David Jones (1940-2026)
An influential geomorphologist who helped shape applied geography and geohazard assessment
David Jones (© London School of Economics and Political Science)
Professor David Keith Crozier Jones was born in 1940 in Burma, and was evacuated to India following Japanese invasion, remaining there until 1947 when he was repatriated to the UK. After studying at Leominster Grammar School, David joined the Ordnance Survey before commencing studies as a geography and geology undergraduate at King’s College London.
A pioneering geographer
After graduation, David took up a physical geography lecturing post in the School of Geography at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1967. He quickly progressed and became a pivotal member of staff, serving as Head of Department three times and becoming a professor in 1990. David helped lay the foundations for what was to become one of the leading postgraduate geography departments in the world.
Through his teaching, research programmes and publishing, David played a key role in integrating the human and physical strands of geography and helped advance the role of the subject in environmental management and risk assessment. But it was his expertise as a geomorphologist that many will appreciate.
David helped lay the foundations for one of the leading postgraduate geography departments in the world
A life in geomorphology
Along with his colleagues, David was a pioneer in applied geomorphology, using his skills in landscape interpretation, geomorphological mapping and understanding of geomorphological processes to assist planners and civil engineers in resolving terrain and geohazard difficulties in a range of sectors. This work was undertaken in the UK, across the Middle East and in Asia, with his work on the Dharan-Dhankuta Road in Nepal being perhaps the most renowned. So successful were these assignments that David and his colleagues set up Geomorphological Services Ltd in 1979.
David authored and co-authored several seminal publications on subjects as diverse as applied geomorphology and environmental management, the landslides of southwest Dorset, the geomorphological evolution of southern England, the geohazards of the Himalayas, urban geomorphology in drylands and landslide risk assessment.
He also had important roles in the UK Department of the Environment’s Review of Landsliding in Great Britain, the Department of Transport’s Landscape Advisory Committee and the Royal Society’s Report on Risk Assessment, Perception and Management. He was Chair of the British Geomorphological Research Group and was awarded the Cuthbert Peek Award by the Royal Geographical Society for his contributions to geomorphology.
Guidance and generosity
To those David taught, mentored, worked alongside and lived with, David will be remembered most for his caring, kind and courteous nature; his friendship and generosity; and for those of us lucky enough to have had him as a PhD supervisor, his guidance, patience and encouragement.
David passed away on 26 June 2026 after a long battle with dementia and leaves behind his wife Professor Dame Judith Rees.
By Gareth Hearn
