Derek John Rust Portrait

Dr Derek Rust

Associate Professor in Applied Geology

Derek.Rust@port.ac.uk

PhD Supervisor

Faculty of Science and Health School of the Environment and Life Sciences Environmental Geography and Geosciences Sustainability and the environment Centre for Applied Geosciences Risk Reduction and Resilience

Biography

After graduating from the University of London I was fortunate in gaining a research post at the University of California, where I obtained my PhD working on the San Andreas fault, a long-standing fascination of mine. I then taught at Humboldt State University in northern California before returning home to take up research and teaching posts at the University of Edinburgh and Brunel University before coming to ´óÏó´«Ã½ in 2007.

Research interests

I am fortunate to work in many geologically exciting parts of the world, collaborating with a wide range of talented researchers. This typically involves detailed field-based studies within a multidisciplinary approach. My research aims to contribute by gaining a better understanding of such problems as geological hazards.  More specific research interests include:

  • Palaeoseismology and earthquake hazards, exposure to risk and mitigation measures.
  • Volcano geodynamics and hazards, particularly flank instability.
  • Structural geology and tectonics, particularly neotectonics.
  • Slope stability studies, particularly related to seismically triggered landslides, landslide dammed lakes and coastline retreat.
  • Using palaeo sea-level indicators in analysing recent tectonic activity.
  • Comparison of long-term geologically determined deformation rates and short-term GPS-determined rates.
  • Exposure to hazardous minerals in the environment.
  • Use of UAV (drone) technology in mapping and analysing complex structural domains.