Professor Lionel Wilson
Emeritus Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Email: l.wilson at lancaster.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1524 593889
Fax: +44 (0)1524 593985


My main research interests are in the fluid mechanics of volcanic processes. Because I try to develop general models of processes, I have found that applying these to volcanic features on the other planets is at least as informative as applying them to volcanoes and volcanic deposits on Earth. I have subsidiary interests in the use of remote sensing techniques to detect and monitor eruptions, an off-shoot of spending so much time looking at spacecraft images of planetary surfaces.

I have worked in the Environmental Science Department at Lancaster University since 1970, having acted as advisor to more than 30 graduate students. Over the years I have developed strong links with the Planetary Geosciences Group at Brown University and the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology. I visit both of these establishments for significant parts of each year to pursue ongoing research projects. In 1997 I took an (extremely!) early retirement deal at Lancaster where I now occupy a one-quarter position, my main responsibility being to lead the Planetary Science Research Group (though I still teach 2 undergraduate courses). I also act as one of the co-editors of the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research.

When I am not working I enjoy listening to classical music and (if it is not raining too hard) fell walking in the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales with my wife.