Mark Hodson

Mark Hodson is Anniversary Professor of Environmental Science in the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York, serving as Head of Department from 2015-2019. Previously, he held progressive academic roles at the University of Reading (1999-2012), including Professor of Environmental Mineralogy and Geochemistry, where he founded and directed the Soil Research Centre. His educational background includes a BA in Geology from the University of Oxford and a PhD from the University of Edinburgh on igneous petrology.

His research integrates mineralogy, chemistry, and biology to investigate:

• Earthworm contributions to soil ecosystem services and carbon cycling
• Biogeochemical processes in contaminated soils and remediation strategies
• Mineral weathering kinetics under environmental stresses
• Impacts of microplastics and metals on soil health

Recent publication trends reveal a strong focus on earthworm ecotoxicology, microplastic interactions in agricultural systems, and advanced modeling approaches for environmental risk assessment.

Major scientific recognitions include:

• Houtermans Medal (European Association for Geochemistry)
• Max Hey Medal (Mineralogical Society)
• Honorary Research Fellowship (Natural History Museum)

He actively advises PhD candidates and secured significant grants including:

• Leverhulme Trust funding for 'Seeing earthworms in the dark' (2018-2020)
• NERC projects on 'Red Soil Critical Zones' and 'SoilBioHedge'

He founded the interdisciplinary Soil Research Centre at Reading, coordinating 30+ staff and 40+ PhD students.