Christine Peirce

Professor Christine Peirce is a distinguished Professor of Marine Geophysics in the Department of Earth Sciences at Durham University, where she has served since 1990, progressing from Lecturer to Reader and finally to Professor. She directs the Ocean Bottom Instrumentation Consortium, a collaborative effort between Durham University and the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, dedicated to advancing marine geoscience through innovative instrumentation and technical support.

Professor Peirce's research spans marine geophysics with a focus on continental margins, subduction systems, mid-ocean ridges, and oceanic islands. Her expertise includes lithospheric flexure, gravity and geoid anomalies, and the design and development of seabed geophysical instrumentation. She has participated in more than 30 marine geophysical cruises, 20 as Principal or Co-principal Scientist, applying marine geophysical methodologies to diverse geological targets.

Her extensive publication record demonstrates expertise in seismic imaging of oceanic structures, crustal accretion processes, and the interaction between tectonics and magmatism at various spreading centers. Recent work explores whale vocalization detection using seismic networks, highlighting interdisciplinary applications of geophysical methods. Her research has significantly advanced understanding of oceanic crust formation, lithospheric deformation, and the structural evolution of plate boundaries.

• 2014: Winner of the Coke Medal from the Geological Society of London
• Fellow of the Geological Society of London (Council member)
• Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (Vice President for Geophysics)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member of the American Geophysical Union
• Member of the British Geophysical Association

Professor Peirce has served on numerous NERC peer review panels including the Earth Sciences Peer Review Committee, Research Vessel Advisory Panel, and Ocean Margins committees. She regularly reviews grant applications for NERC and NSF and serves as a reviewer for leading geophysical journals. Her leadership in the Ocean Bottom Instrumentation Consortium has provided critical resources for marine geoscience research across the academic community.

As Director of the Ocean Bottom Instrumentation Consortium, Professor Peirce oversees a team of engineers and scientists dedicated to maintaining, operating, and developing ocean-bottom instruments. The Consortium supports marine geoscience research through instrumentation provision and technical expertise, fostering collaborations across academic institutions and with industry partners.