Rate My Professor Richard Brazier

Professor Richard Brazier serves as Professor of Earth Surface Processes in the Department of Geography at the University of Exeter. He obtained his first degree in Physical Geography from the Department of Geography at Lancaster University (1992-1995) and completed his PhD in the Environmental Science Department at Lancaster University (1996-2000), focusing on a project that modelled soil erosion in England and Wales. Brazier joined the University of Exeter as a Senior Lecturer in 2006, was promoted to Associate Professor of Earth Surface Processes in 2011, and to Professor in 2015. Since 2021, he has been Co-Director of the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW), a state-of-the-art facility addressing water-related challenges through interdisciplinary research.

His primary research interests lie in geomorphology and hydrology, with particular emphasis on soil erosion, sediment and nutrient mobilisation and delivery, water quality, landscape restoration, and the hydrological impacts of ecosystem engineers such as beavers. Brazier has published over 200 research works, accumulating more than 11,900 citations and an h-index reflecting substantial influence in his field. Key publications include 'Beaver: Nature's ecosystem engineers' (2021, WIREs Water), 'Sediment and nutrient storage in a beaver engineered wetland' (Puttock et al., 2018, Ecosystems), and contributions to natural flood management and nature-based solutions. He has received notable awards, such as the Water Industry Achievement Awards Big Data award (2015), the Pennon Environmental Awards Overall Winners prize (2012), and recognition for the Upstream Thinking team (2012). Additionally, under his leadership, CREWW secured a prestigious sustainability award in 2025. Brazier has provided expert evidence to UK parliamentary committees on environmental resilience and beaver reintroductions, contributing to policy on natural environment protection.