Professor
Jane Francis
Ancient climates and fossil plants of the Arctic and Antarctica
My principal research interests are ancient climates and palaeobotany. I specialise in the study of fossil plants, especially wood and leaves, and their use as tools for climate interpretation and information about past biodiversity. My current work focuses on understanding past climate change during both greenhouse and icehouse periods, particularly in the polar regions, the areas on Earth most sensitive to climate change.
I have been awarded the Polar Medal for my contribution to British polar research, presented by H.M. Queen in March 2002. I have been invited to participate in numerous polar research expeditions, including Canadian Arctic 1986/7/8/9; UK Antarctica 1989/99, 2001/6; NZ Antarctica 1990/1; USA Antarctica 1993/4, 2003/4
More details about research projects can be found at:
White Rose Palaeobiology Group
As Geology lecturer on the expedition cruise ship Clipper Adventurer, with the penguins on Paulet Island, Antarctic Peninsula.
Fossil twigs from prostrate shrubs of southern beech, from the Sirius Group strata, Oliver Bluffs, Transantarctic Mountains
Current research students 2004
ANDRILL: an international drilling programme to recover Tertiary rock sequences in the Ross Sea region, Antarctica to understand the nature of the onset of the Cenozoic ice age and climate change.