Alan Bury
School of Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and Technology
Email: A.S.Bury@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 904 6145
Dr. Alan Bury is a Senior Teaching Fellow in the School of Engineering at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), a role he has held since 2022. He has been with LJMU since 2011, initially as a Research Assistant (2011 to 2015) and then as a Lecturer (2015 to 2022). During this time, he completed his PhD in Transport and Logistics.
Before joining LJMU, Dr. Bury spent nine years as an Officer in the Merchant Navy (2002-2011) and, prior to that, was a Geotechnical Consultant on infrastructure construction projects for six years (1996-2002). As a Geotechnical Consultant, Dr. Bury performed geophysical surveys in challenging environments across the Middle East. Including:
- Dubai Investments Park (DIP): A 23 km² desert site, which is now valued at over £1.2 billion.
- Dam sites and water pipeline routes in Oman: In support of a ‘greening the desert’ project with a budget of up to £1 billion.
- The National Oil Distribution Company’s (NODCO) £890 million expansion of its Umm Said petrochemical refinery plant.
- Dam sites in the UAE: As part of a broader dam-building initiative with a budget exceeding £50 million.
As a Merchant Navy Officer, Dr. Bury operated world-wide, first on container ships and then cruise ships. During his time at sea, he amassed over ten thousand watchkeeping hours, providing him with a wealth of practical knowledge that now informs his work in maritime education. Noteworthy experiences from this time include:
- Passing through both the Suez and Panama Canals.
- Crossing the Indian Ocean during the peak of the southwest monsoon.
- Encountering the Garofalo whirlpools in the Strait of Messina.
- Navigating up Tracy Arm Fjord towards the Sawyer Glacier.
- Observing a night-time eruption of Mount Stromboli from offshore.
- Witnessing a rare solar blue flash at sunset while crossing the Pacific Ocean.
- Participating in search and rescue operations for the Japanese sailor Ikuo Tateo.
- Taking evasive action to avoid falling elements from a test firing of the USA's Ballistic Missile Defense System.
Since joining LJMU, Dr. Bury has either taught on or led over forty-two modules within nautical and engineering programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The subjects he has taught have focused on supply chains, logistics, transport, shipboard operations, navigation, and research skills. He has also delivered a variety of short courses utilising LJMU's £2.5 million full mission ship simulator. In total, Dr. Bury has trained hundreds of currently serving seafarers. He has also supervised over 22 BSc and 36 MSc dissertations, in addition to contributing to the supervision of 6 PhD theses.
Dr. Bury has authored over 25 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers, supplemented by a combination of invited talks, technical papers, posters, magazine articles and web content, amounting to over 60 works in total. He has contributed to the work of Liverpool John Moores University’s Maritime Centre (LMC); the Applied Computing Research Group (ACRG); and Logistics, Offshore and Marine Research Institute (LOOM). Dr. Bury’s primary research interests focus on pedagogic innovation in seafarer training, including the development of enhanced simulator-based approaches to teaching, and competency assessment in a simulated ship's bridge environment. Additionally, he has interests in sustainable transport solutions, the human factor in maritime operations, professional standards and misconduct. With a deep passion for enhancing the student journey, Dr. Bury utilises the valuable insights he has gained through his research to inspire his teaching.
To date, Dr. Bury has been involved in research projects totalling over £6.5 million in value. The most significant of these being:
- Sustainable Logistics Connectivity (WEASTFLOWS). £3.6 million. INTERREG IVB North West Europe (NWE) Programme.
- Resilient and Sustainable Container Supply Chains (TRUST). £1.6 million. European Research Council.
- Human Performance in Complex Socio-Technical Systems (ENHANCE). £860,000. Horizon 2020.
- Risk-Based Operation of Container Line Supply Chains. £315,000. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
- Lookout Awareness of Distractions (LADDER). £170,000. Maritime Research and Innovation UK.
- Analysis of Deck Officers' Non-Technical Skills. £32,000. International Association of Maritime Universities.
