Dr Alison Monaghan awarded MBE
Dr Alison Monaghan, has been recognised in the 2021 Queen’s New Year Honours List, for her outstanding contribution to geology.
30/12/2020 By BGS Press
Dr Monaghan is currently science lead for the UK Geoenergy Observatory in Glasgow, focusing on shallow mine water geothermal and heat storage, environmental change and impact. The observatory is a unique facility for the science community and users to take forward research that is vital to understanding the role that shallow mine heat energy could have in decarbonising our energy supply and the environmental management regulation needed.
Dr Monaghan MBE said: “I am honoured and very surprised to receive this award. The application of geology for public good and open information are at the heart of my work. For me, this award is for all the multi-disciplinary teams I have worked with in BGS, academia, Government and industry. The subsurface and geoscience are key in our transition to a sustainable, decarbonised economy and we need to combine scientific excellence with collaborative working to achieve that.”
Starting her career with BGS as a field geologist and 3D modeller, Dr Monaghan’s role and experience has developed through a variety of projects such as basin analysis in energy geoscience, urban geology and coalfields, primarily in Central Scotland and offshore UK. She was involved in developing early stages of the National Geological Model and has wide knowledge of onshore and offshore UK Carboniferous basins and geochronology. She also led research into the shale resource estimation of central Scotland (2014) and the 21CXRM Palaeozoic Project with the Oil and Gas Authority and industry (2014-2016).
A graduate of the University of Cambridge and with a PhD obtained at the University of Edinburgh, she has been a chartered geologist since 2002.
I am delighted that Alison has been honoured with an MBE. Alison’s work leading the scientific delivery of the UK Geoenergy Observatory in Glasgow from inception, enabling open data and early academic involvement, together with her work on Palaeozoic basins onshore and offshore UK are essential for the delivery of the BGS strategy to find geoscientific solutions towards net zero.
Dr Karen Hanghøj, Director of the British Geological Survey
It is fantastic to see Alison recognised for her years of hard work. She is an admirable scientist who is a leader in her field and drives the teams she works with expertly, motivating and inspiring her colleagues. Alison is a fine example of the high-calibre scientists we have working at BGS and at the Lyell Centre.
Dr Tracy Shimmield, Director of the Lyell Centre
For further information please contact Sarah Nice, BGS press office:
sebr@bgs.ac.uk | 07989 115657 | @sarahnice1
Image credit: BGS © UKRI
British Geological Survey
The British Geological Survey (BGS) is a world leading applied geoscience research centre that is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and affiliated to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). BGS core science provides objective and authoritative geoscientific data, information and knowledge to inform UK Government on the opportunities and challenges of the subsurface. It undertakes national and public good research to understand earth and environmental processes in the UK and globally. The BGS annual budget of approximately £60 million pa is funded directly by UKRI, as well as research grants, government commissions and private sector contracts. Its 650 staff work across the UK with two main sites, the head office in Nottingham and Lyell Centre, a joint collaboration with Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. BGS works with more than 150 private sector organisations, has close links to 40 universities and sponsors about 100 PhD students each year. Please see www.bgs.ac.uk.
Related news

World Water Day 2023: groundwater photo stories
22/03/2023
A showcase of groundwater use from around the world highlighting how developing groundwater has benefited the lives of many people.

New seabed geology maps for offshore Yorkshire
14/03/2023
Offshore Yorkshire is the latest map to be released in BGS’s series of fine-scale digital seabed maps.

New BGS karst report released for Hampshire and Wiltshire
10/03/2023
The report details the evidence for karst processes in areas of soluble rocks that have not previously been considered karstic.

Dr Corinna Abesser appointed BGS Policy Director
08/03/2023
Dr Abesser will be supporting BGS staff in the translation of their science outputs to inform policy and regulation as well as advising senior management on policy-related issues.

Melinda Lewis awarded prestigious Whitaker Medal for outstanding contribution to hydrogeology
01/03/2023
Melinda Lewis, BGS Honorary Research Associate, has been awarded the Geological Society Whitaker Medal, recognising outstanding long-term contributions to hydrogeology.

BGS welcomes two new board appointments for 2023
22/02/2023
Prof Carol Frost, professor emerita of the faculty of geology and geophysics at the University of Wyoming, and Dr Jenny Pyper, former CEO of the Utility Regulator for Northern Ireland and interim head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, will take up their positions on the BGS Board from 1 March 2023.

Six BGS datasets for assessing shrink–swell subsidence hazards
17/02/2023
Shrink–swell subsidence is one of the most significant geological hazards affecting the UK. BGS has six datasets to help assess the problem.

The Kahraman Maraş earthquake sequence, Turkey/Syria
14/02/2023
Two large earthquakes occurred within hours of each other on 6 February 2023.

One year on: reflections on the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption
18/01/2023
The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Volcano in January 2022 has highlighted a global unpreparedness for the impacts from large-scale global events.

New geological map of the Maltese Islands published
19/12/2022
The new map, commissioned by Malta’s Continental Shelf Department, is the first update for almost 30 years.

Work complete on 1000 solar panels at BGS
07/12/2022
More than 1000 energy-saving solar panels have been installed at BGS’s headquarters in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire.

Updated radon map for Great Britain published
02/12/2022
The UK Health Security Agency and BGS have published an updated radon potential map for Great Britain.