Biography
In 2025, I was appointed as an Honorary Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of 58³Ô¹Ï, after earlier being employed as a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Reader (1996-2008).
In 2024, I was appointed as an Emeritus Professor of Geology at the University of Aberdeen, after previously being a Reader and Professor in the School of Geosciences (2009-2024),
In 2021, I was appointed as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Structural Geology, after previously being an advisory board member and editor for the journal.
Teaching
I am committed to furthering the importance of fieldwork in Earth Science education and have encouraged and trained generations of undergraduate and post-graduate students in the field. At St. Andrews, I am involved in assisting with a range of student fieldtrips from 1st year (ES1002) through to 3rd year (ES3006) and beyond (ES4801). I have in the past established and led disability-friendly student field courses across a variety of localities in Scotland and am also passionate about the preservation of important geological sites.
Research areas
My research is underpinned by detailed field-based studies that aim to understand the processes behind folding and fracturing of rocks and sediments at a range of depths, including seismic-triggered deformation of unlithified sediments, salt tectonics in sedimentary basins, and deformation in mid crustal shear zones. This has been achieved across a huge breadth of scales that includes regional (1:100,000) maps as well as detailed cm-scale observation and data collection. I have been employed on contracts to map a number of BGS sheets, as well as contributing to maps for the Irish Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Greenland. My studies have incorporated substantial periods of fieldwork in the UK and Ireland, Europe, Asia, Middle East, North America, Central America, South America, Africa and the Arctic.
Selected publications
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Alsop, G. I., Marco, S., Weinberger, R. & Levi, T., Jan 2026, In: Journal of Structural Geology. 202, p. 1-32 32 p., 105561.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Alsop, G. I., Marco, S., Weinberger, R. & Levi, T., 1 Jul 2026, In: Journal of Structural Geology. 208, 35 p., 105698.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Alsop, G. I. & Condon, D. J., 1 Dec 2025, In: Journal of Structural Geology. 201, 25 p., 105544.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Strachan, R. A., Friend, C., Alsop, G. I. & Miller, S., 2010, National Museums of Scotland.
Research output: Book/Report › Book
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Szulc, A. G., Alsop, G. I. & Oliver, G. J. H., Sept 2008, In: Geological Magazine. 145, 5, p. 623-636 14 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Kirkland, C. L., Alsop, G. I. & Prave, T., Jan 2008, In: Journal of the Geological Society. 165, 1, p. 341-352 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Searle, M. P. & Alsop, G. I., Nov 2007, In: Geology. 35, 11, p. 1043-1046 4 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Alsop, G. I. & Holdsworth, R. E., 2007, Deformation of the continental crust: the legacy of Mike Coward . Ries, A. C., Butler, R. W. H. & Graham, R. H. (eds.). Geological Society, p. 77-103 (Geological Society special publication ; no. 272).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Alsop, G. I., Holdsworth, R. E. & McCaffrey, K. J. W., Oct 2007, In: Journal of Structural Geology. 29, 10, p. 1585-1604 20 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Holdsworth, R. E., Alsop, G. I. & Strachan, R. A., 2007, Deformation of the continental crust: the legacy of Mike Coward. Ries, A. C., Butler, R. W. H. & Graham, R. H. (eds.). Geological Society, p. 123-144 (Geological Society special publication; no. 272).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter