Lewis Alcott

I'm a biogeochemist interested in answering multidisciplinary questions associated with Earth surface processes and events including past, present and future environmental change.

I started off doing a Master of Geoscience degree at Keele University, UK (2011-2015), in Geology and Physics where I started to explore nutrient availability in the global ocean. I later completed my PhD at the University of Leeds, UK, focusing on nutrient availability throughout Earth history. I did this by developing skills in biogeochemical modelling with Benjamin Mills and analytical geochemistry with Simon Poulton.

I then went on to have short research positions with the University of Leeds and the University of St. Andrews where I explored other aspects of Earth's surface, such as tracing volcanism using mercury as well as greenhouse gas concentrations through time.

I later moved to Yale University, USA, as a G. Evelyn Hutchinson Environmental Fellow in the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies to investigate spatial uncertainty associated with geochemical records, and incoroporate my temporal understanding with a more spatial understanding. Whilst here, I worked with Noah Planavsky on a variety of greenhouse gas and geochemical modelling studies as well as branching out into working with geological concepts in a social science framework.

Before moving to Bristol, I was a research associate at the University of Waterloo, Canada, with Philippe Van Cappellen and Fereidoun Rezanezhad in the Ecohydrology Research Group, continuing to investigate various nutrient and carbon cycles on local and regional scales, but also applying my modelling techniques to the evergrowing microplastic problem.

After my PhD, I have also developed the CanGamesTeach scheme that attempts to use digital games to teach academic subjects including Earth Sciences.