Nathan Mayne

I am a Senior Lecturer in the Astrophysics Group of the School of Physics at the University of Exeter, U.K.
I have changed research field or theme several times in my career-meaning a lot of reading! I completed my PhD, in pre-MS ages, and a M.Phys.(Hons) degree, with research into Surface Plasmon Polaritons, at Exeter University. I have also worked, as a postdoctoral fellow on monte-carlo radiative transfer, and fitting of brown dwarf observations to simulations. The resulting fitting tool is available here, which I hope to develop more in the future. I am passionate about outreach.

My main research area centres on a collaboration with the UK Met Office, and the creation of a theoretical framework with which to study the atmopsheres of exoplanets (and brown dwarfs). This work involves adapting and applying the Met Office (UK) Global Circulation Model (GCM) called the Unified Model (UM) for use studying exoplanets. Some very early examples of movies made of simulations of exoplanetary atmospheres are available here.

I am driven by the extremely exciting observations made of exoplanet atmospheres, and in the longer term by the aim to create a realistic two-way flow of knowledge and expertise between research into two of the biggest questions there are. Is life on Earth unique, and can we sustain life on this planet? Over the last 3 years I have developed the foundations for a set of tools, and associated collaborations which will hopefully make this a reality.