Mike Butcher FGS
3 Richmond Mount, Leeds, LS6 1DG
E-mail: Michael_a_butcher@hotmail.co.uk
Tel: 077 254 649 10
EDUCATION & QUALIFICATION
2014 – 2015
June 2014
2011 – 2014
2008 – 2011
University of Leeds
MSc Engineering Geology: relevant modules include Soil Engineering; Rock
Engineering; Geological Models & Ground Investigation; Laboratory and
Field Skills; Hydrogeology and Contaminants; and Hazards, Resilience &
Sustainable engineering.
First Aid trained: Level 2 award in Emergency First Aid at work + Outdoor
First Aid, with Marlin Training Ltd.
University of Leeds
BSc (Hons) Geological Sciences, high 2:1
Strode College, Street, Somerset
3 A-levels: Photography (A*), Geology (B), Environmental Studies (B)
October 2010
Full Driving Licence
2003 – 2008
The Blue School, Wells, Somerset
10 GCSE’s: including Science (A), Maths (B), and English (B)
Employment History
2007 – 2011
Geophysical Field Assistant, TerraDat Geophysics, Cardiff. Conducting
near surface geophysical surveys, using a range of equipment for
various different surveys (e.g. GEM-2 with a Trimble GPS for
electromagnetic surveys, Laser Theodolites for topographic surveys,
and Iris Resistivity Meter for resistivity tomography surveys).
Committee Roles & Position of Responsibility
2015 – present
Librarian for the University of Leeds Speleological Association
2013 – 2015
Training Officer for the University of Leeds Speleological Association
2012 – 2013
President of Leeds University Union Caving Society
2012 – 2013
Equipment Officer for Leeds University Union Scuba-Aqua Club
(LUUSAC)
2010 – 2011
Club Representative (representing the Shepton Mallet Caving Club)
for the Mendip Cave Rescue organization
2009 – 2011
Equipment Officer for Shepton Mallet Caving Club (SMCC)
IT Skills
Confident with IT Skills such as: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel,
Photoshop, InDesign, Corel Draw, Move structural modelling
Software, Slope Oasys limit equilibrium modelling, RocScience
software (e.g. Phase 2 finite element modelling), and ArcGIS
mapping software.
Geological, Geophysical and Speleological Fieldwork – 30 weeks to date
November 2014
Core Logging, 1 day – Conducting geotechnical logs of sedimentary,
igneous and metamorphic core, at Soil Engineering Ltd.
October 2014
Site Visits, 3 days – Site visits to 3 locations: M62 embankment
construction, the metastable Jack’s Key (Lancashire) earth dam, and
the Wylfra nuclear power station ground investigation.
September 2014
Whitby, 1 week – Studying landslide geomorphology, and producing
ground and geotechnical models.
July 2014
Ario Cave Project, Northern Spain, 4 weeks – Speleological
expedition
April 2014
Cyprus, 10 days – Geological Fieldwork studying the evolution the
emplacement and uplift history of the Trudos Ophiolite complex.
June – July 2013
Meall a’Ghiubhais, North West Scotland, 6 weeks - mapping a
structurally complex imbricate zone.
April 2013
Anglesey, 3 days – Studying Anglesey’s polyphase deformation.
April 2013
Lake District, 3 days – Studying the volcanic sequences of the Skafell
caldera.
March – April 2013 Connemara & County Clare, Ireland, 3 weeks – 1st week studying the
metamorphic geology of Connemara, 2nd week studying the
sedimentary basin of County Clare, 3rd week exploring the karst
terrain of The Burren, County Clare.
February 2013
Leck Fell Hydrogeological Project, Lancashire 3 days – assisting with a
water-sampling project to characterise the unconfined karstic aquifer
at Leck Fell.
August 2012
Dachstein Plateau Expedition, Austria 4 weeks – Multi-national
speleological expedition, with the aim of discovering and surveying
one of the deepest caves in the world; included a weeklong
underground camp conducting a centre line topographic survey.
June – July 2012
Assynt, Scotland, 2 weeks – Studying and mapping the Glencoul
Thust.
February 2012
Hirlatzhöhle Expedition, Austria 1 week – Speleological fieldwork
involving a 5 day underground camp, conducting a Centre Line
Topographic Survey.
April 2011
Pembroke, 1 week – Geological fieldwork
June 2011
Lancashire, 2 weeks – Seismic, GPR and Electromagnetic survey for a
wind farm ground investigation, working for TerraDat Ltd.
June 2010
Glasgow, 1 week – Seismic and electrical resistivity tomography
survey for a wind farm ground investigation, working for TerraDat Ltd.
July 2008
Norfolk, 1 week – Electrical resistivity tomography surveys for
TerraDat Ltd to assess rock head for power cable emplacement.
June 2007
Mendip Hills, 1 week – Electrical resistivity tomography surveys to
locate caverns with TerraDat Ltd.
Transferable Skills
Analytical Skills


Throughout my mapping project of Meall a’Ghiubhais I conducted strain analysis and
stereonet projections to regularly test my structural hypothesis, through this I was able
to rationalise a complex imbricate thrust zone and understand the geoevolution of the
area.
With an Engineering based MSc I regularly conduct numerical analysis, e.g using 3D
rotational matrixes to assess the localised stress state of underground cavities. I
consider myself numerically adept and am comfortable at rationalising geological
processes into geotechnical equations.
Laboratory Skills

My MSc has involved numerous lab sessions, often 12hrs a week, using a variety of tests
to study the behaviour of many different geological materials (e.g. permeability,
confined compressive strength, shear strength etc). The sessions have been self-lead
following procedures outlined in the European and British Standards. From this I am
familiar with researching and conducting laboratory investigations, critically evaluating
techniques, and producing laboratory reports.
Public Speaking

I am comfortable with public speaking, and am adept at tailoring the scientific
complexity of talks to the audience. I have gained experience by giving introductory
talks about speleogenesis to the Leeds caving society, talking about imbricate thrust
systems to the Leeds Geological Society, and leading a scientific debating team as part
of my MSc course.
Leadership and Team working



On international caving expeditions to Austria and Spain, I have enjoyed working with
people from a variety of different countries and cultures. These expeditions have
involved working in a group on week-long underground camps with no clear
management structure. This means having to work in a variety of different roles within
the group (supportive role, lead role, collaborative role, etc) depending on the situation.
During these camps it is crucial for morale that confrontation is avoided, hence it is very
important to behave conscientiously and deal with issues tactfully. I have adopted the
same ethos when working on group projects as part of my MSc and BSc.
When conducting group work for my BSc and MSc courses, I have regularly been coopted to be leader. From this I am experienced at running a scientific team, distributing
workload, ensuring everyone works to a fixed timeframe, and making sure the final
product (e.g. report, poster, presentation etc) is coherent.
Leading many caving trips, and training many novice cavers, means I am familiar with
ultimate responsibility: being responsible for key decision making (e.g. whether to abort
the trip due to flooding), and having a duty of care for those around me.
Communication


My role as Training Officer has taught me the importance of communicating clear and
concisely, both verbally during demonstrations, and in writing when producing training
documents.
Through my time at Leeds I have developed a clear scientific style of writing, and have
became adept at present scientific information in a variety of different forms: reports,
scientific posters, public presentations, popular science articles, etc.
References
Dr Phil Murphy
Dr Jared West
P.J.Murphy@leeds.ac.uk
L.J.West@leeds.ac.uk
School of Earth and Environment
University Of Leeds,
LS2 9JT
School of Earth and Environment
University Of Leeds,
LS2 9JT