The Global Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Matt's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
About Matt
Chartered geoScientist and Lecturer in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. I joined Plymouth in 2022 after 13 years in industry. I am fascinated by the role that the subsurface can play in decarbonisation, with research interests in how groundwater-rock interactions govern the peformance of low-temperature geothermal systems and impact the safety of radioactive waste disposal facilities.
Previous roles in industry:
2017 - 2022 Research Manager, Nuclear Waste Services
Nuclear Waste Services is the organisation responsible for delivering a geological disposal facility for the UK's inventory of c.280,000 tonnes of higher activity radioactive wastes. This is a community-led, major infrastructure project with an estimated life-cycle cost of the order of tens of £ billions. As Research Manager, I was responsible for delivering needs driven research to underpin designs and safety cases for the geological disposal facility. Leading project teams in the supply chain and academia to advance understanding of groundwater chemistry and bentonite engineered barrier systems. Additionally, I represented the UK programme on international research group steering committees and review boards.
2016 - 2017 Environmental Geochemist, CE Geochem Ltd.
CE Geochem is a specialist laboratory and an SME. Designing and undertaking research and applied environmental geochemistry projects, mainly for clients working in the contaminated land sector. Specific projects I led involved exploring the efficacy and optimisation of remediation approaches such as, permeable reactive barriers (PRBs), chemical oxidation of groundwater pollutants (chemox) and mass stabilisation of contaminated soils.
2008 - 2016 Assistant Technical Manager / Doctoral Researcher, Coal Authority
Abandoned mines are a widespread and persistent source of aquatic pollution, preventing many waterbodies from reaching good chemical and ecological status. The Coal Authority, working in partnership with the Environment Agency and DEFRA, has been implementing a prioritised programme of characterising and remediating pollution from abandoned coal and metal mines throughout the UK. My role at the Coal Authority involved technical management and stakeholder engagement, with a specific remit for activities in the North East of England. In 2014 I was seconded to Newcastle University to complete a PhD, exploring how resources (such as geothermal energy and valuable metals) could be recovered from abandoned mines.
Contact Matt
A508 Portland Square, Drake Circus , Plymouth, PL4 8AA
+44 1752 584572
matt.baileyross@plymouth.ac.uk
