I began my academic journey completing a BSc in Zoology at Reading University, with a final year research project focussed on a comparison of spoor vs camera trapping for recording leopard and other small to medium carnivores in South Africa. Building on this, I completed a M.Res with Marwell Wildlife and the University of Southampton using camera traps to understand elephant movement and use of a wildlife corridor in Kenya.

More recently, my research has focussed on monitoring European mammal populations with a strong element of public engagement. My PhD, entitled 'Mammal monitoring and public engagement with camera traps and citizen science' involved working closely with the citizen science project 'MammalWeb'. In this research I explore effects of media type (photo or video) on data quality for species and individual ID and on public engagement, as well as looking into use of social media for citizen science recruitment and patterns of participation in citizen science.

Ecology and conservation - Wildlife monitoring - Camera trapping - Citizen science - Public engagement - Connection to nature

I am an ecologist with an interest in interdisciplinary work for public engagement, wildlife monitoring and conservation.  I have particular expertise in the use camera traps (motion activated cameras) for mammal monitoring. Camera traps capture images and videos of charasmatic mammal species which many people, despite living alongide these animals, may never actually see and so offer a way for people to connect with wildlife in a new way. Strengthening of human connection to nature is of great importance for both human well-being and conservation efforts. Alongside mammal monitoring, my research interests include understanding both barriers and opportunites to enhance connection to nature.