Research Interests

Currently I am interested in approximation in Euclidean space and on spheres using radial basis functions, and generalisations of these procedures to locally compact manifolds. More recently I have become interested in solving partial differential equations (PDEs) using RBFs. Current projects include:

• abstract approximation on homogeneous manifolds (EPSRC funded visiting professors, Professor Alexander Kushpel, Professor Xingping Sun, Professor Wolfgang zu Castell);
• lattice Boltzmann methods for modelling compressible fluid flow (EPSRC funded RA Robert Brownlee); code and pictures available here;
• Modelling of methane hydrate dissociation (NERC funded post doc Denis Goldobin, Nikolai Brilliantov, Mike Lovell (Leicester), John Rees (BGS)).

Teaching

Having done a P.G.C.E. I retain a big interest in enabling the learning of our students, both undergraduate and postgraduate. My main efforts have been directed towards increasing the students desire to own what they learn. To this end I have developed the Peer Support (PS) system (based on Supplemental Instruction, a scheme originating with UMKC), in which more experienced students facilitate groups of first year students. The main aim is for the first year students to pool their knowledge in order to gain a richer understanding of a particular idea. The more experienced student uses their experience to give the first years strategies by which they may understand a particular idea.