Jane Francis

Jane Francis
Born	Jane E. Francis
Fields	Palaeoclimatology
Institutions	British Antarctic Survey University of Adelaide University of Leeds
Alma mater	University of Southampton
Thesis	The fossil forests of the basal Purbeck formation (upper jurassic) of Dorset, Southern England (1982)
Notable awards	Polar Medal (2002)

Jane E. Francis is the current Director of the British Antarctic Survey.^[1] She previously worked as Professor of Palaeoclimatology at the University of Leeds where she was Dean of the Faculty of Environment.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} In 2002 she was the fourth female to receive the Polar Medal for outstanding contribution to British polar research.^[7][8]

Education

Francis received her undergradate degree in Geology and PhD^[9] at the University of Southampton.

Career

Francis remained at Southampton until 1982 as a NERC research student in Biology/Geology. From here she continued on as a NERC postdoctoral research fellow for two years, until 1984, at Bedford College, University of London.

She was appointed a position as Palaeobotanist to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), from 1984-1986. This was followed by five years as a Postdoctoral research Associate at the University of Adelaide. In 1991 she accepted a position as a lecturer in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Leeds. She was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1996 and to Professor of Palaeoclimatology in 2004.^[7] On 1 October 2013 Professor Francis took up her present post as Director of BAS, succeeding interim director, Alan Rodger.^[10]

Awards

Francis's contributions have been recognised with numerous awards. Most notably, she was awarded the Polar Medal in 2002 for outstanding contribution to British polar research, and was the fourth woman ever to receive the award.^[11] She has also been recognized by the Paleontological Society (Presidents Award), the US NSF (Antarctic Service Medal), the US Navy (Antarctic medal),^[7] and the Geological Society of London (Coke Award).^[12]

