble is an English television presenter, mainly for the BBC, specialising in wildlife and science programmes...
and Steve LeonardSteve LeonardStephen "Steve" Leonard is a British veterinarian and television personality.-Early life:Leonard's family moved to Cheshire, from Northern Ireland, when he was six weeks old....
. Produced by LION TV (Producer/Director – Rupert Smith, Katie Crawford, Justin Kelly, Max Shapira)
"In The Hottest Place on Earth a team of scientists and adventurers descended on a low-lying part of Ethiopia to analyse volcanic activity, the landscape and the way of life of the tribe. Dougal Jerram, the geologist, was fantastic, explaining how the rocky landscape was tilted along cracks in the Earth's crust."....the TIMES, March 20th 2009.
- HOW THE EARTH WAS MADE - VESUVIUS (November 2009), 1x 1hour History Channel. On screen Earth Sciences Presenter on sections for Pompeii and Herculanuem. Produced by PIONEER PRODUCTIONS (Director - Belinda Kirk)
- ICELAND VOLCANO: THE NEXT ERUPTION (Aired 16 May 2010) (Discovery/BBC worldwide) Volcano on-screen expert on one off quick turn around about Iceland Volcanic Crisis. Produced by ATLANTIC PRODUCTIONS (Producer/director – Oliver Page).
- CLASH OF THE CONTINENTS (July - on, 2010), 2x 1hour National Geographic channel - worldwide. On screen Earth Sciences Presenter including Vesuvius, Stromboli, Super-volcanoes and plate tectonics. Produced by NATURAL HISTORY NEW ZEALAND (Director – Mike Ibeji).
- BIRTH OF BRITAIN (September - on, 2010) On screen Earth Sciences expert along side Tony RobinsonTony RobinsonTony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, author, broadcaster and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick in the BBC television series Blackadder, and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History. Robinson is a member of the Labour Party...
for National Geographic & Channel 4. Volcanic Britain as part of the Birth of Britain series Produced by PIONEER PRODUCTIONS.
Books
As well as contributing a significant volume of scientific literature (see publications list), Dougal has written 2 earth science books:- The Field Description of Igneous Rocks, 2nd Edition by Dougal Jerram & Nick Petford, published by Wiley, 2011 ISBN 978-0-470-02236-8
- Introducing Volcanology: A Guide to Hot Rocks, by Dougal Jerram, published by Dunedin Academic Press, 2011 ISBN 978-1906716226
Research
His research career covers over 15 years. Motivated by key scientific challenges in both academic and applied geosciences, Dougal has published extensively in the fields of volcanic margins, rock microstructure and textural analysis, 2D-3D modelling of textures and volcanic basins, volcanology and field geology (see publications). His main areas of research involve understanding volcanic margins, innovative textural analysis of rocks, understanding the development of crystal populations in igneous rocks, and the onset and evolution of flood basalt provinces. His research has been supported by a range of funding bodies, including NERCNERC
NERC may refer:* Natural Environment Research Council* Nashville & Eastern Railroad Corporation* North American Electric Reliability Corporation* National Engineering Robotics Contest...
, EU, Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, and Industry, and he has been a guest editor for Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research is a scientific journal that publishes recent research on the fields of volcanology and geothermal activity.- See also :* List of scientific journals...
, ELEMENTS (Elements: An International Magazine of Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Petrology
Elements: An International Magazine of Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Petrology
Elements: An International Magazine of Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Petrology, established in January 2005, is a bimonthly magazine, published by 16 scientific societies . It publishes peer reviewed papers which are part of a theme based collection, along with other types of articles. The...
), and Geological Magazine
Geological Magazine
The Geological Magazine is a peer-reviewed scientific journal established in 1864, covering the earth sciences. It publishes original scientific research papers on geological topics. The journal is published bimonthly by Cambridge University Press....
, and convened sessions at many international meetings. In 2006 He was awarded the Murchison
Murchison
Murchison is the name of:* Alice Lynne Murchison, the maiden name of Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton* Carl Murchison , American psychologist* Charles Murchison , British politician...
Fund of the Geological Society of London
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
, in recognition of his early significant contribution to Earth Sciences. In 2010 he set up the Volcanic Margins Research Consortium at the University of Durham, and is providing knowledge transfer between academia and industry through workshops, training, consultancy and field trips through DougalEARTH Ltd.
Selection of publications
- Catherine E. Nelson, Dougal A. Jerram, Richard W. Hobbs, Ricky Terrington, and Holger Kessler. Reconstructing flood basalt lava flows in three dimensions using terrestrial laser scanning. Geosphere, Feb 2011; 7: 87 - 96.
- J. Hansen, D. A. Jerram, K. Mccaffrey, S.R. Passey 2011. Early Cenozoic saucer-shaped sills of the Faroe Islands: an example of intrusive styles in basaltic lava piles. Journal of the Geological Society 2011 volume 168: 159-178.
- Dougal A. Jerram, Graham R. Davis, Alex Mock, Amanda Charrier, and Bruce D. Marsh 2010. Quantifying 3D crystal populations, packing and layering in shallow intrusions: a case study from the Basement Sill, Dry Valleys, Antarctica. GEOSPHERE Volume: 6 Issue: 5 Pages: 537-548.
- Bryan S.E., Peate I.U., Peate D.W., Jerram D.A., Mawby M.R., Marsh J.S., Miller J.A. 2010. The largest volcanic eruptions on Earth. EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS, Volume: 102, Issue: 3-4, Pages: 207-229.
- Victoria M. Martin1, Jon Davidson, Dan Morgan, Dougal A. Jerram 2010. Using the Sr isotope compositions of feldspars and glass to distinguish magma system components and dynamics. GEOLOGY Volume: 38 Issue: 6 Pages: 539-542
- Dougal A. Jerram , Alex Mock , Graham R. Davis, Matthew Field, Richard J. Brown 2009. 3D crystal size distributions: A case study on quantifying olivine populations in kimberlites. Lithos 112S, 223–235.
