For nearly three decades, Pearson and Associates has maintained a strong research interest, with special emphasis on petrographic prediction of coke quality (1, 2, 3, 4, 9); automated microscopy (5, 6, 7, 8, 9); development of new methods of data interpretation (5); and reactivity of inertinites in western Canadian coal (3, 9).
Dr. Pearson delivered papers at Iron & Steel Society annual conferences in Washington (1990), Toronto (1992 & 1998), & Chicago (1994). Both Dave & Jen Pearson are actively involved in the International Committee for Coal and Organic Petrology – ICCP.  Between 1990 and 1994, and from 2001 to 2008, Dave Pearson was convenor of the ICCP’s Working Group on Automation.

Some published papers on coal include:

1. Anomalous coking properties of the Wolgan Seam, NSW, Australia. 1980 Fuel. Vol 59 438-440
2. Quality of western Canadian Coking Coal. 1980. CIMM Bull.Vol 73. 70-84.
3. Rank variation, coalification pattern and coal quality in the Crowsnest coalfield, British Columbia. 1985. CIMM Bull. Vol 78. 39-46.
4. Reactivity of Inertinite (coal-typing) of western Canadian Coals. 1985 International Conference on Coal Science, Sydney, Australia. Proc.907-908.
5. Influence of Geology on CSR (Coke Strength after Reaction with CO2). 1989. In Advances in western Canadian Coal Geoscience. Alberta Research Council Info. Series 103. 174-183.
6. Probability analysis of Blended Coking Coals. 1991. Int. J. Coal Geology Vol 19. 109-119.
7. Probability Statistics in the Monitoring of Coal Blends. 1991 (Washington) Ironmaking Conference Proceedings, 50-51.
8. High speed automated petrographic analysis of coke battery charges. 1992 (Toronto) Ironmaking Conference Proceedings, 50-51.
9. Numerical Modeling of Reflectance of Coking Coals. 1994 (Chicago) Ironmaking Conference Proceedings, 50-51.
10. Fusible Inertinites in Coking Coals. 1998 (Toronto) ICSTI/Ironmaking Conference Proceedings, 753-75
11. Bireflectance Mapping and Automated Petrographic Analysis of Metallurgical Coke, 2012 (Atlanta) Association of Iron & Steel Technology Conference Proceedings, 247-251.
12. Application of Automated Petrographic to Characterize Quality Distribution in Slot-Oven and Non-Recovery Coke Ovens, 2012 (Rio De Janeiro) ICSTI/Ironmaking Conference Proceedings. 
13. The Petrography of Metallurgical Coke, 2013 (Pittsburgh) Association of Iron & Steel Technology Conference Proceedings, 293-306.

Posters and Marketing Material

1. Coal Quality from Automated Fluorescence Imaging Microscopy
2. Fingerprinting Coking coals & Blends
3. Fingerprinting Steam coals & Blends
4. Influence of Fluorescing Vitrinite on the Fluidity of some Bowen Basin coals.
5. Contact metamorphic aureoles in some Bowen Basin coals