Publications

• Bowman, V. C.; Riding, J. B.; Francis, J. E.; Crame, J. A.; Hannah, M. J. (2013). "The taxonomy and palaeobiogeography of small chorate dinoflagellate cysts from the Late Cretaceous to Quaternary of Antarctica". Palynology 37: 151. doi:10.1080/01916122.2012.750898.
• Tosolini, A. M. P.; Cantrill, D. J.; Francis, J. E. (2013). "Paleocene flora from Seymour Island, Antarctica: Revision of Dusén's (1908) angiosperm taxa". Alcheringa: an Australasian Journal of Palaeontology 37 (3): 366. doi:10.1080/03115518.2013.764698.
• Bowman, V. C.; Francis, J. E.; Riding, J. B.; Hunter, S. J.; Haywood, A. M. (2012). "A latest Cretaceous to earliest Paleogene dinoflagellate cyst zonation from Antarctica, and implications for phytoprovincialism in the high southern latitudes". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 171: 40. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2011.11.004.
• Fielding, C. R.; Harwood, D. M.; Winter, D. M.; Francis, J. E. (2012). "Neogene stratigraphy of Taylor Valley, Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica: Evidence for climate dynamism and a vegetated Early Pliocene coastline of Mc Murdo Sound". Global and Planetary Change. 96-97: 97. doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2010.09.003.
• Haywood, A. M.; Ridgwell, A.; Lunt, D. J.; Hill, D. J.; Pound, M. J.; Dowsett, H. J.; Dolan, A. M.; Francis, J. E.; Williams, M. (2011). "Are there pre-Quaternary geological analogues for a future greenhouse warming?". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 369 (1938): 933. Bibcode:2011RSPTA.369..933H. doi:10.1098/rsta.2010.0317.
• Cantrill, D. J.; Tosolini, A. M. P.; Francis, J. E. (2011). "Paleocene flora from Seymour Island, Antarctica: Revision of Dusén's (1908) pteridophyte and conifer taxa". Alcheringa: an Australasian Journal of Palaeontology 35 (2): 309. doi:10.1080/03115518.2011.565214.
• Haywood, A. M.; Dowsett, H. J.; Valdes, P. J.; Lunt, D. J.; Francis, J. E.; Sellwood, B. W. (2009). "Introduction. Pliocene climate, processes and problems". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 367 (1886): 3. Bibcode:2009RSPTA.367....3H. doi:10.1098/rsta.2008.0205.
• Thorn, V. C.; Riding, J. B.; Francis, J. E. (2009). "The Late Cretaceous dinoflagellate cyst Manumiella — Biostratigraphy, systematics, and palaeoecological signals in Antarctica". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 156 (3–4): 436. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2009.04.009.
• Allison 1; Bindoff NL; Bindschadler RA; Cox PM; de Noblet N; England MH; ‘’’Francis JE’’’; Gruber N; Haywood AM; Karoly DJ; Kaser G; Le Quere C; Lenton TM; Mann ME; McNeil BI; Pitman AJ; Rahmstorf S; Rignot E; Snellnhuber HJ; Schneider SH; Sherwood SC; Somerville RCJ; Steffen K; Steig EJ; Visbeck M; Weaver AJ (2009) The Copenhagen Diagnosis, 2009: Updating the World on the Latest Climate Science, The University of New South Wales Climate Change Research Centre, pp.1-60.
• ‘’’Francis J’’’; Ashworth A; Cantrill D; Crame J; Howe J; Stephens R; Tosolini A-M; Thorn V (2008) 100 million years of Antarctic climate evolution: evidence from fossil plants, In: Cooper; K A; Barrett; J P; Stagg; H; Storey; Stump B; Wise E; W; team 1ISAESE (Ed) Antarctica: a keystone in a changing world, The National Academies Press, pp.19-27.
• Francis, J. E.; Marenssi, S.; Levy, R.; Hambrey, M.; Thorn, V. C.; Mohr, B.; Brinkhuis, H.; Warnaar, J.; Zachos, J.; Bohaty, S.; Deconto, R. (2008). "Chapter 8 from Greenhouse to Icehouse – the Eocene/Oligocene in Antarctica". Antarctic Climate Evolution. Developments in Earth and Environmental Sciences 8. p. 309. doi:10.1016/S1571-9197(08)00008-6. ISBN 9780444528476.
• Haywood, A. M.; Dowsett, H. J.; Valdes, P. J.; Lunt, D. J.; Francis, J. E.; Sellwood, B. W. (2009). "Introduction. Pliocene climate, processes and problems". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 367 (1886): 3. Bibcode:2009RSPTA.367....3H. doi:10.1098/rsta.2008.0205.
• Thorn VC; ‘’’Francis JE’’’; Riding JB (2008) TERMINAL CRETACEOUS CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIOTIC RESPONSE IN ANTARCTICA, PALYNOLOGY, 32, pp.271-271.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’; Haywood AM; Ashworth A; Valdes P (2007) Tundra environments in the Neogene Sirius Group, Antarctica: evidence from the geological record and coupled atmosphere-vegetation models, Journal of the Geological Society, 164, pp.317-322. doi: 10.1144/0016-76492005-191
• Harland, M.; Francis, J. E.; Brentnall, S. J.; Beerling, D. J. (2007). "Cretaceous (Albian–Aptian) conifer wood from Northern Hemisphere high latitudes: Forest composition and palaeoclimate". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 143 (3–4): 167. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2006.07.005.
• Hayes PA; ‘’’Francis JE’’’; Cantrill D; Crame JA (2006) Palaeoclimate analysis of Late Cretaceous angiosperm leaf floras, James Ross Island, Antarctica, Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 258, pp.49-62.
• Francis, J. E.; Harland, B. M. (2006). "Termite borings in Early Cretaceous fossil wood, Isle of Wight, UK". Cretaceous Research 27 (6): 773. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2006.02.001.
• Francis, J. E.; Crame, J. A.; Pirrie, D. (2015). "Cretaceous-Tertiary high-latitude palaeoenvironments, James Ross Basin, Antarctica: Introduction". Geological Society, London, Special Publications 258: 1. doi:10.1144/GSL.SP.2006.258.01.01.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’; Thorn VC (2006) Antarctic fossil plants, In: Riffenburgh B (Ed) Encyclopedia of the Antarctic, New York: Routledge..
• Francis, J. E.; Harland, B. M. (2006). "Termite borings in Early Cretaceous fossil wood, Isle of Wight, UK". Cretaceous Research 27 (6): 773. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2006.02.001.
• Brentnall, S. J.; Beerling, D. J.; Osborne, C. P.; Harland, M.; Francis, J. E.; Valdes, P. J.; Wittig, V. E. (2005). "Climatic and ecological determinants of leaf lifespan in polar forests of the high CO₂ Cretaceous 'greenhouse' world". Global Change Biology 11 (12): 2177. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2005.001068.x.
• Howe J; ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (2005) Metamorphosed palaeosols associated with Cretaceous fossil forests, Alexander Island, Antarctica, J GEOL SOC LONDON, 162, pp.951-957.
• Eklund, H.; Cantrill, D. J.; Francis, J. E. (2004). "Late Cretaceous plant mesofossils from Table Nunatak, Antarctica". Cretaceous Research 25 (2): 211. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2003.11.004.
