- Room 119b, Fitzroy, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 584931
- luca.menegon@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Dr Luca Menegon
Associate Professor of Structural Geology and Tectonics
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Associate Professor of Structural Geology and Tectonics
Qualifications
Academic History:
- 2013-2017: Lecturer in Structural Geology and Tectonics, Plymouth University, UK
- 2015 (June): Guest Professor at the Department of Geodynamics and Sedimentology, University of Vienna (Austria)
- 2014-2015: Adjunct Associate Professor of Structural Geology, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø (Norway)
- 2009-2012: Postdoctoral researcher in Structural Geology, Tromsø University (Norway)
- 2008-2009: Visiting scientist at Stockholm University (Sweden)
- 2007-2009: Field geologist for the Geological Survey of Italy
- 2006-2009: Postdoctoral researcher in Structural Geology,Padua University (Italy)
- 2005: Visiting PhD student, Basel University (Switzerland)
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (since 2014)
- Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (Plymouth University, 2014)
- PhD in Earth Sciences (Padua University,Italy, 2006)
- M.Sc. in Geological Sciences (Padua University, Italy, 2002)
Professional membership
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- European Geosciences Union (EGU)
- Geological Society of Norway
- Italian Group of Structural Geology
- Geological Society of America (GSA)
Roles on external bodies
- 2009-2011: Member of the Programme Committee of the Division 'Tectonics and Structural Geology' of the European Geosciences Union
- 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2017: Member of the Scientific Committe of the 'EGU Summer School: Structural Analysis of Crystalline Rocks', Neves area, Eastern Italian Alps
- 2015-2017: Committee member of the UK Metamorphic Studies Group
- 2015-Present: Member of the Science Team of the ICDP COSC-1 project "Collisional orogens in the Scandinavian Caledonides" (http://are-jarpen.icdp-online.org/)
- 2017-Present: Committee member of the UK Tectonics Studies Group
- 2017-Present: Secretary of the UK Metamorphic Studies Group
- 2017-Present: Member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Structural Geology
Key publications
Teaching interests
My teaching interest is in the broad field of Structural Geology, Rock Deformation and Plate Tectonics. As the field is the most important natural laboratory for geologists, I am particularly interested in field-based teaching in general. Field observations are critical to understand geological processes and principles, as well as to tune models and design experiments appropriately.
I am currently teaching on the following modules:
- GEOL1001 Dynamic Earth
- GEOL2002 Structures, Magmas and Volcanoes
- GEOL2005 Structural and Metamorphic Geology (module leader)
- GEOL2006 Geological Fieldwork (module leader)
- GEOL2010 Geology with Ocean Sciences Fieldwork (module leader)
- GEOL3005 Tectonics (module leader)
- GEOL5003 Advanced Analytical Skills
- Stage 2 - Mapping training, SE Pyrenees, Spain
- Stage 2 - Mapping training, SW Wales
- Stage 4 - Independent mapping projects, northern Norway
- Stage 5 - MGeol Research projects
Staff serving as external examiners
External examiner of PhD theses:
- Tine Derez, University of Leuven, Belgium (2015)
- Friedrich Hawemann, ETH Zurich, Switzerland (2017)
Research interests
My main research interests are in the field of structural geology and deformation processes of Earth materials. I am interested in understanding how grain-scale deformation mechanisms, fluid-rock interaction and rheological properties of rocks control lithosphere dynamics and strain loalization in the framework of plate tectonics. Shear zones are the main target of my research. I currently pursue research in the following main areas:
(1) Strength of the continental lithosphere
(2) Fluid-rock interaction, metamorphism and deformation in the continental lower crust
(3) Brittle/viscous transition in the continental crust
(4) Quantitative microstructural analysis (EBSD, image analysis)
(5) Deformation partitioning and exhumation processes in collisional orogens (Alps, Scandinavian Caledonides)
(6) Fault zone structure and fault mechanics
My research is field based, and typically brings me to work in spectacular mountain ranges and collisional belts such as the Alps and the Scandinavian Caledonides. I integrate field work and geological mapping with detailed microstructural studies of deformed rocks primarily through SEM-based techniques and digital image analysis. I conduct my SEM and EBSD studies at the Electron Microscopy Centre of Plymouth University (www.plymouth.ac.uk/emc).
Grants & contracts
- 2017 Research contract commissioned by Posiva Oy, Finland (http://www.posiva.fi/) 'Brittle-viscous deformation cycles in quartz veins at the base of the seismogenic zone', £39,000.
- 2017 NERC Standard Grant 'The Geological Record of the Earthquake Cycle in the Lower Crust', £451,340.
- 2015 NERC Ion Microprobe Facility, Edinburgh, 'Investigating therelationships between lower crust shear localization and water content', £15,000
- 2014 NERC Ion Microprobe Facility, Edinburgh, 'Water in nominally anhydrous minerals (NAMs): Implications for the strength and rheology of the continental lower crust', £7,500
- 2014 FAPESP Grant, project 'Strain localization at the frictional-viscous transition in granitic mylonite: examples from the Pernambuco shear zone (Borborema Province, NE Brazil). £56,500 (PI of the visiting postdoc project of Dr Gustavo Viegas)
- 2013 Marie Curie Career Integration Grant (CIG), project EVOCOS 'Evolution of Continental Strength from Rifting to Collision - A Journey through the Wilson Cycle' 4-year, 100,000 Euros
- 2013 Geological Survey of Norway, Financial Support for the Project 'Geological mapping and Structural Analysis in the Nusfjord area, Lofoten' 50000 NOK
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
JournalsConferences organised
Co-convener,European Geosciences Union General Assembly
2009 –Session TS2.2 “Deformation processes: microstructures,textures, rheology and fluid migration”
2010 –Session TS3.1 “Deformation processes: microstructures,textures, rheology and fluid migration”
2011 – Session TS3.1“Deformation and strain localization from micro- to lithospheric scales:patterns, processes, microstructures and the role of fluids in nature andexperiment”
2012 – Session TS3.1“Deformation and strain localization from micro- to lithospheric scales”
2013 – Session TS3.1 “Fluid-rockinteraction, deformation mechanisms, deformation thermometry andmicrostructural development in shear zones”
2014 – Session TS3.1“Ductile deformation and its interaction with brittle fracture: fabrics, strainlocalization, fluid-rock interaction and metamorphic conditions”
Meeting organizer
2015 – Organizer of the Tectonic Studies Group AnnualMeeting, Edinburgh, UK (together with Dr F. Fusseis)
Other academic activities
Supervision
Post-doctoral mentor
- 2014-2016 – Gustavo Viegas (guest postdoc from the University of SaoPaulo, Brazil)
- 2016-2018 - Francesco Giuntoli (Swiss National Science Foundation Early Career Mobility Scheme)
- 2017-2020 - Lucy Campbell (NERC postdoc)
PhD supervision
- 2017-2019 - Francesca Prando (Director of Studies)
- 2016-2018 – Louise Koornneef (3rdsupervisor), Livia Nardini (hosted by the University of Potsdam, Germany, 2ndsupervisor)
- 2015-2017 – ChristianMarien (3rdsupervisor), Alberto Ceccato (hosted by the Universityof Padua, Italy, 2nd supervisor)
- 2014-2016 – Giulia degliAlessandrini (Director of Studies)
MGeol and MSc students’ advisor
- 2016-2017 - Libby Flannagan
- 2015-2016 – Neil McLauchlan
- 2014-2015 – Jamie Lott,Colin Moyle (2ndadvisor)
- 2013-2014 – KatherineHarris, Elliot Wood, Nadia Narayan (2nd advisor).