Jamie Pringle

Biography

I am a Reader in Forensic Geoscience having joined Keele University in 2006. I have held various course programme positions whilst at Keele, including being seconded to lead Forensic Science (2022-2025).

I originally trained as a geologist (BSc Geology, 1996, Royal Holloway) and applied sedimentologist (PhD, 2003, Heriot-Watt University), my evidenced-based research moved onto reservoir analogues (Liverpool 2004, University), through to civil engineering and near-surface geophysics (2005, Reynolds Geo-Sciences Ltd), onto military geoscience and forensic geoscience (2006-, Keele).

A Chartered Geologist, I sit on the Geological Society's Chartership Scrutineering Panel, on the NERC Peer Review College and a member of Near Surface Geophysics, Forensic Geoscience and Education Specialist Sub-Groups of the Geological Society of London.

Research and scholarship

Forensic Geoscience: ongoing collaborative research projects on simulated sites, detection of burial sites, casework with stakeholders and optimisation of robust search protocols and evidenced-based crime scene investigations. These include criminal, civil, humanitarian, environmental and wildlife areas. Active collaboration with Staffordshire Unis Research team, West Mids, Humberside, Lancashire, GMP and Staffordshire Police Services, QUB University, DSTL and the National Crime Agency.

Military Geoscience: extending conflict archaeology sites experience in the UK and Europe (WW1 onwards) using geoscience and intrusive investigation with international colleagues.

Civil Engineering: experience in the industrial and academic application of seismic, electrical, GPR and EM geophysical techniques in a wide range of environments. Current applications include: investigation of contaminated land, landfills, surface subsidence monitoring, brownfield and mineshaft detection.

Provided a REF21 3* Impact Case Study entitled "Forensic Geoscience to aid the Police and Community".

Teaching

T&L pedagogic research: having an MA in Teaching and Learning in HE (Keele, 2012), recently having undertaken and published in pedagogic evidenced-based research in educational eGaming, eXtended Reality (XR), authentic assessments and in a nutshell scaled crime scenes.

HE: Taught at all ranges from Foundation Year, through undergraduate, post-graduate taught and post-graduate research students, apprenticeships plus supervised post-doctoral researchers. Organised various Work Experience and T-level placements from nearby schools and FE colleges.

Professional courses: Have co-led multiple iterations of NERC-funded https://www.keele.ac.uk/envirogeophysics-training/ 5-day residential course with commercial partners RSK Ltd.

Outreach: Run workshops, talks and interactive sessions from Primary, Secondary, FE and Adult Education levels. Was 2015 Keele Outreach Ambassador of the Year. Have over 1/2 million reads on The Conversation.

Outreach

I am fully committed to outreach and widening participation and am involved in a variety of deliveries throughout the year, being nominated for Keele WP outreach academic contributor for the last 4 years.

My standard interactive talk/demonstration is: 'How to find a dead body' which goes down well for 12+ ages, and have also recently developed a 'Mining in WW1' talking about how geology and mining in Flanders, so please get in touch if you want either of these.

Together with Keele and Staffs University colleagues, I have also been awarded a HLF project about the 'Science behind WW1 grant which will run until Christmas 2017, please see here for details.

Finally I run a science club at a local primary school (funded by the Royal Society, Keele outreach and the school PTFA), activity/information KS1/KS2 aligned sample sheets can be downloaded below (please email me if you want the KS2 quiz answers or resources help!)

KS1

• Science Club Gold Panning
• Science Club Germs
• Science Club Light Detectives
• Science Club Matchstick Rockets
• Science Club Plants
• Science Club Technology
• Science Club Vortex Canon
• Science Club Weather

KS2

• Science Club Geologists - KS2
• Science Club Germs - KS2
• Science Club Light Detectives - KS2
• Science Club Matchstick Rockets - KS2
• Science Club Vortex Canon - KS2
• Science Club Technology - KS2
• Science Club Weather - KS2
• Science Club Chemists - KS2
• Science Club Food Science - KS2
• Science Club Temperature - KS2
• Science Club Magnetism - KS2
• Science Club Rockets - KS2
• Science Club Forensics - KS2
• Science Club Planets - KS2
• Science Club Teeth - KS2
• Science Club Metal Detectors - KS2
• Science Club Engineers - KS2
• Science Club Light Kaleidoscopes - KS2

PGT/PGR students

PGR students

Past students

• Eissa, Raad. 2019. Geotechnical site characterisation using seismic and resistivity geophysical techniques. Unpublished PhD thesis, Keele University. QJEGH
• Dick, H.C. 2018. The detection of forensic and archaeological burials using geophysics and soil analysis.  Unpublished PhD Thesis, Keele University.Resulting papers: FSI ; Geophysics ; JFS ; JCA
• Hansen, J.D. 2016. Comparison of near-surface geophysical techniques in forensic and archaeological investigations. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Keele University. Resulting papers: JFS ; FSI ; FSI ; Geolsoc ; JFS ; ESR
• Jervis, J. 2010. The detection of clandestine graves using electrical resistivity surveys: results from controlled experiments and a case study. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Keele University. Resulting papers: JFS ; JFS ; JAG ; JFS ; ESR ; NSG ; FSI ; FSI ; FSI ; JFS

