Professional summary
Research Interests
My research focuses on exploring how we can use land in a way that is sustainable, in terms of both protecting nature and ensuring human benefits, with an especial focus on sustainable agriculture. I use a wide variety of mapped datasets to do this, from historic field survey maps to the most recent images from satellites. I specialise in using Geographic Information Systems to explore these data and uncover spatial patterns and relationships. My work therefore involves the collection, handling and analysis of spatial datasets for a wide range of ecological systems, from individual organisms to whole landscapes. My research areas include:
- Spatial ecology of beneficial insects across farmland landscapes
- Testing and application of models for ecosystem service delivery under scenarios of future land use
- Restoration and sustainable management of habitats at farm- to landscape-scales
For the past five years I have worked on the ASSIST project, researching the influences of local- to landscape-scale environmental context on agricultural productivity and the impact of current and future agricultural practices on the environment. I have recently led development of the ASSIST Scenario Exploration Tool (ASSET) and E-Planner tools, which translate ASSIST data, models and research into tools that farmers and policymakers can use to inform decision making. I am currently a work package lead on the follow up to ASSIST, AgZero+.
Brief CV
- 2013- Present: Spatial Ecologist and Earth Observation Scientist , UK CEH Wallingford
- 2008 - 2010: GIS support and field assistance at CEH, CEH Monks Wood and CEH Wallingford
Qualifications
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2020, PhD, "Spatial modelling of insect delivered ecosystem services", University of Reading
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2008, MRes Ecology and Environmental Management, University of York
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2007, BSc Biology (1st Class), Durham University
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2020, PhD, "Spatial modelling of insect delivered ecosystem services", University of Reading
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2008, MRes Ecology and Environmental Management, University of York
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2007, BSc Biology (1st Class), Durham University
Panels, committees and memberships
- British Trust for Ornithology
- British Ecological Society
- British Trust for Ornithology
- British Ecological Society