Adam Jeffrey

Biography

I was appointed as a Lecturer in Forensic Geoscience in the school of Chemistry and Physical Sciences (CPS) in October 2023. Prior to this, I held Curriculum Developer and Curriculum Designer roles in the Keele Institute for Innovation and Teaching Excellence (KIITE), and a Technician role in the school of Geography, Geology, and the Environment (GGE).

I obtained an Integrated Masters degree in geoscience in 2010 at Keele, and remained at Keele to complete my Ph.D in petrology and geochemistry in 2016. In 2021, whilst in my technical role, I obtained a Masters degree in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. I was recognised as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) in 2024.

Throughout my career, I have gained experience in a range of disciplines, including geoscience, geochemistry, environmental science, analytical chemistry, and pedagogy. I have employed a wide range of analytical techniques in both my teaching and my research, including XRF, SEM-EDX, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, EMPA, FTIR, polarised light microscopy, laser particle size analysis, terrestrial LiDAR, drone-based aerial photogrammetry, as well as a range of associated specialist sample preparation techniques.

I am a topical editor for Volcanica and a founding editor for the Student Journal of Natural Sciences.

Research and scholarship

My research and scholarly interests are diverse and interdisciplinary, and include:

Forensic Geoscience: Identification and quantification of environmental contamination linked with industry, crime, conflict, or burial (e.g. necrosols). I am particularly interested in the application of hand-held XRF to undertake rapid, non-destructive analysis of forensically important materials including bone, soil, metal, rock, and water.

Extended Reality: Development and evaluation of novel simulation/gamification-based immersive learning experiences to support laboratory- and field-based teaching. I am currently exploring the application of the Thinglink online platform as a tool for creating bespoke extended reality resources to supplement and enhance accessible and inclusive learning in the field and the laboratory (see here).

Inclusive Education: Investigating the impact of teaching practice on individuals in higher education and developing means and materials to support learners and educators. I am particularly interested in supporting autistic learners and staff members in higher education and am currently the principal investigator on a funded research project aiming to give autistic learners in science a voice in their education.

Petrology and Mineralogy: Investigation of where magmas come from, how they evolve over time, and why they erupt in the way that they do, integrating major/trace/volatile element and isotope geochemistry, mineral chemistry, petrogenetic modelling, thermobarometry, and quantitative textural analysis to identify pre- and syn-eruptive magmatic processes and generate P-T-fO₂-X-t models for their evolution.

Publications

Journal articles:

