Professor Stephen Rice

PhD (University of British Columbia)

Pronouns: He/him
  • Visiting Professor of River Science
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Stephen Rice

Stephen is a fluvial geomorphologist interested in the physical processes at work in gravel-bed rivers and the interactions between fluvial processes and river ecosystems. His research has two main strands:

  • Ecogeomorphology, ecohydraulics and freshwater zoogeomorphology, particularly the role of biotic energy in driving and conditioning geomorphological processes in rivers and the interactions between organisms, sediment transport and near-bed hydraulics. This includes recent work on the zoogeomorphic roles of crayfish, freshwater fish and aquatic insect larvae using a combination of field investigations and experiments at Loughborough’s River Science Laboratory.
  • The sedimentary structures and size characteristics of gravelly, river-bed sediments including sediment sorting and water-worked structures, bar formation processes and the links between fluvial sediments and lotic ecology. This includes ongoing work on emergent rocks as a key oviposition resource for aquatic insects, recent work on fine sediment ingress into river beds and a longstanding interest in the role of “sedimentary links” and geomorphologically significant confluences in structuring and explaining sediment characteristics and biodiversity at network scales.

Academic Career

  • 2024-: Visiting Professor of River Science
  • 2018-2024: Associate Dean (Research), School of Social Sciences & Humanities, Loughborough University
  • 2016-2018: Head of Department of Geography, Loughborough University
  • 2011-present: Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader and Professor of River Science, Loughborough University
  • 1996: Ph.D. Geography, University of British Columbia
  • 1990: M.Sc. Geography, University of British Columbia
  • 1988: B.A. Geography, Oxford University, G.W. Gilbert Prize

Professional Responsibilities

  • Previously: Bureau, International Association of Sedimentologists; Vice-Chair British Society for Geomorphology; NERC Peer Review College; Chief Editor Sedimentology
  • Currently: Editorial Board RGS-IBG Book Series; Editorial Board IAHR Journal of Ecohydraulics