In his role as a Senior Teaching Fellow, Dr. Bury's focus has shifted away from an emphasis on teaching and research to incorporate a range of 'enabling work' that is integral to both areas. Exemplifying the growing trend of professionals in higher education who transcend conventional role classifications, significantly contributing to both the academic mission and operational effectiveness of the institution. Actively contributing to the quality management of LJMU’s portfolio of both internal and collaborative programmes, he is a 'Third Space Professional', navigating the intersection of traditional academic and administrative functions, holding appointments with both faculty, university, and global reach. These have included:
- University Representative on Validation and Periodic Review Panels for over 118 programmes.
- University Representatives Representative on the university's Validation and Review Oversight Panel (VROP). Participating in the review of over 278 changes to existing programmes and more than 376 staffing appointments.
- Faculty Representative on the university's External Examiners Panel (EEP). Impacting the external examining arrangements of over 1,014 programmes.
- Chair of the Academic Misconduct Panel (AMP). Participating in the hearing of over 478 cases of student misconduct.
Dr. Bury's contributions to both higher education and the maritime industry have been recognised through prestigious honours, fellowships, and awards. These collectively highlight the contributions he has made to both academic and professional spheres. Perhaps the most significant being:
- At LJMU's Teaching Excellence Awards, Dr. Bury received the Diversity and Inclusivity Award for his work on the university's Logistics and Maritime programmes.
- During LJMU's Bicentenary celebrations, Dr. Bury was named amongst a select group of two hundred remarkable individuals whose lives have been intertwined with the university's history, either as influential figures who have shaped its legacy or as beneficiaries of its educational mission.
- Dr. Bury's exceptional contributions to the maritime industry were recognised with the prestigious Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service (MNM). This state award, the highest honour available to members of the UK Merchant Navy, acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated outstanding devotion to duty and exemplary service, setting an exceptional example to others.
In his academic roles, Dr. Bury’s commitment to impartiality and minimising bias in his reasoning has been widely acknowledged. This dedication to objective analysis, has led to his appointment to several notable positions outside the university, including the:
- Corporate and External Issues Scrutiny Committee of a local authority: Including the scrutiny of a £1 billion regeneration initiative aimed at stimulating economic activity worth an additional £412 million.
- Scrutiny Pool of a local government association and its related Combined Authority: Examining the organisations’ management of over £900 million in financial resources.
- Management Committee of a major procurement organisation: With an annual transactional trading turnover of approximately £120 million.
- Board of Governors of a primary school: A local education authority maintained school with 238 students, a budget of approximately £1 million, and an ‘Outstanding’ OFSTED rating.
- Board of Trustees of a charity: Maintaining total net assets of over £130,000.
Journal article
Fan S, Fairclough S, Khalique A, Bury A, Yang Z. 2025. Towards advanced decision-making support for shipping safety: A functional connectivity analysis Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 193 DOI Publisher Url
Ishaya B, Paraskevadakis D, Bury A, Bryde D. 2024. Problematizing socially sustainable global supply chains: Theoretical insights, contextual challenges, and the issue of modern slavery International Studies of Management and Organization, :1-28 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Khalique A, Bury A, Loughney S. 2024. Analysis and Optimisation of Best Practice for Proper Lookout at Night TransNav: International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, 18 :357-367 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Liu J, Achurra A, Zhang C, Bury A, Wang X. 2024. A long short term memory network-based, global navigation satellite system/inertial navigation system for unmanned surface vessels Journal of Marine Engineering and Technology, DOI Publisher Url
Wang H, Wu Z, Bury A, Wang X. 2024. Analysis of Firewater Accumulation and the Securing of Vehicles on ROPAX Vessels ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part A: Civil Engineering, 10 DOI Publisher Url