• Rogers, S. L., Jeffery, A. J., Pringle, J. K., Law, A. C., Nobajas, A., Szkornik, K., Turner, A. C., Moolna, A., Davenward, B., Hobson, L. (2023) Experiential and authentic learning in a Living Lab: the role of a Campus-based Living Lab in a Blended Teaching and Learning Environment. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 28. DOI: 10.47408/jldhe.vi28.1020
• Pringle, J. K., Stimpson, I. G., Jeffery, A. J., Wisniewski, K. D., Grossey, T., Hobson, L., Heaton, V., Zholobenko, V. L., Rogers, S. L. (2022) eXtended Reality (XR) virtual practical and educational eGaming to provide effective immersive environments for forensic learning and teaching. Science & Justice, 62: 696-707. DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2022.04.004
• Jeffery, A. J., Rogers, S. L., Zholobenko, V. L., Jeffery, K. L. A., Pringle, J. K. (2022) The Thinglink platform as a tool for creating flexible, interactive simulations of analytical instruments: virtual X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectroscopy and Ion Chromatography. Journal of Chemical Education, 99: 2277-2290. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c01067
• Madden, C., Pringle, J. K., Jeffery, A. J., Wisniewski, K. D., Heaton, V., Oliver, I. W., Glanville, H., Stimpson, I. G., Dick, H. C., Eeley, M., Goodwin, J. (2022) Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) analysis of heavy metal contamination in graveyards with contrasting soil types. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29: 55278-55292. DOI: 1007/s11356-022-19676-z
• Pringle, J. K., Jeffery, A. J., Ruffell, A., Stimpson, I. G., Pirrie, D., Bergslien, E., Madden, C., Oliver, I. W., Wisniewski, K. D., Cassella, J. P., Lamon, N., Gormley, S., Partridge, J. (2022) The use of portable XRF as a forensic geoscience non-destructive trace evidence tool for environmental and criminal investigations. Forensic Science International, 332: 111175. DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111175
• Cooke, J., Jeffery, A. J. (2022) From alchemy to modern mineralogy: dating mineral collections via chemical notation. Geology Today, 38: 58-64. DOI: 10.1111/gto.12382
• Howell, L. P., Priddy, C., Mitten, A. J., Jeffery, A. J., Egan, S. S., Leslie, G., Pettigrew, R. P., Clarke, S. M., Kearsey, T. I. (2021) ‘Block and Basin’ style rift basins: sedimentological insights from the Mississippian Fell Sandstone Formation. Journal of the Geological Society, DOI: 10.1144/jgs2021-083
• Jeffery, A. J., Rogers, S. L., Jeffery, K. L. A., Hobson, L. (2021) A flexible, open, and interactive digital platform to support online and blended experiential learning environments: Thinglink and thin sections. Geoscience Communications, 4: 95-110. DOI: 10.5194/gc-4-95-2021
• Pimentel, A., Self, S., Pacheco, J. M., Jeffery, A. J., Gertisser, R. (2021) Eruption style, emplacement dynamics and geometry of peralkaline ignimbrites on Terceira Island, Azores: Insights from the Lajes-Angra Ignimbrite Formation. Frontiers in Earth Science – Volcanology, 9: 673686. DOI: 10.3389/feart.2021.673686
• Jeffery, A. J.,Gertisser, R. (2018) Peralkaline felsic magmatism of the Atlantic Islands. Frontiers in Earth Science, 6: 145. DOI: 3389/feart.2018.00145 
• Jeffery, A. J.,Gertisser, R., Self, S., Pimentel, A., O’Driscoll, B., Pacheco, J. M. (2017) Petrogenesis of the peralkaline ignimbrites of Terceira, Azores. Journal of Petrology, 58: 2365-2402. DOI: 1093/petrology/egy012 
• Jeffery, A. J.,Gertisser, R., O’Driscoll, B., Pacheco, J. M., Whitley, S., Pimentel, A., Self, S. (2016) Temporal evolution of a post-caldera, mildly peralkaline magmatic system: Furnas volcano, São Miguel, Azores. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 171: 42. DOI: 1007/s00410-016-1235-y  
• Jeffery, A., Gertisser, R., Jackson, R. A., O’Driscoll, B., Kronz, A. (2016) On the compositional variability of dalyite, K₂ZrSi₆O₁₅: a new occurrence from Terceira, Azores. Mineralogical Magazine, 80: 547-565. DOI: 10.1180/minmag.2016.080.018 
• Jeffery, A. J., Gertisser, R., Troll, V. R., Jolis, E. M., Dahren, B., Harris, C., Tindle, A. G., Preece, K., O’Driscoll, B., Humaida, H., Chadwick, J. P. (2013) The pre-eruptive magma plumbing system of the 2007-2008 dome-forming eruption of Kelutvolcano, East Java, Indonesia. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 166: 275-308. DOI: 1007/s00410-013-0875-4 

Conference abstracts:

