Benjamin J.W. Mills
2025 United Kingdom Award Finalist — Faculty
Current Position:
Professor
Institution:
University of Leeds
Discipline:
Physical Earth Sciences
Recognized for: Pioneering development of long-timescale models of the Earth, linking geology and biology, and giving insight into the linked atmospheric and geologic history of our habitable planet.
Areas of Research Interest and Expertise:
Co-evolution of life and the Earth, Earth system modelling, global biogeochemical cycles
Previous Positions:
- PhD, University of East Anglia (advisor: Andrew Watson)
- Postdoc, University of Exeter (advisor: Tim Lenton)
- Postdoc, University of Bristol (advisor: Andy Ridgwell)
- Academic Fellow, University of Leeds
- Associate Professor, University of Leeds
- Professor and Chair in Earth System Evolution, University of Leeds
Research Summary:
The ancient history of Earth’s surface environment has long been a mystery yet is critical to understanding our planet’s path to habitability. A series of pioneering advances in Earth Evolution Modelling, led by biogeochemist Benjamin J.W. Mills, PhD, has allowed him and his research group to simulate Earth’s climate and surface processes over billions of years. This has significantly advanced our understanding of myriad atmospheric processes and climate drivers. Mills' foundational work can be readily applied to simulating the histories of atmospheric oxygen in exoplanets, paving the way for the search for other Earth-like planets.
“Development of Earth Evolution Models lets us explore the co-evolution of life and the Earth, the future of our planet, and the habitability of other worlds. I am honoured to receive this award and excited that others share my passion for this work.”
Key Publications:
- K. Gurung, K. J. Field, S.A. Batterman, S.W. Poulton, B.J.W. Mills. Geographic range of plants drives long-term climate change. Nature Communications. 2024.
- B.J.W. Mills, Y. Donnadieu, Y. Goddéris. Spatial continuous integration of Phanerozoic global biogeochemistry and climate. Gondwana Research. 2021.
- L.J. Alcott, B.J.W. Mills, S.W. Poulton. Stepwise Earth oxygenation is an inherent property of global biogeochemical cycling. Science. 2019.
- A.J. Krause, B.J.W. Mills, S. Zhang, N.J. Planavsky, T.M. Lenton, S.W. Poulton. Stepwise oxygenation of the Paleozoic atmosphere. Nature Communications. 2018.
Other Honors:
2023 Consolidator Grant – European Research Council
2015 University Academic Fellowship – University of Leeds
In the Media:
Forbes - Volcanism Triggered A Period Of Global Cooling And Falling Oxygen Levels, Causing The First Mass Extinction In Earth History