NERC KE Fellowship

Prof Bob Holdsworth

What are NERC KE Fellows? 

The NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellows are individuals within universities (academics, postdoctoral researchers) who are tasked with facilitating the sharing and flow of knowledge and expertise between NERC-funded researchers in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and Research and Collaborative Centres and their user communities. In essence they are the gatekeepers referred to in the opening webpage. The focus of the fellowship can be on government policy, NGOs, and business.  

There are currently 8 UK KE Fellows

Bob Holdsworth

Professor Bob Holdsworth is one of the most senior KE Fellows in the scheme. He represents both the Institute for Hazard, Risk & Resilience (IHRR) and the Durham Energy Institute (DEI).

He was appointed Professor of Structural Geology in 2004 and served as Head of Department from 2005-2009 and 2010-2012 in the Department of Earth Sciences at Durham University. 

Bob is a leading international authority on the nature, causes and significance of fault reactivation and weakening, with specific expertise in the analysis of fractured rocks and fault rock textures in a broad range of geological settings.

He has extensive experience as PI and Co-I in NERC-funded research projects and has served as a member of the NERC PRC. This research also led directly to the successful launch of a commercial spin-out company, Geospatial Research Limited of which he is CEO. In his role as KE Fellow, he has helped launch a second spin-out company in Durham, 'Geoenergy Durham Ltd'.

Over 70% of his research has been funded by industry, including substantial awards from Statoil, BP, Shell, BG and Hess. He played a pivotal role in setting up and launching the highly successful, industry-focussed Centre for Research into Earth Energy Systems (CeREES) in Durham and more recently has helped launch the Durham Energy Institute (DEI).

Bob has published over 150 international peer-reviewed articles and has presented many invited keynote presentations, including most recently 2 keynote talks at the Fall 2009 AGU in San Francisco.

He was awarded Lyell Fund (2000)and the Aberconway Medal (2006) the Geological Society, London. He is also a Fellow of the Geological Society of America and was recently the winner of a Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Doctoral Supervision from the University of Durham (2008).