Stephen Grimes

Stephen Grimes is an Associate Professor in Stable Isotope Geochemistry and Climate Change at the University of Plymouth's School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. With a career spanning over two decades, he has supervised numerous PhD and Master's students, including Dr. Camille Dusséaux (2019), Dr. Mohammed Chaanda (2016), and Ms. Lucy Full (MGeol 2013/14). His roles have included Senior Tutor and Earth Sciences Programme Manager (2012-2016), and he holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (2004).

• Education:
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (2004)

Dr. Grimes specializes in paleoclimatic reconstruction using stable isotopes and geochemical proxies. His work spans critical climate events such as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), Eocene-Oligocene transitions, and Permian-Triassic extinctions. He applies multi-proxy approaches to terrestrial and marine sediments, focusing on isotope stratigraphy, fluid-rock interactions, and planetary geology analogues.

His recent publications (2023-2018) examine volcanic impacts on climate change, Martian volcanism analogues, and PETM sediment dynamics. Articles demonstrate expertise in carbon isotopes, mercury records, and flood basalt comparisons across planetary bodies. Keywords include Paleoclimatology, Geochemistry, and Comparative Planetology.

Supervised students have explored topics ranging from London Clay Formation analysis (Ms. Charis Vale) to ocean acidification effects (Ms. Tracey Aze). He mentors Nuffield Foundation undergraduates and collaborates internationally, including Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University.

• Key Institutions:
  • University of Plymouth
  • Faculty of Science and Engineering