Landscape histories, volcanism, hazard mapping, tephrochronology, volcaniclastic and andic soil stratigraphy, paleoenvironmental change and human origins.

Brent Alloway is a former University associate professor of Quaternary earth science and volcanology – now retired. Brent is a very experienced earth scientist having conducted research-based fieldwork in many realms of the world (ranging from Yukon to Antarctica) and is particularly interested in landscape histories, volcanism, tephrochronology, stratigraphy, paleoenvironmental change and human origins. Brent’s diverse earth science interest is reflected in his authorship of over 131 international journal articles and several book chapters – many articles of which are now highly cited (SCOPUS h-factor 46 with 6043 citations). Brent's highest senior authored paper published in 2007 has 270 (SCOPUS) citations. One of Brent’s most interesting lines of research has been examining evidence for a new species of hominin (Homo floresiensis or the ‘Hobbit’) in Flores, east Indonesia, as part of a joint Indonesian-Australian scientific team. This research resulted in two articles being published in the prestigious journal Nature in 2016 and another article published in the high ranking journal Quaternary Science Reviews.

In addition to being an academic researcher and teacher - Brent worked several years (2006-2009) as an exploration & project geologist in SE Ecuador. There he was part of a small team who discovered the Fruta Del Norte (FDN) epithermal gold deposit – which up to 2009 was the largest gold discovery in South America in two decades (14 million ounces Au - then equivalent to US$ 11 billion).

Prior to this very successful deviation into gold exploration, Brent held the position of New Zealand’s Chief Volcanologist (1998-2003) and was responsible for overseeing the monitoring and surveillance of NZ volcanoes. In 2009, Brent received two National Awards from the Geosciences Society of NZ in recognition for his meritorious research contribution to NZ geology and through his career participated in two 2-month long 'deep-field' research expeditions in southern Victorialand, Antarctica. Though now retired from academic teaching and responsibilities since 2016 (then discovering expedition guiding/lecturing) - Brent is still very much actively involved in earth science research and educational outreach as illustrated by his research outputs and earth science interactions since ‘retiring’ from academia.

Brent is one of a very few number of scientists who can demonstrate that they have worked within University, Crown Research Institute, and private business realms, and consequently has solid multi-institutional and -sector research experience.