Prof David Rothery

Professional biography

Within the Open University School of Physical Sciences I became Head of Research Discipline (rebranded as Research Area Lead in 2023) for Planetary & Space Sciences in 2020, and was a postgradiate research tutor (PGRT) Dec 2019- Dec 2024. I became Professor of Planetary Geosciences in November 2013.  I was a Senior Lecturer in the Open University Department of Earth Sciences since 1994 (transferring to the Planetary & Space Sciences Division of the new Dept of Physical Sciences in August 2011), and before that was a Lecturer here. During 1999-2004 I was Director of Teaching and Geosciences Programme Director. I have also been Leader of the IAVCEI Commission on Remote Sensing, and in 2005 I was appointed to the PPARC Solar System Advisory Panel and the BepiColombo Oversight Committee.

In May 2006 I was appointed UK Lead Scientist (now lead Co-I for geology) on MIXS (Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer), which is the only UK Principal Investigator instrument on BepiColombo, the European Space Agency mission to Mercury to be launched in 2018. I became MIXS Lead Co-Investigator in 2014. I co-lead ESA's Mercury Surface and Composition Working Group. From March 2018 I led the geological mapping workpackage for a four year Horizon 2020 Planmap project, to improve European capabiliy in planetary geologic mapping. From October 2025 onwards I will be leading the OU element of a 5 year STFC 'Astronomy Large Award' Planet Mercury: Origin, Evolution, And Interactions.

My research interests centre on volcanology and geoscience in general on other planets. Previously I was active in the study of volcanic activity by means of remote sensing.

Research interests

Characterizing planetary surfaces, remote sensing of volcanic activity

I am UK Lead Co-Investigator on the Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer, and co-chair of ESA's Mercury Surface & Composition working group.

I lead the Open University aspect of Planet Mercury: Origin, Evolution, and Interactions, a 5 year STFC large award 2025-2030.

Teaching interests

Planetary science, volcanology, general geology.
I chair the level 2 Planetary Science module S283, and chaired the level 1 short module Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunamis (S186) until it was sadly retired in 2020. I was Educator on the Open University/FutureLearn Moons MOOC until its final presentation in 2023.

I recently wrote for S309 'Earth Processes', S111 'Questions in science', and SXPS288 'Remote experiments in physics and space', and am currently on the productuon team for S229 'Geology' (60pt, which might be obliged to change its title to someting more trendy) and S287 (the new 30 pt planetary scoece module).

Impact and engagement

For videos and other materials about Mercury that I (and others) prepared to help public understanding of Mercury, the BepiColombo mission to Mercury, and transits of Mercury across the Sun, see here.

Here are two videos of me lecturing about Mercury in 2015: a schools lecture and a Royal Astronomical Society public lecture.

I spoke about Mercury and the BepiColombo mission at TEDx London on 1 July 2018; the video can be seen here. I also spoke at TEDx St Andrews University in March 2025.

My OU 'Inaugural lecture' about Mercury (12 Nov 2019) can be seen here.

My talk in the Geological Society's Year of Space series, delivered online on 3 March 2021, can be seen here.

On BlueSky I am @daverothery.bsky.social

My largely defunct Twitter feed is https://twitter.com/daverothery 

I have written several books, which you can find in my publications list. Here are some of the more recent ones.

More information on this book is here

More information on ths book  here

More information on this book here

More information on this book here This new edition was published in late 2015.

More information in this book here This edition was published in mid 2015.

International links

Co-leader of ESA's Mercury Surface & Composition working group for the BepiColombo mission to Mercury.