Scientists within the group have international reputations in the taxonomy, palaeoecology and distribution in time and space of fossil organisms. We have expertise in many of the key invertebrate groups, microfossils, particularly their applications in palaeoclimate interpretation and trace fossils, especially the impact of bioturbation on the history of our planet.  Our research is strongly grounded in geological fieldwork.  Interdisciplinary research programs include:

• Early Palaeozoic Lagerstätten
• Palaeozoic ecosystems, including origin, diversifications and extinctions
• Reconstructing deep time climates
• Bioengineering of marine sediments

Our research is funded from a range of sources including the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Agouron Institute, the Danish Council for Independent Research, the petroleum industry and charities. We have a wide network of research collaborators in the UK and overseas, particularly in western Europe, Canada, the USA, China and Australia.

The group work in a large variety of spectacular field areas, where Lower Palaeozoic rocks crop out, ranging from the Arctic wastes of North Greenland to the roof of the World in Tibet (both shown below).