Richard Pearce

Dr Richard Pearce is a Research Fellow and Laboratory Manager of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) laboratories within Ocean and Earth Science at the University of Southampton. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in advanced microscopy and mineralogical analysis, supporting both academic and commercial research. His expertise spans lab management, instrument maintenance, and consultancy across diverse disciplines.

Research interests focus on paleoclimatology through varve analysis, clay mineralogy, and archaeological materials. Key projects include studying past climate shifts via marine and freshwater sediments, and applying SEM techniques to ancient artifacts. He contributes to interdisciplinary collaborations, including the Windermere Research project investigating environmental changes.

Publications highlight his work on sediment microfabrics, climate proxies, and resource potential of oceanic crusts. Pearce also leads lab operations critical to geoscience and archaeological studies, emphasizing cutting-edge analytical methods.