Matthew is a sedimentologist and geomorphologist specialising in how landscapes change due to environmental processes and human intervention. He is currently Head of the Institute for Landscape and Human Evolution at Bournemouth University.
He is known for his work on human footprints and the translation of this work into forensic practice. Due to the various management roles he has held at BU, Matthew also has expertise in a wide range of issues associated with higher education.
Matthew has extensive radio, television and press experience.
Matthew’s work is regularly featured in The Conversation with his research, a piece of software called DigTrace that allows for the analysis of footprints, is being utilised by the police to catch criminals. This research was displayed at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition.
Most recently, Matthew has led an international team of scientists in the discovery of the oldest evidence of humans in the Americas, changing our understanding of human migration in the region. He spoke extensively in the media, taking part in documentaries in the US, UK and France.