1. Faculty of Environment
  2. School of Earth and Environment
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Professor Benjamin J. W. Mills

Professor Benjamin J. W. Mills

Profile

I am a biogeochemist and numerical modeller who works on the evolution of the Earth System over geological time. I am interested in the changes in the surface environment that have made our planet habitable for complex life, what has driven these changes, and whether a similar trajectory might be possible on other worlds.

I lead the Earth Evolution Modelling Group, which built and maintains the SCION Earth Evolution Model – the world’s only 3D simulated planetary environment that can be integrated over billions of years. Our new ERC/UKRI project ‘SIM-EARTH’ is developing the second generaiton of this framework, and hopes to answer many exciting questions about how our planet works, and how planetary environments in general might be expected to evolve.

SCION model

 

I am the chair of the Earth System Science Group of the Geological Socitey of London, and lead the yearly Life and Planet conference 

Research interests

  • Earth System Modelling
  • Co-evolution of Earth and Life
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Paleoclimate
  • Paleobiology and Paleoecology
  • Exoplanets
<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Some research projects I'm currently working on, or have worked on, will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • PhD, University of East Anglia
  • MMath, University of East Anglia

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Geological Society of London (FGS)
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Member of the American Geophysical Union
  • Member of the European Geosciences Union
  • Member of the Geological Society of America
  • Member of the European Association of Geochemistry
  • Member of the Geochemical Society

Student education

  • Level 1: Earth history, co-evolution of Earth and life
  • Level 2: Computer programming and data analytics
  • Level 3: Carbon cycle modelling
  • Level 5: Advanced Earth System modelling

Research groups and institutes

  • Earth Surface Science Institute
  • Cohen Geochemistry
  • Palaeo@Leeds

Current postgraduate researchers

<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>