Core expertise

Ocean floor geochemistry
Intra-plate volcanism
Large scale geochemical
Early solar system sciences
Meteorites
Volcanology
Petrology
Planetology

Biography

Oliver is a high temperature geochemist who uses rock and mineral chemistry and stable and radiogenic isotope compositions to study present and past geologic processes. He oversees the radiogenic isotope facilities in the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment.

Oliver’s research focuses on the evolution and interaction of the Earth's crust and its underlying mantle. Although our understanding of the deep geologic processes taking place on our planet has increased greatly over the past couple of decades, he says, the inherent complexity of volcanic activity makes it nearly impossible to forecast volcanic eruptions more than minutes or hours before they occur.

“It is important to remember that we live on a tectonically active planet where events such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and associated tsunamis are natural phenomena.”