• Crame, J. A.; Francis, J. E.; Cantrill, D. J.; Pirrie, D. (2004). "Maastrichtian stratigraphy of Antarctica". Cretaceous Research 25 (3): 411. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2004.02.002.
• Creber GT; ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (2004) The growth of trees in the polar regions: evidence from Glossopteris of Permian age, Antarctica, Acta Horticulturae, 615, pp.67-69.
• Eklund, H.; Cantrill, D. J.; Francis, J. E. (2004). "Late Cretaceous plant mesofossils from Table Nunatak, Antarctica". Cretaceous Research 25 (2): 211. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2003.11.004.
• Creber GT; ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (2003) High latitude fossil forests in greenhouse climates: Influence of the polar light regime on their growth, Acta Horticulturae, 615, pp.67-72.
• Haywood, A. M.; Valdes, P. J.; Francis, J. E.; Sellwood, B. W. (2002). "Global middle Pliocene biome reconstruction: A data/model synthesis". Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 3 (12): 1. doi:10.1029/2002GC000358.
• Francis, J. E.; Smith, M. P. (2002). "Foreword". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 182: 1. doi:10.1016/S0031-0182(01)00448-5.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (2002) Fossil forests of the polar regions: heralds of global climate change, Journal of the Open University Geological Society (OUGS Journal), 23, pp.26-28.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’; Smith MP (2002) Special Issue - Palaeoclimate reconstructions using fossils and lithological indicators - Proceedings of a Paleontological Association symposium at the Geoscience 2000 meeting of the Geological Society of London - Foreword, PALAEOGEOGR PALAEOCL, 182, pp.1-1.
• David Beerling; ‘’’Francis JE’’’(2000) Back to the future for plant and ecosystem development, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 15, pp.442-442.
• Poole IJ; Cantrill DJ; Hayes P; ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (2000) The fossil record of Cunoniaceae: new evidence from Late Cretaceous fossil wood of Antarctica?, Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 111, pp.127-144.
• Poole I; Richter HG; ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (2000) Evidence for Gondwanan origins for sassafras (Lauraceae)? Late Cretaceous fossil wood of Antarctica, IAWA J, 21, pp.463-475.
• Poole, I. (2000). "Illicioxylon, an Element of Gondwanan Polar Forests? Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary Woods of Antarctica". Annals of Botany 86 (2): 421. doi:10.1006/anbo.2000.1208.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (2000) Fossil wood from Eocene high latitude forests McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, In: Stilwell J; Feldmann R (Ed) Paleobiology and paleoenvironments of Eocene rocks, McMurdo Sound, East Antarctica, Antarctic Research Series, 76, American Geophysical Union, pp.253-259.
• Poole IJ; ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (2000) The first record of fossil wood of Winteraceae from the Upper Cretaceous of Antarctica, Annals of Botany, 85, pp.307-315.
• Creber GT; ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (1999) Fossil tree-ring analysis: palaeodendrology, In: Jones TP; Rowe NP (Ed) Fossil plants and spores: modern techniques, Geological Society, London, pp.245-250.
• Poole, I.; Francis, J. E. (1999). "The first record of fossil atherospermataceous wood from the upper Cretaceous of Antarctica". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 107: 97. doi:10.1016/S0034-6667(99)00013-5.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (1999) Evidence from fossil plants for Antarctic Palaeoclimates over the past 100 million years, Terra Antartica, 3, pp.43-52.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (1998) Interpreting palaeoclimates, In: Doyle P; Bennett MR (Ed) Unlocking the stratigraphical record: advances in modern stratigraphy, John Wiley & Sons.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (1998) Older ice, New Scientist, 158, pp.pp.52.
• Allen P; Alvin KL; Andrews JE; Batten DJ; Charlton WA; Cleevely RJ; Ensom PC; Evans SE; ‘’’Francis JE’’’; Hailwood EA; Harding IC; Horne DJ; Hughes NF; Hunt CO; Jarzembowski EA; Jones TP; Knox RWO; Milner A; Norman DB; Palmer CP; Parker A; Patterson GA; Price GD; Radley JD; Rawson PF; Rolfe S; Ross AJ; Ruffell AH; Sellwood BW; Sladen CP; Taylor KG; Watson J; Wimbledon WA; Wright VP; Banham GH (1998) Purbeck-Wealden (Early Cretaceous) climates, Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 109, pp.197-236.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’; Wignall PB (1997) Fieldwork safety at Leeds, Teaching Earth Sciences, 22, pp.pp.91.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (1997) Antarctic palaeobotany: clues to climate change, Terra Antartica, 3, pp.135-140.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’; Feldmann RM (1997) Antarctic fossil biotas through time: Thematic session overview of VII ISAEA 1995, Terra Antarctica, 3, pp.152-153.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’; Hill RS (1996) Fossil plants from the Pliocene Sirius Group, Transantarctic Mountains: evidence for climate from growth rings and fossil leaves, Palaios, 11, pp.389-396.
• Creber GT; ‘’’Francis JE’’’ (1996) Analysis of secondary wood growth in Glossopteris of late Early Permian age in Antarctica, IAWA Journal, 17, pp.pp.239.
• Clayton T; ‘’’Francis JE’’’; Hillier SJ; Hodson F; Saunders RA; Stone J (1996) The implications of reworking on the mineralogy and chemistry of Lower Carboniferous K-Bentonites, Clay Minerals, 31, pp.377-390.
• Clayton T; ‘’’Francis JE’’’; Hillier SJ; Hodson F; Saunders RA; Stone J (1996) Primary and reworked k-bentonites from the Lower Carboniferous of the Mendips, Geological Magazine, 31, pp.377-390.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’(1996) Fossil wood from the Pliocene Sirius Group of Antarctica, IAWA Journal, 17, pp.pp.244.
• ‘’’Francis JE’’’; Marenssi S; Levy R; Hambrey MJ; Thorn VC; Mohr B; Brinkhuis H; Warnaar J; Zachos J; Bohaty S; Deconto R (Not yet published) From Greenhouse to Icehouse - the Eocene/Oligocene in Antarctica, In: Florindo F; Siegert M (Ed) Antarctic Climate Evolution, Elsevier.
• Fielding, C. R.; Harwood, D. M.; Winter, D. M.; Francis, J. E. (2012). "Neogene stratigraphy of Taylor Valley, Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica: Evidence for climate dynamism and a vegetated Early Pliocene coastline of Mc Murdo Sound". Global and Planetary Change. 96-97: 97. doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2010.09.003.^[13]

