He studied Geological Science and Physics at Leeds University and then undertook post-graduate research in seismology. Joining the British Geological Survey as a geophysicist he specialised in earth observation and image analysis. During this time he carried out multi-disciplinary research using satellite, airborne and thematic imagery for environmental studies and worked with research institutes in different areas of science in the UK and overseas. He was active in the Public Understanding of Science and was awarded a British Science Association Media Fellowship with the BBC. In his spare time he was an associate lecturer with the Open University on the multi-disciplinary course on oceanography.