PGT students

• Madden, C. 2019. Environmental forensics: characterising graveyards as a special kind of landfill. Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University.
• Spanton, R. 2019.  The application of microgravity surveying in assessing and monitoring the collapse of two abandoned salt mines in Marston, Cheshire, UK. Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University.
• Fonseca, C. 2019. Using multigeophysical techniques to detect potential clandestine graves in Staffordshire, UK.  Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University. 
• Carr, S. 2019. Multidisciplinary investigation of the Norfolk and Suffolk Auxiliary Unit Operational Bases used in WW2. Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University.
• James McQuade. 2018. Microgravity monitoring of abandoned salt mines and ongoing changes in subsidence within Marston, Cheshire, UK. Unpublished M.Geoscience thesis, Keele University.
• Ainsworth, J. 2017. Geophysical investigations into WW2 air raid shelters. Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University. 
  Resulting paper: JCA
• Cooper, N. 2017. Using geophysical methods to pinpoint the location of a clandestine burial in difficult terrain.  Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University.  
• Francis, J. 2017. Multi-geophysics and survey investigation into geophysical responses of graveyard burials of varying ages and in different soil classifications.  Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University.Resulting paper: Geophysics
• Jones, P. 2017. The effect of building on microgravity surveys.  Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University.  
• Lloyd, Z. 2017. A desk study on the geotechnical parameters of the HS2 Phase 2a route.  Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University. 
• Jessica Fulton. 2016. Long-term time-lapse microgravity of relict salt mines, Marston, Cheshire.   Unpublished M.Geoscience thesis, Keele University.
• Prada, A. 2016. Sedimentological aspects of the Early Namurian deposits (Pendleian-Arnsbergian) of the North Staffordshire Basin, UK).  Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University.
• Rees-Hughes, L. 2016. Multidisciplinary investigation into Allied and Axis POW escape tunnels constructed during WW2.  Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University. Resulting paper:JCA
• Locher, P. 2015. Geophysical investigations of historic Spanish burials. Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University.  
  Resulting paper: FSI
• Van der Putten, R. 2015. Quantifying geophysical response of graves against age of burial.  Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University.  
  Resulting paper: FSI 
• Gethin Evan. 2015. The use of graveyard geophysical surveys to estimate burial age in different soil types.  Unpublished M.Geoscience thesis, Keele University.
• Ian Williams. 2015. Near-surface geophysical survey for the detection of the historical foundations of 16th Century Tixall Hall, Tixall, Staffordshire.  Unpublished M.Geoscience thesis, Keele University. 
• Roberts, D. 2014. Geophysical Exploration of the Cementerio del Salvador, Oviedo, Spain. Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University.  
  Resulting paper: FSI
• Chris Banner. 2013. Monitoring of a simulated clandestine burial below a patio using GPR.  Unpublished M.Geoscience thesis, Keele University. 
  Resulting Paper:  FSI
• Joe Pimley. 2013. Microgravity and geotehcnical monitoring of relict salt mines, Marston, Cheshire, UK.  Unpublished M.Geoscience thesis, Keele University.
• Kate Pearson, 2010. Time-lapse geophysical investigations over collapsing salt mines, Marston, Cheshire, UK. Unpublished M.Geoscience thesis, Keele University.
  Resulting Paper:  Geophys
• Steven Banham. 2009. Near Surface Geophysical Investigation to detect abandoned mine workings, Apedale, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs. Unpublished M.Geoscience thesis, Keele University.
  Resulting Paper: NSG
• Natalie Chambers. 2009. A multi-disciplinary investigation to locate Roman and Medieval settlements, Staffordshire, UK.  Unpublished M.Geoscience thesis, Keele University.
• Fiona Marsden. 2009. A forensic geophysical investigation to determine optimum resistivity configurations.  Unpublished M.Geoscience thesis, Keele University.
• Alanna Juerges. 2008. Evaluating magnetics as a technique to locate clandestine burials in a variety of environments. Unpublished M.Geoscience thesis, Keele University.
  Resulting Paper: NSG
• John Wood. 2008. Creating high-resolution, 3D reservoir models from unconfined turbidite systems: examples from the Ross Formation, W. Ireland and the Gres d'Annot, SE France. Unpublished M.Geoscience thesis, Keele University.
• Sarah Chisem. 2007. Geophysical investigation of a para-glacial pingo, Llanpumsaint, South Wales. Unpublished M.Geoscience thesis, Keele University.