Dr John Pearson
Dr John Pearson LLB. LLM. LLM.
Senior Lecturer
My profile
Biography
I received my undergraduate law degree in 2008 from Bangor University in North Wales, before undertaking an LLM in International Human Rights Law, Humanitarian Law and Terrorism Law at Lancaster University which I completed in 2009. During my masters studies I also began teaching Public International Law and Human Rights at Bangor University. Having received my first LLM I was invited to undertake a second LLM at Bangor University focusing in particular on devolution in the context of the United Kingdom and Europe. Graduating in 2010 I was then offered a place on the PhD programme at Lancaster University. In the four years I spent at Lancaster I was involved in the delivery of undergraduate teaching in Property Law, Public Law, International Law, Tort Law, European Union Law, and the English Legal System and Legal Skills. In 2014 I was appointed at the University of Manchester where I taught Property Law, Human Rights and Environmental Law. In June 2021 I was appointed Senior Lecturer here at MMU.
Words of wisdom
Those of us who have been privileged to receive education, skills, and experiences and even more power must be role models for the next generation of leadership - Wangari Matathai
Academic and professional qualifications
2014 - Doctor of Philosophy Lancaster University
2010 - Master of Laws Bangor University
2009 - Master of Laws Lancaster University
2008 - Bachelor of Laws University of Wales (Bangor)
Previous employment
University of Wales, Bangor
Lancaster University
University of Manchester
Prizes and awards
Staff Awards - Head Start Award Finalist (2022) - Manchester Metropolitan University
Distinguished Service Award (2019) - University of Manchester
Distinguished Service Award (2018) - University of Manchester
Editorial board membership
Legal Studies - Journal of the Society of Legal Scholars (Editor 2016-2022)
Membership of professional associations
Society of Legal Scholars
Global Network on Human Rights and the Environment
Environmental Law Foundation (Technical Advisor)
Steering Group Member for Environmental Justice and Global Citizenship (Inter-Disciplinary.Net) 2012 -2016
Interests and expertise
In particular my research focuses on protection of the environment using human rights law. This involves the discussion of human rights at domestic, regional and international levels and how the legal provisions affording them might be interpreted to protect the environment on which we all rely. The focus of this study has been on the hydrocarbon (oil and gas) industry and its impacts upon groups with peculiarly strong connections to particular environments, specifically indigenous peoples.
Within this context I also consider the application of science within legal frameworks, and whether the interactions between law and science might be better managed to generate more effective and tailored solutions to opposed regulatory, economic, development and ecological concerns.
My research has previously focused on two particular cases where the hydrocarbon industry is suggested as potentially having a greater impact than might at present be realised, namely hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ in the UK and the ‘tar sands’ or ‘oil sands’ in Alberta, Canada. At present I am working on the human rights implications of air pollution in the UK, mainstreaming environmental issues into the teaching of law and continuing my work around fracking.
Teaching
Equity and Trusts
Land Law
Environmental Law
Courses
Research outputs
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Chapters in books
Pearson, J. (2016) 'Human Security vs. Environmental Security: At Legal Loggerheads.' In Footer, M.E., Schmidt, J., White, N.D., Davies-Bright, L. (ed.) Security and International Law. Hart Publishing, pp. 43-67.
Pearson, J. (2014) 'Ensuring Environmental Expression: An International Human Rights Law Approach to the Preservation of the Culturally Critical Environments of Indigenous Peoples.' Challenges and Opportunities: Environmental Justice and Global Citizenship. Inter-disciplinary Press,
Pearson, J. (2014) 'Managing Mutual Exclusivity: Recognising Both Culture and Development in Environmental Regulation through Self Determination.' In Nyka, M., Schneider, E. (ed.) Enacting Environmental Justice Through Global Citizenship. Inter-Disciplinary Press, pp. 17-28.
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Journal articles
Pearson, J. (2024) 'Place and avoiding the race to the bottom of the fractured well.' Journal of Place Management and Development,
Pearson, J. (2020) 'Book Review: Carbon Capture and Storage: Efficient Legal Policies For Risk Governance and Compensation.' Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law, 29(1) pp. 140-141.
Pearson, J. (2020) 'Corporate social responsibility, hydraulic fracturing and unregulated space: Recognising responsibility without the law.' International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics, 14(4) pp. 406-418.
Pearson, J., Brant, R. (2020) 'Undermining devolution at depth: The implications for the devolution of environmental powers of the infrastructure act 2015 and the practice of hydraulic fracturing'.' Journal of Planning and Environment Law, 2020-January(1) pp. 2-15.
Pearson, J. (2017) 'Book review: Environmental Law Dimensions of Human Rights.' Review of European Community and International Environmental Law, 26(3) pp. 305-306.
Pearson, J., Lynch-Wood, G. (2017) 'Concern and counter-concern : the challenge of fragmented fears for the reguation of hydraulic fracturing.' Extractive Industries and Society, 4(3) pp. 672-680.
Pearson, J. (2015) 'Squaring the circle: Balancing the economic benefits of unconventional hydrocarbon extraction with the inimitable cultural significance of environments.' Extractive Industries and Society, 2(2) pp. 237-245.
Pearson, J. (2015) 'Hydrocarbon hysteria: Differentiating approaches to consumption and contamination in regulatory frameworks governing unconventional hydrocarbon extraction.' Journal of Planning and Environment Law, (1) pp. 3-15.