Professor Platt studies the processes of deformation in the Earth’s crust and lithosphere, utilizing a unique combination of field and theoretical approaches. He is a highly regarded scholar in the fields of structural geology and geodynamics, with over 100 publications to his name. His research interests encompass both contemporary and historical tectonic plate margin interactions, collisional mountain chains, and the mechanics of crustal deformation, particularly at convergent plate boundaries and collisional orogens. His research employs tools such as field-based structural geology, coupled with mechanical analyses of large-scale dynamic systems like thrust belts and collisional plateaux. His collaborative work spans various disciplines, including petrology, geochronology, sedimentology, observational geophysics, and geodynamics. Current grants highlight his work in lithospheric fault zones and the geological constraints on subduction zones. He has served in various prestigious academic roles, including as a University Fellow at the University of Adelaide and the Yates-Goldsmid Professor at University College London. He is a fellow of the Geological Society of London and has been a member of editorial boards for multiple scientific journals.
University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA
Teaching and research in Earth Sciences, focusing on tectonic processes.
University College London • London, UK
Led research and taught courses in structural geology and geodynamics.