Simon Harley is Professor of Lower Crustal Processes at the School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh. For 25 years, he has taught metamorphism and tectonics, Earth evolution and aspects of isotope geology at the University of Edinburgh and Oxford University and is recognised internationally as a world authority on metamorphism at extreme temperature conditions in the crust. He has undertaken field and laboratory-based research on mountain belts from around the globe, and has a particular interest in Antarctica, its evolution and environment. Professor Harley has written 110 papers, co-edited several conference proceedings and special volumes, and acted on the editorial boards of several key journals in geosciences, including Geology and the Journal of Petrology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a recipient of the Imperial Polar Medal for contributions to Antarctic science.