I obtained a B.Sc. in Marine Biology at Swansea University where I went on to obtain an M.Res. in Aquatic Ecology and Conservation. My master's thesis focused on the role of seagrasses as indicators of change in the British Isles where multiple characteristics were used to assess how seagrasses responded to varying degrees of anthropogenic stress. During my masters, I co-founded the marine conservation charity Project Seagrass. Project Seagrass aims to conserve seagrass ecosystems through education, influence, research, and action. As a director, I focus on working to enhance understanding of the importance of seagrass using creative design to communicated scientific research to the wider public, as well as communicating this directly through workshops and events.
I co-developed SeagrassSpotter (www.seagrassspotter.org), an entry-level citizen science project. Established in 2016 in the UK, the project uses a smartphone app and website database as its platform and facilitates a participants’ ability to spot something interesting and upload geo-tagged photographs. Expanding across Europe in late 2016, since its release the project has accumulated over 700 sightings from 93 locations in 21 countries and engaged nearly 350 users.
I am especially interested in developing technologies for seagrass conservation which include citizen-science applications and drones where my work and research has taken me to Mozambique, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Mexico.
Experience
2018–present
PhD Student, Stockholm University
2013–present
Founding Director, Project Seagrass
2017–2018
Research Associate, Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University
2015–2017
Research Assistant, Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University
2014–2015
Marine Technician, SEACAMS, Swansea University
2014–2014
Research Assistant, Swansea University
Education
2014
Swansea University, MRes Aquatic Ecology and Conservation
2012
Swansea University, BSc Marine Biology
Publications
2018
Tracking nitrogen source using δ15N reveals human and agricultural drivers of seagrass degradation across the British Isles, Frontiers in Plant Science
2017
Crowdsourcing conservation: The role of citizen science in securing a future for seagrass, Marine Pollution Bulletin
2017
Reasons for seagrass optimism: local ecological knowledge confirms presence of dugongs, Marine Pollution Bulletin
2017
Rocking the boat: damage to eelgrass by swinging boat moorings., Frontiers in Plant Science
2017
Seagrass science is growing: a report on the 12th International Seagrass Biology Workshop., Marine Pollution Bulletin
2016
Seagrass meadows are threatened by expected loss of peatlands in Indonesia, Global Change Biology
2016
The perilous state of seagrass in the British Isles, Royal Society Open Science
Grants and Contracts
2016
Mission SEA (Seagrass, Education and Awareness).
Role:
Co-Investigator
Funding Source:
Big Lottery Fund
2016
Developing SeagrassSpotter as a global quantitative citizen science programme
Role:
Co-Investigator
Funding Source:
Multiple Funding Streams
2015
Seagrass education and monitoring programme for Wales
Role:
Co-Investigator
Funding Source:
Waterloo Foundation
2015
Seagrass education and awareness programme for Wales
Role:
Co-Investigator
Funding Source:
Big Lottery Fund
Professional Memberships
World Seagrass Association
Research Areas
Marine And Estuarine Ecology (Incl. Marine Ichthyology) (060205)