Professional summary
Research Interests
Stephen is an ecophysiologist of aquatic algae and plants with a particular interest in relating changing environmental conditions, particularly those driven by climate change, to physiological and ecological responses through laboratory experiments, field measurements, use of novel techniques and the analysis of long-term environmental data. He has a particular interest in changing CO2 availability in water and the effects this has on ecology of algae and plants. He recently retired but is continuing as a UKCEH Fellow.
Brief CV
2021 Retired and appointed as a UKCEH Fellow
2019 Elected a Fellow of the Freshwater Biological Association
2019 Visiting Scholar Université Aix-Marseille
2017 Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology
2017 Visiting Scholar Université Aix-Marseille
2015- present Chinese Academy of Sciences Visiting Professor for Senior International Scientists, Wuhan, China
2014 - present Individual Merit Promotion to Senior Principal Scientific Officer
2013 Visiting Scholar Université Aix-Marseille
2011 - present Visiting Professor at Queen Mary University of London
2011 - 2012 Chinese Academy of Sciences Visiting Professor, Wuhan, China
2004- 2016 Head of the Lake Ecosystems Group
2004 - 2006 Honorary Professor at Wuhan Botanic Gardens, China
1995 - 2014 Principal Scientific Officer at CEH Lancaster (formerly Windermere)
1995 - 1996 Visiting Professor, Aarhus University
1990 - 1995 Senior Scientific Officer at CEH Windermere (IFE)
1988 - 1990 NERC PDRA at St Andrews University.
1983 - 1987 Temporary lecturer at St Andrews University.
1981 - 1983 NERC Research Fellow at FBA Windermere.
Other experience
Editorial boards: Aquatic Botany (1987-2017); Freshwater Biology (1997-2017 ).
Editor of special issues: Hydrobiologia (2002); Freshwater Biology (1995 & 2011); Aquatic Botany (2013).
Associate editor: Inland Water (2010- ); Biology Letters (2015- 2020).
Council member: British Phycological Society (2003-05); Freshwater Biological Association (2003 – 08).
Advisor: Status of Freshwater Ecology in the UK (2005); Defra Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (2011-13); NERC grants college (2012 -).
Qualifications
1978 - 1981 University of St. Andrews PhD. The nature of competition between macrophytes and phytoplankton in freshwaters.
1975-1978 University of Readin B.Sc. (Hons) Botany & Zoology (First class)
1978 - 1981 University of St. Andrews PhD. The nature of competition between macrophytes and phytoplankton in freshwaters.
1975-1978 University of Readin B.Sc. (Hons) Botany & Zoology (First class)
Selected publications
- Inorganic carbon uptake in a freshwater diatom, Asterionella formosa (Bacillariophyceae): from ecology to genomics
- Climate change drives widespread shifts in lake thermal habitat
- Lake heatwaves under climate change
- Dissolved organic nutrient uptake by riverine phytoplankton varies along a gradient of nutrient enrichment
- Climate velocity in inland standing waters
- Nitrogen and phosphorus limitation and the management of small productive lakes
- Global lake thermal regions shift under climate change
- Catchment properties and the photosynthetic trait composition of freshwater plant communities
- A new widespread subclass of carbonic anhydrase in marine phytoplankton
- Catchment productivity controls CO2 emissions from lakes
Awards
Received the Luigi Provasoli Award from the American Phycological Society in 1992.
Awarded Lancaster University Staff Prize for working on a joint project (RELU) with staff from the University in 2011.
Received the Luigi Provasoli Award from the American Phycological Society in 1992.
Awarded Lancaster University Staff Prize for working on a joint project (RELU) with staff from the University in 2011.