One of Lancaster’s earliest students has received a PhD by published work at the December graduation ceremonies.

Graduating in 1968 with an MA in Regional Planning, just four years after the university accepted its first students, Dr John Glasson went on to achieve a successful career in planning and environmental assessment, first in planning practice, then as an academic in teaching and research.

Based in Oxford as Head of the Oxford Brookes University School of Planning from 1980 to 2003 and later becoming the university’s first Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Consultancy, John’s work has expanded to cover the growing subject of Environmental Impact Assessment on energy projects, including nuclear and offshore wind farms in the UK.

He returned to Lancaster in 2024; a decision made due to the “research expertise of the Environment Centre” for his PhD by published work on ‘The evolving approach to the assessment of the local socio-economic impacts of major energy projects’. It is one of only three awarded by the Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) in the last 35 years.

John was supervised by Professor Nigel Watson, with examiners Dr Urmila Jha Thakur (Liverpool) and Dr Andy Sweetman (LEC).

“A PhD by published work is something I have considered undertaking for a while, and it has given me the much-appreciated opportunity to review and draw out some key themes from my published work over several decades,” said John, who has also spent considerable time in Western Australian universities as a visiting professor.

His return to Lancaster has brought back memories of studying in converted buildings in the city, as the campus was only partially developed. He leaves the university with his PhD by publication “impressed by the extent, range of facilities and overall quality” of the campus.

“I am so grateful that Lancaster was willing to take on this unusual student,” John said. “Especially to Nigel Watson as my supervisor and Elizabete Carmo-Silva as the LEC Director of Postgraduate Research.”

Nigel Watson, Professor of Geography and Environmental Management, said: “John has made significant contributions throughout his career to the development of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), particularly in relation to assessing the social impacts of large-scale infrastructure projects. It was a real pleasure to work alongside John as he put his PhD thesis together, based on his publications, and reflected on the evolution of EIA research and professional practice.”

John’s internal examiner, Dr Andy Sweetman, added: “It was certainly an honour to be part of John’s examiner team for his viva, and his portfolio of publications and achievements is truly impressive.”