Professor Paul Morris delivers 1st Faculty Inaugural Lecture
The faculty was delighted to host Professor Morris’ lecture in celebration of his impressive research career.
On Wednesday 7 October, Professor Paul Morris gave the opening lecture in the Faculty of Environment and Social Sciences Inaugural Lecture Series – a series which celebrates the achievement of colleagues who have been promoted to or appointed at the rank of Professor.
Professor Paul Morris is a Professor of Biogeoscience in the School of Geography.
His research aims to understand the role of wetlands in the Earth system, and their response to external drivers such as climate and human alteration. He is particularly interested in carbon-dense wetlands such as peatlands and mangroves and uses modelling, field and laboratory techniques in the pursuit of his research questions.
Paul delivered his inaugural lecture, “How Peatlands Remember”, to an audience of colleagues, students, family and friends.
Professor Morris delivering his inaugural lecture.
The lecture saw Paul reflect on various collaborative research projects from his extensive research career through the concept of memory in the natural landscapes of peatlands across the world. In so doing, he explored memory as (1) an archive of past events, (2) a record which is patchy, biased and incomplete, and (3) something that degrades over time.
Having established this framework, Paul then presented the ways in which his research has been able to provide deep insights into the past, present and futures of peatlands, while also exemplifying the necessary collaborative team efforts involved in completing research projects.
In emphasising the importance of the team in the research projects, Paul also reflected on lessons learned over the course of his academic career about collaborative work: (1) surround yourself with excellent people, (2) empower people through trust, and (3) search for simplicity in scientific conclusions.
The lecture was followed by a Q&A session, and finally by a drinks reception.
Audience question asked by Dr James Greenwood-Reeves (School of Law).
The second Faculty of Environment and Social Sciences Inaugural Lecture will be delivered by the School of Education’s Professor Vanessa Kind at 4pm on Wednesday 11 November 2026.
If you are not a colleague or postgraduate researcher in the Faculty of Environment and Social Sciences and would like to be added to the mailing list for the series, please email Dr Izzy Jenkinson (Faculty Events and Communications Officer) at I.K.Jenkinson@leeds.ac.uk.
Audience applause for Professor Morris' Faculty Inaugural Lecture.
