Tribute to Dr Richard Payne

Dr Richard Payne

In 2019 Dr Richard Payne, a Senior Lecturer in the department, was killed whilst attempting to climb Peak 6477, a previously unclimbed subsidiary peak of one of India's highest mountains, Nanda Devi. Richard was a brilliant field scientist and fully committed to students being able to experience the joys and educational benefits that field work brings.

To celebrate Richard's life the Department has launched the Richard Payne Fieldwork Bursary and hope that this fund will help open up these opportunities to those of our students who would otherwise be unable to afford the costs associated with field work.

The fundraising campaign in Richard's memory raised over £12,500 and from 2020/21 York students will be able to apply for funding to allow them to pursue field work related to a "Richard subject" which includes a wide range of topics associated with atmospheric pollution, natural hazards, climate change, soil carbon, plant biodiversity and bogs, mires and peats. 

View Richard's research and work on the York Research Database.