Brian’s main theme of research is in the broad field of sedimentology and sedimentary basin analysis. His interests have been broad, mainly working on fluvial, lacustrine, deltaic and shallow marine sedimentary sequences, with special reference to fossil fuels, environmental geology, pollution studies and climate change. In addition to field investigations these studies have also involved the geochemistry and petrology of sedimentary rocks and environments.

In the NSW south coast area, Brian has spent more than 50 years studying various Holocene aspects of Lake Illawarra and many other coastal lakes and estuaries between Sydney and the Snowy River in Victoria, with the help of numerous honours and postgraduate students. These studies have involved determining the past and present distributions of sand, silt and clay through vibracoring and grab sampling. Age determinations using radiocarbon and amino acid racemisation techniques, heavy metal and industrial ash pollution studies, together with macro- and micro-fossil distributions, have enabled detailed histories to be built up showing the progressive infilling of these marginal marine systems.