Life past and present

We decipher the geological record to reveal the history of life, and address key issues facing our modern lives
We explore the origin, evolution, distribution and extinction of living organisms throughout geological time, hunting for records of life in terrestrial – and extra-terrestrial – environments. We:
- study how the ancient ocean circulated;
- probe whether there has ever been life on Mars;
- characterise organic matter in meteorites;
- reconstruct three-dimensional models of fossils;
- model global environmental change; and
- map out major observed patterns in species evolution and biodiversity.
Our modelling of fluid and air flows and work on sustainability helps us to tackle issues facing our lives today – from how pollution disperses through urban environments to impact human health to developing greener forms of energy that will help safeguard our future on Earth and support a Transition to Zero Pollution.
Associated Research Groups
Associated events and seminars
You can see all previous and forthcoming seminars via the ESE Events and Seminars pages.
Associated members of staff
Professor Peter A Allison
Professor Peter A Allison
Professor of Earth Science
Professor Christopher Pain

Professor Christopher Pain
Professorial Research Fellow
Dr Yves Plancherel

Dr Yves Plancherel
Lecturer in Climate Change and the Environment
Professor Mark Rehkamper

Professor Mark Rehkamper
Professor of Isotope Geochemistry
Dr Gareth G Roberts

Dr Gareth G Roberts
Senior Lecturer
Professor Mark A Sephton

Professor Mark A Sephton
Professor of Organic Geochemistry
Dr Mark D Sutton
Dr Mark D Sutton
Senior Lecturer
Professor Mike Warner

Professor Mike Warner
Professor
Professor Dominik J Weiss
Professor Dominik J Weiss
Professor of Environmental Geochemistry