Dougal Alexander Jerram (born 12 December 1969) is a British geologist/earth scientist, and television and media presenter/contributor.
As an earth sciences expert, he has appeared on the BBC, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, History Channel and Channel 4, and on many other TV and radio programs, relating the earth sciences to the general public. He has published over 45 scientific papers, has edited for scientific journals, and has held posts on committees including the Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group of the Geological Society. In 2006 he received the Murchison Fund by the Geological Society of London for his early career contribution to geology.
Early life and career
Born in 1969, Dougal grew up in the London suburbs (with a brief stint in Manchester). His love for geology and the Earth was first realised whilst studying at London's Northwood School. Studying geology, he graduated from Cardiff University in 1992. He obtained his doctorate in 1996 at the University of Liverpool based on his research into ways that textures in volcanic and igneous rocks were formed and could be studied.
He began his professional career in 1996 with a two-year postdoctoral position at the University of Würzburg, Germany. In 1998 he returned to the UK and spent 13 years as research fellow, lecturer and senior lecturer at the University of Durham. In June 2011 he set up DougalEARTH Ltd., where he combines his pursuits in consultancy, media, research and teaching.
Television and media career
Dougal's first major TV appearance was on a popular science expedition to Ethiopia called 'The Hottest Place on Earth' for the BBC and discovery in 2009, having appeared early that year on Britain From Above with Andrew Marr. He has subsequently appeared on a number of science-related films, usually at or very near live volcanoes. In 2010 he reported extensively on the air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption in live TV interviews on BBC, Sky News, ITV and various radio programs, and in features for Channel 4 news, BBC and The Guardian. He has also made live TV appearances as Dr Volcano for The One Show on BBC.
TV and media contributions
Britain from Above (shown August 2008), Geology expert in Episode 3 of Andrew Marr's BBC1 series. Produced by LION TV (Director – Cassian Harrison)., also shown in the United States on the Discovery Channel Hottest Place on Earth (March 2009), 2x 1 hour BBC1, 3 × 1 hour BBC Worldwide, 1x 1hour Discovery Channel. Co-host on Popular science expedition to see the volcanoes and people of the Afar Region in Ethiopia alongside Kate Humble and Steve Leonard. Produced by Lion TV (Producer/Director – Rupert Smith, Katie Crawford, Justin Kelly and Max Shapira)
"In The Hottest Place on Earth, a team of scientists and adventurers descended on a low-lying part of Ethiopia to analyse volcanic activity, the landscape and the way of life of the tribe. Dougal Jerram, the geologist, was fantastic, explaining how the rocky landscape was tilted along cracks in the Earth's crust." – The Times, 20 March 2009.
How the Earth Was Made – Vesuvius (November 2009), 1 × 1 hour History Channel. On screen Earth Sciences Presenter on sections for Pompeii and Herculanuem. Produced by Pioneer Productions (Director – Belinda Kirk) Iceland Volcano: The Next Eruption (Aired 16 May 2010) (Discovery/BBC worldwide) Volcano on-screen expert on one off quick turn around about Iceland Volcanic Crisis. Produced by Atlantic Productions (Producer/director – Oliver Page). Clash of the Continents (July – on, 2010), 2 x 1hour National Geographic channel – worldwide. On screen Earth Sciences Presenter including Vesuvius, Stromboli, Super-volcanoes and plate tectonics. Produced by Natural History New Zealand (Director – Mike Ibeji). Birth of Britain (September – on, 2010) On screen Earth Sciences expert alongside Tony Robinson for National Geographic & Channel 4. Volcanic Britain as part of the Birth of Britain series Produced by Pioneer Productions.
Books
As well as contributing a significant volume of scientific literature (see publications list), Dougal has written two earth science books:
The Field Description of Igneous Rocks, 2nd Edition by Dougal Jerram & Nick Petford, published by Wiley, 2011 Introducing Volcanology: A Guide to Hot Rocks, by Dougal Jerram, published by Dunedin Academic Press, 2011