John-Paul Latham

Dr. John-Paul Latham is a Professor of Geomechanics at Imperial College London's Department of Earth Science & Engineering, part of the Faculty of Engineering. He leads research in structural geology, coastal engineering, and rock mechanics, with a focus on numerical modeling using the combined finite-discrete element method (FEMDEM). His work includes the development of the Virtual Geoscience Workbench (VGW) and the Solidity project, advancing applications in energy transition, geothermal systems, and coastal structures.

Education: Ph.D. (1983), M.Sc. (1977), and B.Sc. (1975) in Geology from Imperial College London and Bristol University.

Research interests span fracture propagation, fluid-solid coupling, and granular processes. Key contributions include the 240-page chapter on materials in the CIRIA Rock Manual (2007) and the 2015 Rock Mechanics Prize from ARMA. He has led over eight EPSRC grants and international collaborations, notably with Wuhan University.

Awards include keynote addresses at global conferences (e.g., Twente 2019, Dalian 2016) and roles as editor and committee member in coastal and discrete element modeling forums.

His work on rubble breakwaters, geothermal energy, and radioactive waste disposal demonstrates cross-disciplinary impact. Tools like Solidity and VGeST have enabled realistic simulations of complex geomechanical systems.