References

1. "British Antarctic Survey Staff Profiles". British Antarctic Survey. 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-02-27.
2. Frakes, L. A.; Francis, J. E. (1988). "A guide to Phanerozoic cold polar climates from high-latitude ice-rafting in the Cretaceous". Nature 333 (6173): 547. doi:10.1038/333547a0.
3. Dettmann, M. E.; Molnar, R. E.; Douglas, J. G.; Burger, D.; Fielding, C.; Clifford, H. T.; Francis, J.; Jell, P.; Rich, T.; Wade, M.; Rich, P. V.; Pledge, N.; Kemp, A.; Rozefelds, A. (1992). "Australian cretaceous terrestrial faunas and floras: Biostratigraphic and biogeographic implications". Cretaceous Research 13 (3): 207. doi:10.1016/0195-6671(92)90001-7.
4. Francis, J. E.; Poole, I. (2002). "Cretaceous and early Tertiary climates of Antarctica: Evidence from fossil wood". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 182: 47. doi:10.1016/S0031-0182(01)00452-7.
5. Woolfe, K. J.; Stewart, L. K.; Francis, J. E.; Arnot, M. J. (2000). "PC99: A new freeware for manipulating and graphically displaying palaeocurrent data". Sedimentary Geology 133: 1. doi:10.1016/S0037-0738(00)00034-8.
6. "Jane Francis interviewed by Jim Al-Khalili". BBC.
7. "University of Leeds". University of Leeds Faculty of Environment. 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
8. Jane Francis's publications indexed by the Scopus bibliographic database, a service provided by Elsevier.
9. Francis, Jane E. (1982). The fossil forests of the basal Purbeck formation (upper jurassic) of Dorset, Southern England. (PhD thesis). University of Southampton.
10. "British Antarctic Survey has a new director: climate expert Professor Jane Francis". Merco Press. 2013. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
11. "The Reporter, Issue 480". University of Leeds. 22 April 2002. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
12. "The Coke Awards". The Geological Society. 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
13. "Personal Detail: Earth and Environment". University of Leeds. 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.