# Jenny Collier > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jenny_Collier > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jenny_Collier.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Collier > Source revision: 1317954607 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) British marine geophysicist Jenny Collier Alma mater University of Bristol (BSc) University of Durham (MSc) University of Cambridge (PhD) Awards Murchison Medal (2025) Scientific career Fields Marine geophysics Institutions Imperial College, London Doctoral advisor Bob White **Jenny Collier** is a [marine geophysicist](/source/Marine_geophysics), and professor at [Imperial College, London](/source/Imperial_College%2C_London). She is best known for her work imaging [magma chambers](/source/Magma_chamber) beneath the sea floor, and for the discovery of the great flood about 450,000 years ago that carved out the [English Channel](/source/English_Channel). She was awarded the [Murchison Medal](/source/Murchison_Medal) of the [Geological Society of London](/source/Geological_Society_of_London) in 2025.[1] ## Education and career Collier studied physics at the [University of Bristol](/source/University_of_Bristol), before completing a Masters project at the University of Durham with geophysicist [Martin Bott](/source/Martin_Bott). Collier then went to [University of Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge), where she studied for a PhD in marine geophysics with [Bob White](/source/Bob_White_(geophysicist)). Collier subsequently worked at the University of Oxford as a post-doctoral researcher, with [Tony Watts](/source/Anthony_Brian_Watts). Later, Collier was appointed lecturer at Imperial College, London. She became a professor in 2018.[2] ## Research Collier's early work in marine geophysics used [seismic imaging](/source/Reflection_seismology) to detect the presence of pools of magma beneath [oceanic spreading centres](/source/Mid-ocean_ridge). Later, with geologist [Sanjeev Gupta](/source/Sanjeev_Gupta_(geologist)) she mapped the shape of the floor of the English Channel. This provided evidence for the catastrophic flooding which first carved the Channel, about 450,000 years ago.[3][4] In 2017, Collier led a major project with the research vessel [RRS *James Cook*](/source/RRS_James_Cook) to investigate the processes of [subduction](/source/Subduction) beneath the [Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc](/source/Lesser_Antilles_Volcanic_Arc) in the [Caribbean](/source/Caribbean).[5][6] During the research cruise, they were able to observe the ongoing activity of the [submarine volcano](/source/Submarine_volcano), [Kick 'em Jenny](/source/Kick_'em_Jenny), offshore from island of [Grenada](/source/Grenada).[7] ## Recognition In 2015, Collier was elected president of the [British Geophysical Association](/source/British_Geophysical_Association). In an interview at that time, Collier said that her biggest mistake was ‘Dropping O-level chemistry in favour of cookery. My pastry skills are quite good, but it has proven hard to incorporate these into my professional life’. [8] In 2025, Collier was awarded the Murchison Medal of the Geological Society of London for her "groundbreaking work on .. the structure of the oceanic lithosphere and the .. evolution of continental shelves".[1] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_1-1) ["Society Awards 2025 Winners | The Geological Society of London"](https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/about-us/society-awards/society-awards-2025-winners/). *www.geolsoc.org.uk*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Breaching of the Dover Strait and the creation of "Island Britain" (lecture)"](https://geologyglasgow.org.uk/event/breaching-of-the-dover-strait-and-the-creation-of-island-britain-lecture/). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Redfern, Simon (April 4, 2017). ["Geologists unveil how Britain first separated from Europe – and it was catastrophic"](https://theconversation.com/geologists-unveil-how-britain-first-separated-from-europe-and-it-was-catastrophic-75636). *The Conversation*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Dam-busting 'megaflood' made Britain an island"](https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12289-dam-busting-megaflood-made-britain-an-island/). *New Scientist*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Wilson, S. Goes, J. Collier, J. Blundy, J. Davidson, N. Harmon, T. Henstock, J. M. Kendall, C. Macpherson, A. Rietbrock, K. Rychert, J. Prytulak, J. van Hunen, J. J. Wilkinson, M. (March 14, 2019). ["Project VoiLA: Volatile Recycling in the Lesser Antilles"](https://eos.org/science-updates/project-voila-the-volatile-recycling-in-the-lesser-antilles).{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Ravilious, Kate (April 30, 2017). ["Scientists search for Caribbean quake clues"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/30/scientists-search-caribbean-quake-clues-terrawatch). *The Guardian*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Researchers Capture Underwater Volcano Eruption In The Caribbean | Ocean News & Technology"](https://oceannews.com/news/science-technology/researchers-capture-underwater-volcano-eruption-in-the-caribbean/). March 21, 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Q&A with Jenny Collier"](https://doi.org/10.1093/astrogeo/atv172). *Astronomy & Geophysics*. **56**: 5. 2015. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/astrogeo/atv172](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fastrogeo%2Fatv172). Authority control databases International VIAF Academics ORCID Scopus Google Scholar Other IdRef --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jenny Collier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Collier) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Collier?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.