Curriculum vitae

I have sustained a successful career, both as a museum professional and university academic, but also as a passionate science communicator. The public engagement of science has never been a bolt-on activity to my work, but central to guiding and complementing my research, integrating the latest scientific discoveries to my public lectures, exhibits and outreach activities. 

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Education

University of Sheffield, UK (1994-1999) 

University of Manchester, UK (1991-1993) 

University of Leicester, UK (1985-1988).

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Qualifications                          

PhD. Palaeobiology & biomechanics (1999)

MSc. Palaeoecology of Eurypterids (1993)

BSc (Hons). Combined Studies (Major in Meteorology, Climatology & Remote Sensing) (1988)

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Director of Science (October 2024 - present)

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

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Chair of Natural History (January 2004 - present)

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, UK

Founding Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Ancient Life (ICAL), University of Manchester, UK.

 

Previous appointments held (part- and full-time)

2015 - 2022          Scientist in Residence, Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, USA.

2012 - 2019          STFC Leadership Fellow in Public Engagement, University of Manchester, UK.

2016 - 2018          Professor of Natural History (0.7 FTE), College of Charleston, USA.

2016 - 2018          Director, Mace Brown Museum of Natural History, Charleston, USA.

2013 - 2016          Director of ICAL (and again from 2020-2023), University of Manchester, UK.

2012 - 2014          Reader in Palaeobiology, University of Manchester, UK.

2005 - 2012          Museum/Academic Joint Appointment, Manchester Museum/University of Manchester, UK.                 

2004 - 2005          Curator of Palaeontology, Manchester Museum, University of Manchester, UK.

2003 - 2003          Museum Service Development Manager, Bath Heritage Services, UK.

2001- 2003           Lecturer (part-time), University of Liverpool, UK.

1999 - 2003          Keeper of Geology, Yorkshire Museum, York, UK.

1996 - 1999          Museum Education Officer, Manchester Museum, UoM, UK

1993 - 1994          Assistant Curator, Clitheroe Castle Museum, UK.

1991 - 1993          Palaeontology Research Technician, Department of Geology, University of Manchester, UK

1989 - 1991          Museum Conservation Assistant, Museum of Isle of Wight Geology, UK.

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Honorary and visiting appointments

2021 – present    Committee Member, Geological Society London, External Relations Committee.

2021 – present    Board Member, Oxford Cambridge and RSA (OCR) Examination Board, Natural History GCSE.

2023 - 2024          President, Earth Science Teachers Association, United Kingdom.

2019 – 2022         Ambassador, The Earth Project, Not-for-Profit, (UK).

2012 - 2015          Research Associate, American Museum of Natural History, New York, (USA). 

2011 - 2015          Visiting Scholar (and Adjunct Professor), University of Pennsylvania (USA), Philadelphia, (USA).

2010                     Honorary Scientist, Zhucheng Museum, Shandong Province, (China).

2009 - 2010          Research Associate, University of Pennsylvania (USA), Philadelphia, (USA).

2009 - 2010          Chair of Outreach Committee, International Year of Planet Earth (UNESCO and United Nations initiative), (UK).

2008 - 2011          Research Associate, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, (USA).

2000 - 2006          Council Member, The Palaeontological Association, London, (UK).

1998 - 2000          Council Member, Yorkshire Geological Society, (UK).

 

Membership of Professional Society/Body

Fellow, The Geological Society (London, UK)

Fellow (International) of the Explorers Club (New York, USA)

Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London, UK)

Fellow of the Linnean Society of London (UK)

Member, Museums Association (UK)

Member, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK)

Life Member, Buxton Civic Association (UK)

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Research contributions (H-index 45)

My goal is to lead and pursue interdisciplinary research whilst maintaining a diverse global research programme focused upon robust science. I have ensured that my research benefits from the application of new techniques and technologies borrowed from physics, biology, chemistry, engineering, and computational science.

 

Peer reviewed publications

• 100+ papers published in peer-reviewed journals (including: Science, Nature Communications, PNAS, Geology, Proc. Roy. Soc. B., etc.).

• 100+ Peer-reviewed published abstracts for international meetings and symposia (including: Geological Society of America, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, American Association for the Advancement of Science, etc.).

• 8 books published, both for adult and children (Publishers include: Kingfisher Books, Penguin Books, National Geographic Books).

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Outreach and public engagement​

Highlights of Outreach and Public Engagement activities include: being selected to present at The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition three times (2012, 2014 & 2020); Showcasing research on television in the UK and internationally, presenting documentaries for National Geographic, BBC (radio and television) and other international media; In 2015 I contributed (on screen) to the film that was awarded the Emmy for Outstanding Science and Technology Programming.  

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Awards & Honours

1. Selected to exhibit at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in 2012, 2014 and 2020.

2. Sorby Medal awarded by The Yorkshire Geological Society (UK), in December 2020.

3. Publication (Manning et al., 2019, Nature Comms) selected by Diamond Light Source (UK) as an invited Research Highlight in their Annual Review 2020/2021.

4. Emmy for Outstanding Science and Technology Programming at the 36th Annual News and Documentary Awards held in New York. Dr. Manning was a contributor to the documentary (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3090252/fullcredits/).

5. American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Distinguished Lecturer (2014/2015). 

6. Elected an International Fellow International of the Explorer’s Club, New York (USA) in 2014. 

7. Queens Anniversary Prize (November 2013,) I was part of the team that help write the application for the award, integrating science and outreach that my team had undertaken that contributed to the award being made to the University.

8. La Recherche Magazine, senior author for one of their Top 10 Scientific Discoveries of 2011.

9. Appointed as an Honorary Scientist, Zhucheng Museum, Shandong Province, China.

10. Discover Magazine Award, first author for one of the Top 50 Scientific Discoveries of 2009, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.).