• Jeffery, A. J., Rogers, S. L., Hulme, J., Jeffery, K. L. A., Hallam, C., Lucherini, M., Derbyshire, E. J., Pringle, J. K., Lawrence, A., Lau, L., Bullock, L. A., Stemp, I. (Accepted) Autistic voices in geoscience-based higher education: towards greater inclusion of neurological diversity. Keele Education Conference 2023, Keele University
• Jeffery, A. J., Rogers, S. L., Hulme, J., Jeffery, K. L. A., Hallam, C., Lucherini, M., Derbyshire, E. J., Pringle, J. K., Lawrence, A., Lau, L., Bullock, L. A., Stemp, I. (2023) Autistic voices in geoscience-based higher education: towards greater inclusion of neurological diversity. AdvanceHE Teaching and Learning Conference 2023, Keele University, U.K.
• Jeffery, A. J., Pimentel, A., Gertisser, R. (2022) A trachyte among basalts: assessing the ‘Shadow Zone’ hypothesis of São Miguel, Azores. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group Annual Meeting 2022, Manchester, U.K.
• Wisniewski, K. D., Pringle, J. K., Heaton, V., Stimpson, I. G., Jeffery, A. J., Grossey, T., Hobson, L., Zholobenko, V., Rogers, S. L. (2022) eXtended Reality (XR) virtual practicals for technology-enhanced assessment: digital drivers for accessible, efficient and engaging assessment. Keele Education Conference 2022, Keele University, U.K.
• Pringle, J. K., Hobson, L., Stimpson, I. G., Grossey, T., Jeffery, A. J., Rogers, S. L. (2021) Thinglink to integrate virtual practicals, data and immersive environments for HE student learning and teaching. Enhancing Fieldwork Virtual Showcase Conference, Geological Society of London, 8^th-9^th September 2021, London, U.K.
• Jeffery, A. J., Rogers, S. L., Zholobenko, V. L., Jeffery, K. L. A. (2021) The Thinglink platform as a tool for creating flexible, interactive simulations of analytical instruments: X-Ray Fluoresence (XRF) Spectroscopy. Methods in Chemical Education Research 2021
• Jeffery, A. J., Rogers, S. L., Jeffery, K. L. A., Hobson, L. (2021) A Flexible, open, and interactive digital platform to support online and blended experiential learning environments: Thinglink and virtualised microscopy. Quaternary Research Association Annual Discussion Meeting 2021, Plymouth, U.K.
• Wisniewski, K., Glanville, H., Oliver, I., Jeffery, A. J., Goodwin, J., Cooke, T., Hall, L., Coombes, T., Barber, L., Pringle, J. K. (2018) Environmental forensics: characterising graveyard soil as a special type of landfill. Near Surface Geophysics Group of the Geological Society of London Meeting, Criminal and Environmental Geophysics, London, U.K. 
• Pimentel, A., Self, S., Pacheco, J. M., Jeffery, A. J.,Gertisser, R. (2018) Eruption, deposition and geometry of peralkaline ignimbrites on Terceira, Azores: The case of the Lajes-Angra Ignimbrite Formation. Geophysical Research Abstracts, 20: EGU2018-123, Vienna, Austria 
• Jeffery, A. J.,Gertisser, R. (2018) Peralkaline magmatism of the Atlantic Islands. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group Annual Meeting 2018, Leeds, U.K  
• Jeffery, A. J., Gertisser, R., Self, S., Pimentel, A., O’Driscoll, B., Pacheco, J. M. (2017) Petrogenesis of the peralkaline ignimbrites of Terceira. Tectonic Studies Group-Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group-British Geophysical Association Joint Assembly 2017, Liverpool, U.K.
• Jeffery, A. J.,Gertisser, R., Jackson, R. A., O’Driscoll, B., Kronz, A. (2015) A new occurrence of dalyite (K₂ZrSi₆O₁₅) from Terceira, Azores. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group Annual Meeting 2015, Norwich, U.K.  
• Jeffery, A. J.,Gertisser, R., O’Driscoll, B., Pimentel, A., Pacheco, J. M. (2014) Magma evolution at Furnas volcano, São Miguel, Azores. 1^st International Workshop on Volcano Geology, Madeira, Portugal 
• Jeffery, A. J.,Gertisser, R., O’Driscoll, B., Pimentel, A., Pacheco, J. M., Self, S. (2014) Eruption and emplacement of peralkaline ignimbrites, Terceira, Azores. 1^st International Workshop on Volcano Geology, Madeira, Portugal 
• Jeffery, A., Gertisser, R., O’Driscoll, B., Pimentel, A., Pacheco, J. M. (2013) Magmatic processes beneath Furnas volcano, São Miguel, Azores. Goldschmidt 2013, Florence, Italy 
• Jeffery, A. J., Gertisser, R., O’Driscoll, B., Pimentel, A., Pacheco, J. M., Self, S. (2013) Post-caldera explosive activity at Furnasvolcano, São Miguel, Azores. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group Annual Meeting 2013, Bristol, U.K. 
• Jeffery, A. J., Gertisser, R., O’Driscoll, B., Humaida, H., Tindle, A. (2011) A petrological analysis of the 2007-2008 dome-forming eruption of Kelutvolcano, Indonesia: insights into the pre-eruptive magma system. International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, 15^th General Assembly, Melbourne, Australia 
• Jeffery, A. J.,Gertisser, R., O’Driscoll, B., Humaida, H., Tindle, A. (2011) The 2007-2008 dome-forming eruption of Kelut volcano, Indonesia: petrological insights into magma dynamics. Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group Annual Meeting 2011, Cambridge, U.K. 
• Jeffery, A. J.,Gertisser, R.,Humaida, H., O’Driscoll, B., Tindle, A. (2010) Lava dome extrusion into an active crater lake: the 2007-2008 eruption Kelut volcano, Java, Indonesia. Cities on Volcanoes 6, Tenerife, Spain 

