MSc Global Conservation

I am a quantitative ecologist focused on the interplay between scientific research and evidence-based decision making. I have got here through being inquisitive about how systems work and using modelling approaches to describe, assess and predict changes. I started out as a marine biologist, studying food webs and trophic interactions. I spent a period as a government scientist working in fisheries stock assessment, then zoonotic diseases which gave me insight into policy and decision making as well as learning new modelling approaches. I have been an academic at Newcastle University since 2013 where I continue to work on topics of national and global policy importance including species management and infectious disease. 

What are you most pleased to have achieved or proud of?

I am most proud of developing prioritisation frameworks for invasive species management used globally to inform national policies.

What do you enjoy most about your research?

I enjoy the problem solving aspects of my work, this involves working with others to deconstruct an issue to find a solution.

What do you think is the biggest challenge in achieving global biodiversity goals by 2030?

There is a great challenge getting people from all sectors to pull in the same direction, getting the whole of government and whole of society to work together. 

What will I learn during your module?

The Biodiversity Policy module considers the interaction between science and global and national policy for biodiversity. Students will be familiarised with policy cycles and processes and will investigate current global biodiversity conservation examples to illustrate some of the challenges involved in setting and implementing policy. The taught sessions will draw heavily from real experiences in operating at this science-policy interface, including perspectives from policy representatives and will allow students to be immersed in debates and negotiations using recent case studies.