Matthew Pound

Matthew Pound is a Research Fellow in Physical Geography at Northumbria University, specializing in paleoclimatology and palynology with a focus on Miocene climate and vegetation reconstruction. His research integrates fossil fungi, pollen analysis, and climate modeling to understand past climate dynamics and their implications for contemporary climate change.

Dr. Pound received his MSci Geology (Hons) from the University of Bristol (2004-2008) followed by a PhD in "Middle to Late Miocene terrestrial biota and climate" from the University of Leeds/British Geological Survey (2008-2012). He has held research positions at Northumbria University since 2012, initially as a Research Assistant (2012-2013) before becoming a Research Fellow in 2013.

His research interests center on using fossil fungi and pollen as proxies for paleoclimate reconstruction, with particular emphasis on the Miocene Climatic Optimum as an analog for current global warming. His work spans multiple continents including Europe, North America, South America, and the Arctic, examining how vegetation and ecosystems responded to past warm periods.

Analysis of Dr. Pound's publication record reveals a strong focus on developing global datasets for paleoclimate research, particularly his work on fossil fungi and modern pollen databases. His research demonstrates how past climate changes affected biodiversity patterns, vegetation distribution, and hydrological cycles, providing critical context for understanding current and future climate impacts.

• Fellow of the Geological Society, London
• Fellow Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• Member of AASP - The Palynology Society
• Member of The Micropalaeontological Society
• Member of Young Earth Scientists Network

Dr. Pound currently supervises three postgraduate research students: Jessica O'Connor (investigating Cenozoic climates and forest conservation), Abbie Rogers (studying microplastics in UK woodlands), and Bela McCoy (researching Rupelian to Messinian terrestrial ecosystems). His research has contributed to major collaborative projects including DeepMIP-Miocene and MioVeg1, which aim to improve climate models through paleoclimate data integration.