Invited lectures:

• Jeffery, A. J., Rogers, S. L., Hulme, J., Jeffery, K. L. A., Hallam, C., Lucherini, M., Derbyshire, E. J., Pringle, J. K., Lawrence, A., Lau, L., Bullock, L. A., Stemp, I. (2023) Autistic voices in geoscience-based higher education: towards greater inclusion of neurological diversity. Goldschmidt 2023, Lyon, France
• Jeffery, A. J. (2023) The Autistic Experience. Keele University Neurodiversity in Business Event 2023, Keele University, U.K.
• Hobson, L., Jeffery, A. J. (2022) Novel applications of Thinglink in higher education: user-friendly simulations to support learning in the laboratory and the field. KIITE Summer Workshop Series, 10^th August, 2022, Keele University, U.K.
• Jeffery, A. J.,Rogers, S. L., Jeffery, K. L. A. (2021) Making a virtual laboratory for the Palaeosciences. Invited lecture: Virtual Palaeoscience (VIPs) group meeting, 9^th March, 2021
• Jeffery, A. J.,Gertisser, R., Self, S., Pimentel, A., O’Driscoll, B., Pacheco, J. M. (2017) The ignimbrites of Terceira: a petrogenetic puzzle of peralkaline pyroclastics. University of Aberdeen Invited Lecture Series, Aberdeen, U.K. 
• Jeffery, A. J.,Gertisser, R., Whitley, S., Pacheco, J. M., Pimentel, A., O’Driscoll, B., Self, S. (2015) Petrogenesis and evolution of peralkaline silicic magmas at Furnas volcano, São Miguel, Azores. University of East Anglia Invited Lecture Series, Norwich, U.K. 

Book reviews:

• Jeffery, A. J.(2012) Introducing Volcanology: A Guide to Hot Rocks; by Dougal Jerram [Book Review], Geology Today, 28: 197 

Outreach media

Interactive X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy:

A Thinglink-based, interactive, extended reality resource which simulates XRF analysis, including sample preparation, health and safety, instrument design, and sample analysis.

Access the resource here

See Jeffery et al. (2022) for more info

An Introduction to Rocks under the Microscope:

A Thinglink-based, interactive, extended reality resource which simulates a petrographic microscope, including sample description, mineral identification, instrument usage, and sample analysis.

Access the resource here

See Jeffery et al. (2021) for more info

Interactive Ion Chromatography Guide:

A Thinglink-based, interactive, extended reality resource which simulates a Dionex ion chromatography system, including methodological background and theory, instrument management, and sample analysis.

Access the resource here

See Jeffery et al. (2022) for more info

A Taste of Keele: Volcanology – outreach and recruitment video

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