Dr John Pearson

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