After growing up in Northumberland Styles read physics at Wadham College, Oxford, graduating in 1972.
He then studied for a doctorate at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne on plate tectonics in the rift valley of East Africa.
As well as plate tectonics Styles has specialised in the detection of abandoned mine workings using microseismology and microgravity.
[3] Styles served two terms on the board of the British Geological Survey and has advised the UK government of underground storage of nuclear waste.
[4] In 2008 he took part in a visit to King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah to set up accreditation of geoscience degrees by the Geological Society.