Follow your passion … study at Eden

I am a conservation ecologist, I completed an MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation Management at the University of Oxford in 2014 where I developed an interest in mammal ecology, human-wildlife conflict, and citizen science. Since graduating I have worked on a number of different projects in the UK and abroad including carrying out monitoring and surveying of species in the tropics of Costa Rica and managing an NGO in Tanzania focusing on human-elephant conflict surrounding Ruaha National Park. Prior to starting my PhD I spent two and a half years working at the Woodland Trust as Citizen Science Officer on the Nature’s Calendar and Observatree projects.

I have recently completed my PhD at the University of Exeter in March 2024. My PhD focused on dormouse conservation in marginal landscapes at the edges of their range. I investigated the connectivity, dynamics and resilience of dormouse populations in such landscapes and how best to manage them in the face of climate change, to ensure their conservation at local, regional and national levels.

Chris is passionate about finding ways to connect people with science and nature. He read Plant Science at Plymouth University and then worked at the Kew Gardens Herbarium as part of the Millenium Seed Bank enhancement team before joining the Plant Collections Management team at Eden, where he also managed their Science Outreach programme, which inspired him to complete his PGCE and move into teaching.

Coming from a very practical horticulture background, working in some of the gorgeous, local National Trust gardens it has been an absolute dream for Toria to develop her career in the beautiful landscape that is Cornwall. From gardening, to creating planting plans for some exciting Cornish projects, to currently working as a garden designer for a company in London alongside managing and lecturing garden and landscape design modules. Exploring the significance of plants in our landscapes and trying to demonstrate the impact of socio-horticultural relationships in both her practice and her teaching.

Nick is a Landscape Architect delivering notable schemes across Cornwall, the South West and further afield from inception to implementation and completion with an early practical background in residential garden design and construction. Working on landscape masterplanning, public realm, parks and gardens projects alongside currently managing and lecturing garden and landscape design modules, Nick has a keen interest in co-design and how improving public open space can benefit local community and increase bio-diversity.

Jorge began his studies in Valencia where he completed his BSc in Biotechnology focussing on Plant Genetics.  He then moved to Barcelona for his Masters in Plant Molecular Biology before coming to the UK to Aberystwyth for his Phd in Plant Genome Editing using CRISPR-CAS 9, where he was inspired to move into teaching.

Laura studied BSc Marnie Biology at Plymouth University, where she became interested in marine microbial interactions. This led to her wanting to pursue a career in environmental microbiology, with a focus on pathogens and antimicrobial activity. After her undergraduate studies, in order to fund further studies, she worked in industry as a microbiology analyst before moving to Germany to complete an MSc in Microbiology. She then returned to Plymouth to complete her PhD at the Marine Biological Association investigating interactions between microalgae and pathogenic bacteria.

Inspired by David Bellamy, Tim studied for a BSc in Agricultural Botany at Bangor University, then a PhD on the epidemiology of strawberry crown rot (Phytophthora cactorum) at University of Reading and continued studies on Phytophthora diseases with post-doctoral fellowships; at Reading and then at the University of the West Indies, plus a short spell working for Lembaga Koco Malaysia, working on P. palmivora black pod of cacao. On returning to the UK, Tim changed tack with a further fellowship studying the effects of elevated temperatures and CO2 on the Fusarium stem and seedling blight complex in winter wheat at Harper Adams University. Tim was appointed Station Pathologist/Research Team Leader with Horticulture Research International in Hampshire, where he managed a small team of researchers running a wide range of pathology and growing media trials, fostering a career-long interest in the epidemiology of waterborne plant pathogens. Tim transferred to HRI Wellesbourne to lead a research team largely focussing on soil- and water-borne phytopathogens, including exploring natural disease suppression in soils and growing media, biofiltration and sand filters and developing biocontrols. During a brief return to research at The National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit, University of Worcester, Tim discovered that he really enjoyed teaching environmental microbiology and plant pathology and was delighted to join Eden Project University Centre in 2020 as a researcher and lecturer in Soil Science and Plant Pathology.

With a degree in Environmental Biology and an MSc in Water Environment, Chris worked for the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Scottish Water, before a career as a consultant ecologist. Chris studied a PhD examining the relationships between flora and mine pollution in Cornwall. Prior to his current post, Chris was a lecturer and Deputy Director of Postgraduate Teaching for Masters degrees at the University of Edinburgh. Chris is Scottish Convener for the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management.

I am a multidisciplinary geoscientist, having conducted research in both terrestrial and marine environments. My expertise extends from Earth Science to Environmental Sciences, as well as Data Science and Machine Learning. Proficient in GIS and Remote Sensing, I have collaborated with co-researchers from diverse disciplines. My research projects include the application of Machine Learning algorithms to investigate sources of natural radioactivity in Northern Ireland.

I have taught more than 20 courses delivered to geoscientists, biologists, and geographers throughout my career. I have supervised numerous PhD, MSc, and BSc students from around the world. My research and teaching efforts focused on addressing contemporary modern and paleoenvironmental challenges in Egypt, the North Atlantic, the United Kingdom, and South West Africa.