Dr Ben Surridge
Senior LecturerResearch Overview
Human activity has accelerated the movement of phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon through the Earth system by several hundred percent compared to natural or background conditions. Ben is a biogeochemist who is interested in the effects of these increased fluxes, primarily on water and soil ecosystems. His research also examines how future human demand for resources can be met, whilst at the same time minimising the environmental damage that follows inefficient resource use.
Research Interests
Ben’s current research includes:
- Understanding the fate and impacts of conventional and biodegradable plastic polymers within soil and freshwater ecosystems. This includes research within the Material Social Futures programme at Lancaster that is examining photo-oxidation of polymer surfaces and the biodegradation of plastic polymers within soil. New research in this area, under the , is examining the transport of microplastics from agricultural soil systems.
- The development and application of a new stable isotope framework to understand phosphorus biogeochemistry in natural ecosystems. This work involves measuring the stable oxygen isotope composition of phosphate, in order to provide new insights into the sources and the fate of phosphorus in the environment. Ben’s recent publications in this area include in the context of aquatic ecosystems, a in phosphate within ecosystems at low ambient phosphate concentration, and collaboration with the British Geological Survey to use the stable oxygen isotope composition of phosphate as a .
- Examining the relationships between agricultural production and nutrient biogeochemistry and the fate and impacts of nutrients within networks of freshwater ecosystems. This research includes:
- Work to understand how nutrient elements are transferred through connected river-lake networks, including under the ;
- Examining how to maximise the agronomic value of nutrients with materials such as biomass ash and anaerobic digestate, including via NERC funding under the ;
- Evaluating future scenarios for nutrient management in food production systems within the UK and more widely, including within China under the .
Ben has published >50 journal papers with research funding >?4.5M to Lancaster as PI or Co-I since 2009 from NERC, EPSRC, BBSRC, the European Commission, Defra, the UK water industry and private companies.
Additional Information
Ben is Associate Editor for the journal
Current Teaching
Ben’s teaching includes:
- Convening a third year undergraduate module on Water Resources Management, as part of the environment-focussed degrees within Lancaster Environment Centre.
- Leading a field-based Masters module on the science and management of soil and water resources in river catchments, as part of the Sustainable Water Management MSc within Lancaster Environment Centre.
01/04/2025 → 31/03/2026
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01/04/2024 → 31/03/2025
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15/09/2023 → 30/08/2024
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01/04/2023 → 31/03/2024
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01/01/2023 → 30/06/2024
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01/07/2022 → 30/09/2023
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01/04/2022 → 31/03/2023
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11/10/2021 → 31/03/2024
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01/10/2021 → 31/03/2025
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01/04/2021 → 31/03/2022
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01/01/2021 → 31/12/2024
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01/10/2020 → 31/03/2024
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01/04/2020 → 31/03/2021
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20/05/2019 → 30/09/2019
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01/04/2018 → 31/05/2025
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01/10/2017 → 30/09/2021
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01/01/2014 → 31/01/2016
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22/03/2013 → 31/03/2020
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01/02/2013 → 31/03/2016
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30/09/2012 → …
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01/06/2012 → 30/09/2017
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01/05/2012 → 30/06/2016
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Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
- Centre for Global Eco-innovation
- Innovation for a better environment
- Sustainable Catchments
- Understanding a changing planet