- Dougal A. Jerram, Richard T. Single, Richard W. Hobbs & Catherine E. Nelson 2009.Understanding the offshore flood basalt sequence using onshore volcanic facies analogues: an example from the Faroe–Shetland basin Geol. Mag. 146 (3), pp. 353–367. doi:10.1017/S0016756809005974
- Dougal A. Jerram, Kathryn M. Goodenough & Valentin R. Troll 2009. Introduction: from the British Tertiary into the future – modern perspectives on the British Palaeogene and North Atlantic Igneous provinces. Geol. Mag. 146 (3), pp. 305–308. doi:10.1017/S001675680900627X
- Nelson, C.E., Jerram, D.A., and Hobbs, R.W., 2009, Flood basalt facies from borehole data: implications for prospectivity and volcanology in volcanic rifted margins: Petroleum Geoscience, v. 15, p. 313-324.
- Victoria M. Martin, Daniel J. Morgan, Dougal A. Jerram, Mark J. Caddick, David J. Prior, Jon P. Davidson. 2008 Bang! Month-Scale Eruption Triggering at Santorini Volcano. SCIENCE 2008 VOL 321 page 1178.
- Dougal A. Jerram, & Victoria Martin 2008 Understanding crystal populations and their significance through the magma plumbing system. In: ANNEN, C. & ZELLMER, G. F. (eds) Dynamics of Crustal Magma Transfer, Storage and Differentiation. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 304, 133–148.
- Dougal A. Jerram, & Jon Davidson. 2007. Frontiers in textural and microgeochemical analysis. ELEMENTS 3: 235-238.
- Dougal A. Jerram, & Micheal Higgins. 2007. 3D Analysis of Rock Textures: Quantifying Igneous Microstructures. ELEMENTS 3: 239–245.
- Morgan, D.J., Jerram, D.A., Chertkoff, D.G., Davidson, J.P., Pearson, D.G., Kronz, A. & Nowell, G.M. 2007. Combining CSD and isotopic microanalysis: Magma supply and mixing processes at Stromboli Volcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. Earth & Planetary Science Letters 260(3-4): 419-431
- Dougal A Jerram, Adam Kent (2006) An Overview of Modern Trends in Petrography: Textural and Microanalysis of Igneous Rocks. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 154, Issues 1-2, Pages vii-ix.
- Dan Morgan & Dougal A. Jerram (2006) On estimating crystal shape for crystal size distribution analysis. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 154, Issues 1-2 , Pages 1-7.
- Dougal A. Jerram, & Mike Widdowson (2005) The anatomy of Continental Flood Basalt Provinces: Geological constraints on the processes and products of flood volcanism. Lithos 79, 385-405. (IF 2.561).
- Alex Mock & Dougal A Jerram, (2005) Crystal size distributions in three dimensions: insights from the 3D reconstruction of a highly porphyritic rock texture Journal of Petrology 46: 1525-1541. (IF 3.283).
- Richard T. Single & Dougal A. Jerram, (2004) The 3-D facies architecture of flood basalt provinces and their internal heterogeneity: examples from the Palaeogene Skye Lava Field. Journal of Geological Society 161, 911-926. (IF 2.183).
- Dougal A. Jerram, Michael, J. Cheadle & Anthony R. Philpotts (2003). Quantifying the building blocks of igneous rocks: Are clustered crystal frameworks the foundation? Journal of Petrology Vol 44(11), 2033-2051 (IF 3.283).
- Dougal A. Jerram & Harald Stollhofen. (2002) Lava/sediment interaction in desert settings; are all peperite-like textures the result of magma-water interaction? Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 114, 231-249. (IF 1.003).
- Dougal A. Jerram (2002) Volcanology and facies architecture of flood basalts, in Menzies, M.A., Klemperer, S.L., Ebinger, C.J. and Baker, J., eds., Volcanic Rifted Margins: Geological Society of America Special Paper 362, p. 119-132.
- Dougal A. Jerram Visual comparators for degree of sorting in 2-D and 3-D. (2001) Computers and Geoscience 27, 485-492.
- Dougal A. Jerram & Olivier Robbe (2001). Building a 3-D geologic model of a Flood Basalt: an example from the Etendeka, NW Namibia. Electronic Geoscience 6:1.
- Dougal A. Jerram & Michael J Cheadle (2000) On the cluster analysis of rocks American Mineralogist, 85, 47-67.
- Dougal A. Jerram, Nigel Mountney, John Howell, Harald Stollhofen, & Danny Long. (2000) Death of a sand sea: An active aeolian erg systematically buried by the Etendeka Flood Basalts of NW NamibiaJournal of the Geological Society, 157, 513-516.
- Dougal A. Jerram, Nigel Mountney & Harald Stollhofen (1999) Facies architecture of the Etjo Sandstone Formation and its interaction with the basal Etendeka flood basalts of NW Namibia: Implications for offshore analogues. In, Cameron, N., Bate, R. and Clure, V. (eds.), Oil and gas habitats of the South Atlantic. Geological Society of London Special Publication 153, 367-380.
- Dougal A. Jerram, Nigel Mountney, Frank Holzförster & Harald Stollhofen (1999) Stratigraphic relation in the Etendeka Group in the Huab Basin, NW Namibia: Understanding the onset of flood volcanism. Journal of Geodynamics 28, 393-418.
- Dougal A. Jerram, Michael J. Cheadle, Robert H. Hunter & Michael T. Elliott (1996) The spatial distribution of grains and crystals in rocks. Cont. Mineral. & Petrol. 125:60-74.