I am an ecologist who works in urban ecology and nature connectedness and I lead ecological an pedagogical research at the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Restoration at the University of Oxford.

I completed my DPhil in Zoology at the University of Oxford in 2012. During this time I researched the fitness consequences of social behaviour in the great tit (Parus major). I subsequently worked as a post-doctoral researcher in ethno-ornithology and became a Departmental Lecturer in Environmental Sciences at the Department for Continuing Education in 2018. I was a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sciences at Brunel University, London, before returning to Department of Continuing Education where I continue to teach UG and PG students and lead research in nature recovery and environmental education. I am a member of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery where I conduct research on connectivity and connectedness, bridging areas of urban ecology and human-nature relationship.

At Brasenose College I teach evolution, animal behaviour, statistics and research skills.

The biology course at Oxford fosters a highly individualised approach where each student receives a tailored experience aligned with their interests and bespoke mentoring according to their needs.

I have broad research interests ranging from evolutionary ecology to conservation and society, all revolving around birds. For my doctorate I studied social evolutionary processes in a common British bird, the great tit. My post-doctoral research involved linking bird conservation to culturally-relevant knowledge of birds in traditional communities. My current research interests lie within the area of citizen science, urban ecology and nature recovery. My research characterises how biodiversity persists in human-dominated landscapes and provides evidence base for management of natural and green spaces. I also lead research in higher education pedagogy, centred around ecology skills teaching and learning, translating ecological theory into professional competencies and widening access to environmental science careers.

National Geographic “Is the bird nest of the future 3D-printed and made of mushrooms?”