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Geology, micropaleontology, nannofossils, coccolithophores, palaeobiology, paleoceanography, biostratigraphy, taxonomy, Mesozoic, Cenozoic
Professor of Micropalaeontology
Appointment: | Room: |
|---|---|
| Professor of Micropalaeontology | Kathleen Lonsdale, 109 |
Courses Taught: | |
| GEOL0003 History of Life | |
Research Group(s): | |
| Micropalaeontology Group | |
Email Address: | Telephone Number: |
| p.bown@ucl.ac.uk | 020 3108 6360 (56360) |
Research Summary
Research has focused upon various aspects of calcareous nannoplankton (calcareous-scale-bearing, phytoplanktonic algae) which have an abundant and long fossil record and are principally used in sediment dating/correlation and palaeoceanography, with more recent applications in palaeobiology, evolution and biomineralisation studies.
Professor of Micropalaeontology whose research focuses on the palaeobiology and geological applications of coccolithophores and calcareous nannofossils. He has provided overarching evolutionary, diversity and taxonomic frameworks for the fossil history of this group, elucidated their initial Jurassic diversification history, and shown that evolutionary rates and extinction-selectivity data can be used to establish links between evolution and forcing mechanisms. His work on the development of nannofossils as stratigraphic tools has included new dating schemes for the Jurassic and Cretaceous and resulted in the benchmark publication Calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy (Bown, 1998). He currently serves on councils and committees of the Geological Society of London (Stratigraphy Commission), International Nannoplankton Association (current President) and International Commission on Stratigraphy (current Secretary-General).