Prof Redfern's work covers a broad range of interests all linked by their relationship to the atomic-scale, nano-scale and microscopic structure of minerals, and the impacts of these on Environmental Science and Sustainability. He is interested in the relationships between structure, dynamics and properties of crystalline solids from the Earth's core to the biosphere, and how these properties impact upon broader Earth and environmental processes. This includes the relationship between microstructure of biominerals and the physical properties of the structures that they form, the microstructure of rock-forming minerals and their seismic signatures (relevant to interpretations of deep Earth data), and the microstructures of manufactured materials based on mineral structures which may form the basis of new wasteforms for clean energy production. He spent 25 years as a member of faculty of Cambridge University, leading to his role as Head of the Department of Earth Sciences. He was founding Director of the AI4ER, the UKRI-funded Cambridge Centre for Doctoral Training in “Applications of AI to the study of Environmental Risk” ($24.6M). His experience leading projects composed of large and complex multi-disciplinary teams draws him into work in sustainability and climate-related topics with a wide range of colleagues. He was a member of the UK (BEIS) and devolved Governments’ “Committee on Radioactive Waste Management” and has been a British Science Association media fellow working with BBC science (online and radio), with a keen interest in science communication and transfer to policy. Since 2019 he has been Dean of the College of Science at NTU Singapore.