Ishaya B, Paraskevadakis D, Bury A, Bryde DJ. 2023. A systematic literature review of modern slavery through benchmarking global supply chain Benchmarking: an international journal, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Mońka D, Pyne R, Paraskevadakis D, Bury A. 2021. The development of intermodal freight transport in Poland from 2007 to 2016: Barriers and opportunities to its further development International Journal for Traffic and Transport Engineering, 11 :161-183 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Paraskevadakis D, Bury A, Ren J, Wang J. 2020. A services operations performance measurement framework for multimodal logistics gateways in emerging megaregions Transportation Planning and Technology, 44 :63-92 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Fan S, Blanco Davis E, Zhang J, Bury A, Warren J, Yang Z, Yan X, Wang J, Fairclough S. 2020. The Role of the Prefrontal Cortex and Functional Connectivity during Maritime Operations: An fNIRS study Brain and Behavior, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Saeed F, Bury A, Bonsall S, Riahi R. 2019. The application of AHP in the development of a taxonomy of merchant marine deck officers’ non-technical skills (NTS) Logistics and Sustainable Transport, 10 :55-70 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Saeed F, Bury A, Bonsall S, Riahi R. 2018. A proposed Evidential Reasoning (ER) Methodology for Quantitative Assessment of Non-Technical Skills (NTS) Amongst Merchant Navy Deck Officers in a Ship’s Bridge Simulator Environment TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, 12 :597-608 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Bury A, Paraskevakis D, Ren J, Saeed F. 2017. A framework for use in modelling the modal choice decision making process in North West England’s Atlantic Gateway Logistics & Sustainable Transport, 8 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Saeed F, Bury A, Bonsall S, Riahi R. 2016. A Cost Benefit Analysis Approach to Identify Improvements in Merchant Navy Deck Officers’ HELM (Human Element Leadership and Management) Training TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, 10 :551-560 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Paraskevadakis D, Bury A, Wang J, Ren J, Bonsall S, Jenkinson I. 2016. The impact of transport infrastructure projects on sustainable development within a major logistics gateway in North West England Logistics & Sustainable Transport, 7 :18-40 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Saeed F, Wall A, Roberts C, Riahi R, Bury A. 2016. A proposed quantitative methodology for the evaluation of the effectiveness of Human Element, Leadership and Management (HELM) training in the UK Wmu Journal of Maritime Affairs, 16 :115-138 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
John A, Paraskevadakis D, Bury A, Yang Z, Riahi R, Wang J. 2014. An integrated fuzzy risk assessment for seaport operations Safety Science, 68 :180-194 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Other
Bury A, Khalique A, Kaminski K. 2024. Bridging the gap: New tools revolutionising simulator-based situational awareness training Seaways: The International Journal of the Nautical Institute, Publisher Url
Bury A, Saeed F, Khalique A. 2020. Simulator-based learning, the Dunning-Kruger effect and the newly-‘qualified’ Officer of the Watch. Seaways: The International Journal of The Nautical Institute, Publisher Url Public Url
Bury A, Warren J. 2019. The Warren Cycle Seaways - The International Journal of the Nautical Institute, Public Url
Conference publication
Guo FB. 2022. Towards an Ergonomic Interface in Ship Bridges: Identification of the Design Criteria AHFE International: Industrial Cognitive Ergnomics and Engineering Psychology, AHFE 2022 35 :108-117 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
John A, Riahi R, Paraskevadakis D, Bury A, Yang Z, Wang J. 2014. A new approach for evaluating the disruption risks of a seaport system. DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Guo FB, Yang Z, Blanco Davis E, Khalique A, Bury A. Does being Human cause human Errors? Consideration of Human-Centred Design in Ship bridge design 12th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2021) DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Poster
Sivori H, Blanco Davis E, Bury A, Fairclough S, Yang Z. 2022. Assessing human and system performance in ship (auto-) navigation. Liverpool John Moores University’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology Research Day, 29th June 2022, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Bury A. 2022. A teaching tool for regulating students' thinking when troubleshooting under pressure. Liverpool John Moores University’s Students at the Heart Conference. Public Url
Fairclough S, Fan S, Blanco Davis E, Yang Z, Bury A, Warren J. 2021. The role of the prefrontal cortex and functional connectivity during watchkeeping and collision avoidance in maritime operations: An fNIRS study The International Neuroergonomics Conference 2021; 11th-16th September, 2021; Munich, Germany.
