About

I am a Senior Lecturer in Geology and the programme leader for the BSc Earth Sciences degree programme.

Teaching responsibilities

I am the Programme Leader for theBSc in Earth Sciences.

I teach on numerous undergraduate modules on the BSc (Hons) Earth Sciences, and Environmental Science and Sustainability degrees including:

• 3GL500 Foundations in Geoscience (level 3)*
• 4GL510 Earth Scientist's Toolkit for Beginners (level 4)*
• 4GL511 Advanced Toolkit for Earth Scientists (level 4)
• 4GL506 Earth Materials (level 4)*
• 4GL505 Critical Resources (level 4)*
• 5GL511 Structural Analysis (level 5)*
• 5GL512 Volcanic and Metamorphic Systems (level 5)
• 5GL510 Sustainable Geological Resources (level 5)*
• 6GL503 Engineering Geology (level 6)*

[*] Module Leader

I supervise undergraduate students during their third-year Independent Research Projects as well as Masters Projects.  I have also supervised PhD student projects.

I'm an experienced field geologist, have led single day and residential field trips in both the UK and overseas, and have a passion for training students in the field.

I also contribute on field trips in other subject areas, such as Field Biology (Tenerife) and Tropical Conservation Biology (Costa Rica).

Professional interests

Specialisms in structural geology, geological field skills, mineral deposits and engineering geology.

Research interests

• Structural Geology of the Monian Supergroup, Anglesey, N. Wales
• Fluid inclusion analysis of mineral deposits

Membership of professional bodies

• Fellow of the Geological Society of London (FGSL)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• Consultative committee member of Extractive Industry Geology (EIG)
• Associate Member of The Institute of Quarrying.

Qualifications

Undergraduate Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Geology, University of Derby

Research Qualifications

• PhD - Quartz vein emplacement within polydeformed terrains, Anglesey, N. Wales., University of Derby

Recent conferences

• Phethean, J.J.J., Chamberlain, K.J., Boulay, A., McLennan, L.J., Watson, A.P., 2019. Pedagogy of structural measurements in the field: A comparison of the compass clinometer vs digital field work apps on learning and retention for male and female students. AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, US
  
  
• Watson, A.P., Phethean, J.J.J., 2019. Clues of a Cryptic Collapse: New extension indicators identified from the Early Ordovician margin of Avalonia constrained as post Penobscotian Orogenic collapse. AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, US

Experience in industry

I have worked for a Geotechnical Consultancy on several projects within the UK characterising the Engineering properties of cored soil samples (logged to BSEN 5930).

I have also produced reports detailing the mineralogy and porosity of sedimentary core samples from UK and major international oil and gas bearing formations.  

International experience

I have experience of running fieldwork in the following locations:

• The Betics of Southern Spain
• The volcanics, flora, and fauna of Tenerife, Spai
• The Environmental Hazards and Geology of the Pacific NW USA
• The Environmental Hazards and Geology of Morocco
• The geology, flora, and fauna of Costa Rica

Additional interests and activities

In addition to my professional interest in geology I also have an interest in moths. I regularly trap moths in Derbyshire, and have trapped in Morocco, Tenerife, and Costa Rica. In recent years I've supervised both undergraduate and MSc moth based projects.