David Sear

Professor David Sear is a faculty member at the University of Southampton, affiliated with the Landscape Dynamics and Ecology research group and the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute. His research focuses on sedimentology, coastal processes, and environmental change, with particular emphasis on tsunamis, fluvial systems, and human impacts on landscapes. He leads projects investigating sediment pathways in floodplains, paleotsunami records in the Pacific, and climate change effects on ecosystems.

Key research projects include mapping submerged medieval towns like Dunwich, analyzing tropical Pacific climate records through crater lake sediments, and assessing tsunami mitigation strategies in Polynesian settings. His work integrates field studies, geochemical analyses, and interdisciplinary collaboration with organizations such as the FAO and National Geographic Society.

Professor Sear has contributed to over 30 peer-reviewed articles, with recent publications addressing topics like forested coastal ecosystems' tsunami resilience, Hawaiian paleotsunami histories, and salmonid embryo thermal thresholds. He actively engages in knowledge transfer through invited talks at academic and community organizations, including the Southern Regional Royal Geographical Society and the Environment Agency.

His research has been supported by grants from NERC, the Atlantic Salmon Trust, and the UK Food and Agriculture Organization, demonstrating a strong record of securing interdisciplinary funding. Professional service includes membership on the Forestry Commission England and advisory roles in flood risk management initiatives.