Bury A. 2019. Does simulator-based learning promote overconfidence in the minds of students? Liverpool John Moores University’s 18th Annual Teaching and Learning Conference Public Url
Bury ALAN. 2018. The failure of peer-to-peer learning to deliver a positive student experience in simulator-based education. Liverpool John Moores University’s 17th Annual Teaching and Learning Conference; 13th-14th June 2018; Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Internet publication
Hollyman G, Khalique A, Bury A, Kaminski K. 2021. Retracing the "world's most costly" ship crash on LJMU's maritime simulator Publisher Url
Thesis/Dissertation
Bury A. 2019. Freight transport modal choice in North West England's Atlantic Gateway Wall A, Ren J, Wang J. Public Url
Report
Paraskevadakis D, Bury A, Wang J, Ren J, Bonsall S. 2014. A cross project synthesis of innovative methods and ICT tools Interreg IVB NWE Weastflows project
Bury A, Paraskevadakis D, Wang J, Ren J, Bonsall S. 2014. Dynamic mapping of a North West European East-West Green axis Interreg IVB NWE Weastflows project
Bury A, Paraskevadakis D, Wang J, Ren J, Bonsall S. 2014. An overview of the gaps and solutions for a better use of targeted North West European transport infrastructure Interreg IVB NWE Weastflows project
Paraskevadakis D, Bury A, Wang J, Ren J, Bonsall S. 2014. The modelization of targeted North West European transport infrastructure level of use according to selected supply/demand scenarios Interreg IVB NWE Weastflows project
Paraskevadakis D, Bury A, Wang J, Ren J, Bonsall S. 2013. A catalogue of significant freight transport modal choice scenarios Interreg IVB NWE Weastflows project
Bury A, Paraskevadakis D, Wang J, Ren J, Bonsall S. 2013. Key stakeholders in North West England’s freight industry Interreg IVB NWE Weastflows project
Bury A, Paraskevadakis D, Wang J, Ren J, Bonsall S. 2013. North West England’s most significant freight handling infrastructure Interreg IVB NWE Weastflows project
Bury A, Paraskevadakis D, Wang J, Ren J, Bonsall S. 2013. The environmental impact of North West Europe's freight industry Interreg IVB NWE Weastflows project
Paraskevadakis D, Bury A, Wang J, Ren J, Bonsall S. 2012. The level of use of targeted North West European transport infrastructure: an analysis report Interreg IVB NWE Weastflows project
Chapters
John A, Riahi R, Paraskevadakis D, Bury A, Yang Z, Wang J. 2014. A new approach for evaluating the disruption risks of a seaport system. Nowakowski T, Młyńczak M, Jodejko-Pietruczuk A, Werbińska-Wojciechowska S. Safety and Reliability: Methodology and Applications :591-598 CRC Press 978-1-315-73697-6 DOI Publisher Url
Conference presentation:
The role of the prefrontal cortex and functional connectivity during maritime operations: An fNIRS study, The International Neuroergonomics Conference 2021, Munich, Germany, Oral presentation. 2021
The failure of peer to peer learning to deliver a positive student experience in simulator based education, Liverpool John Moores University’s 18th Annual Teaching and Learning Conference, Liverpool, United Kingdom, Poster presentation. 2019
Teaching qualification:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. 2020
- Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) Award in Learning, Teaching and Assessing. 2019
- Award in Education and Training (AET). 2017
- Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) 3is - Information, Ideas and Insights Programme. 2011
- Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). 2007
Other Professional Activity:
- Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) Award in Developing Professional Practice. 2019
- The Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), Coaching and Mentoring Programme. 2017
- The Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), Leadership and Management Programme. 2016
Other invited event:
Sustainable freight transportation workshop, South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran), Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Presentation entitled "Dynamic mapping of a North West European East-West Green Axis". 2014
European freight transport infrastructure workshop, University of Lille, Lille, France, Presentation entitled "Assessment of the level of use of targeted freight transport infrastructure in North West Europe". 2013
Freight transportation in the United Kingdom workshop, Portsmouth International Port, Portsmouth, United Kingdom, Presentation entitled "Assessment of the level of use of targeted transport and logistics infrastructure in North West England". 2013
Modelling intermodal freight transportation workshop, Port of Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Presentation entitled "The collection of vehicle flow data for targeted North West European intermodal infrastructure". 2013
Logistics gateways workshop, Agence d’Urbanisme de la Région du Havre et de l’Estuaire de la Seine (AURH), Le Havre, France, Presentation entitled "Results from a freight and logistics survey in North West of England". 2012
Sustainable logistics workshop, University of Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany, Presentation entitled "The sustainable development of logistics infrastructure in North West England". 2012
Membership of professional bodies:
- Chartered Fellow, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
- Fellow, Association of University Administrators.
- Fellow, The Institute of Leadership and Management.
- Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy.