Students

Ellie Duncan

Background: BSc Mathematics; MSc Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate.

PhD Research: Untangling natural aerosol processes in Polar Regions by implementing novel machine learning techniques.

Cohort: 1 (2019)

Supervisors: Daniel Partridge, Jonathan Fieldsend, Jim Haywood and Alistair Sellar (External).

Ellie's Profile: Ellie Duncan 

Postgraduate Researcher

My research focuses on untangling natural aerosol processes in Polar Regions, using machine learning techniques and evaluation of climate models in a Lagrangian framework.

I previously completed a BSc in Mathematics at the University of Exeter and a MSc in Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate at the University of Reading, with a dissertation titled 'Quantifying Aerosol-driven Changes in Cloud Properties in Pollution Tracks'.

Frederica Poznansky

Background: BSc Environmental Sciences; MRes Tropical Forest Ecology.

PhD Research: Soundscapes in Tropical Landscapes.

Cohort: 2 (2020)

Supervisors: Frank van Veen and Saptarshi Das.

Frederica's Profile: Frederica Poznansky 

Trish Nowak

Background: BSc Physical Geography; MSc Ocenaography (Physical, Biological and Ecological).

PhD Research: Entangling curious reasons for long-range travels of coarse dust particles in lower atmosphere and their impacts on climate, environment and human life.

Cohort: 2 (2020)

Supervisors: Benno Simmons, Stefan Siegert and Andy Augousti (External).

Trish's Profile: Trish Nowak

My current project focuses on utilising machine learning methods to gain better understanding of environmental processes. This method offers possible clues on causality of processes, rather than just correlation between parameters. In particular my research will focus on a journey of Saharan mineral dust and its further impact on: displacement of West African Monsoon system, biogeochemical cycles and productivity of central Atlantic Ocean, and biogeochemical cycles and the productivity of the Amazon rainforest. For example, the Amazon rainforest's soils are found to be nutrient poor, with no clear sources of essential micro- and macronutrients (phosphorous and iron in particular). Current theory of Saharan mineral dust enriching Amazon rainforest soils is fairly well known. However, annual quantity estimates of transported dust (and thus the nutrients) yield large uncertainties and vary between the studies.

The power of machine learning may provide us with reduced uncertainties, better estimates and perhaps suggest missing links. ML's ability to analyse dozens of parameters over decades of data sets may unveil new or previously overlooked causalities. The possibility of solving a long standing scientific question is what inspires and drives me throughout my research.

Alice Florence Wells

Background: MMath Mathematics.

PhD Research: Using effusive and explosive volcanic eruptions as natural analogues for solar radiation management strategies and assessing the public opinion of geoengineering.

Cohort: 1 (2019)

Supervisors: Jim Haywood, James Dyke and Daniel Partridge.

Alice's Profile: Alice Wells

Postgraduate

My research is looking at using volcanic eruptions as natural analogues for geoengineering. To achieve this I will be using remote sensing techniques and analysing the Met Office's Earth System Model to evaluate model skill.

Past Research

MMath Mathematics, University of Exeter with 1st class honours, 2019.

Thesis title: Investigation of the role of marine organics in cloud droplet formation over the Southern Ocean.

Timothy Lam

Background: BSc Earth Sciences; MSc Climate Change and Sustainable Development.

PhD Research: Quantifying teleconnection pathways leading to Droughts and Wildfires in Indonesian Borneo.

Cohort: 1 (2019)

Supervisors: Jennifer Catto, Anna Harper and Rosa Barciela (External).

Timothy's Profile: Timothy Lam

My PhD research seeks to quantify the teleconnections to droughts and fire risks during the dry season in the Borneo region using a causal framework and analysis-ready data from the observations and climate models. It contributes to a GCRF-funded project which investigates the broader causes, impacts and mitigation actions of peat fires in Indonesian Borneo, in collaboration with researchers from Indonesia and across the UK.

My areas of interest are as follows:

• Predictions and projections of weather and climate hazards in the Asia-Pacific region on subseasonal to interdecadal timescales
• Open-source software tools for climate research, as a contributor of The Environmental Data Science Book and the Pangeo project, in collaboration with The Alan Turing Institute and Met Office
• Capacity building on climate change adaptation

Manju Bura

Background: BSc Biomedical Sciences; MSc Climate Change Science and Policy.

PhD Research: The social life of heatwaves: A multimodal study of framing of heatwaves.

Cohort: 3 (2021)

Supervisors: Ernesto Schwartz-Marin, Chico Camargo and Claire Saunders.

Manju's Profile: Manju Bura

I have a background in climate change science and a critical understanding of the context for action on climate change, having completed a Masters degree in Climate Change Science and Policy at the University of Bristol. My research interests are broad, encompassing the social and epistemic understandings of climate and the environment within various cosmologies.

My PhD research titled 'Social life of heatwaves' focuses on the critical analysis of how extreme weather events, particularly heatwaves are discursively constructed across modern and non-modern ontologies through mass media and lived experiences. To achieve this, I employ interdisciplinary methodologies including machine learning techniques and ethnographic approaches to study the ways in which contemporary meanings of heatwaves are constructed in public discourse. My research draws inspiration from various fields including science and technology studies, political ecology, and computational social sciences. 

Owain Harris

Background: MPhys Physics.

PhD Research: TBC

Cohort: 3 (2021)

Supervisors: Ricardo Safra de Campos and Sarah Hartley. 

Owain's Profile: Owain Harris

PhD Research

High Impact Weather in the Mid-Latitudes: Developing Machine Learning Methods to Study Tropospheric Dry Intrusions in Extratropical Cyclones. Supervisors: Dr Jennifer Catto and Dr Stefan Siegert.

Past Research

Master's Dissertation: Effect of Differential Rotation on Magnetic Braking of Low-Mass and Solar-Like Stars (2021)

Qualifications 

MPhys Physics, University of Exeter (2017-2021)

Tom Hogger Gadsby

Background: BA Philosophy, MA Philosophy.

PhD Research: Modelling past, present and potential futures of mobility in Mexico City

Cohort: 3 (2021)

Supervisors: Ernesto Schwartz-Marin, Federico Botta and Patricia Murrieta-Flores (External)

Tom's Profile: Tom Hogger Gadsby

Joshua Redmond

Background: BSc Politics.

PhD Research: Participatory Design for Human Rights Monitoring using Earth Observation Data.

Cohort: 1 (2019)

Supervisors: Ernesto Schwartz-Marin, Hugo Barbosa and Ana Beduschi.

Joshua's Profile: Joshua Redmond

Jonathan Growcott

Background: MBiol Biological Sciences.

Cohort: 3 (2021)

Supervisors: Benno Simmons, Matthew Wijers (External), Johan Wahlstrom and Richard Everson.

Jonathan's Profile: Jonathan Growcott

Research Interests:

I have a background in ecology and conservation that was developed through an integrated Master's degree in Biosciences at Durham University. My current research focuses upon conservation technology. I am aiming to combine non-invasive passive data collection methods to improve population monitoring of large African carnivores. I am working on novel AI and machine learning solutions for bioacoustics in addition to population modelling to produce accurate spatial density estimates.

I am co-supervised by the University of Oxford and I am also collaborating with NGO Lion Landscapes, Woburn Safari Park, Longleat Safari Park and researchers at the Royal Veterinary College, London. 

Abhi Navaneethanathan

Background: MSci Physics with Theoretical Physics.

PhD Research: Developing ML and statistical models to study global particulate organic carbon fluxes through the data fusion of sparse, heterogeneous and in-situ oceanographic observations.

Cohort: 2 (2020)

Supervisors: Chunbo Luo, Peter Challenor and Sabina Leonelli.

Abhi's Profile: Abhi Navaneethanathan

My PhD research focuses on better understanding the processes that influence the ocean biological carbon pump using in situ particulate organic carbon (POC) flux observations from a variety of instruments. I am interested in how data fusion methods can be used to combine these heterogeneous data sources in order to address their sparsity and biases, and to make more accurate global POC flux estimates than what can be obtained from individual sources. This project is in collaboration with the National Oceanography Centre.

I previously completed an MSci in Physics with Theoretical Physics at Imperial College London, with a dissertation titled ‘Modelling diagnostics for Inertial Confinement Fusion‘ with the Centre for Inertial Fusion Studies, followed by working for a year as an AI Researcher on NLP applications.

Research Interests

• Data fusion
• Data biases in machine learning (ML)
• ML and statistical hybrid models
• In situ observations and remote sensing
• Modelling ocean particulate organic carbon fluxes
• Explainable AI

Benjamin Fitkov-Norris

Background: BA Biological Sciences.

Cohort: 3 (2021)

Supervisors: TBC

Ben's Profile: Ben Fitkov-Norris

Postgraduate Researcher in Environmental Intelligence

I am in my second year on the Environmental Intelligence CDT based at the University of Exeter, following a BA in Biological Sciences from the University of Oxford. Having worked on coral reef ecology, I am keen to explore the use of large-scale planetary data in my research.

My current research interests include marine ecology, marine protected area design and marine resource management and I will be working on the application of big data approaches and novel AI solutions to help tackle the environmental challenges surrounding these interests.

Elizabeth Galloway

Background: MSci Natural Sciences.

PhD Research: Modelling the impacts of tropical storms in the Philippines using statistical and machine learning approaches.

Cohort: 2 (2020)

Supervisors: Jennifer Catto and Chunbo Luo.

Elizabeth's Profile: Elizabeth Galloway

Guy Lomax

Background: BA and MSci Natural Sciences (Geology); MSc Sustianable Energy Futures.

PhD Research: Measuring and managing rangeland resilience with remote sensing.

Cohort: 1 (2019)

Supervisors: Tom Powell, Tim Lenton, Andrew Cunliffe and Theo Economou.

Guy's Profile: Guy Lomax

Postgraduate Researcher

My PhD research focuses on using satellite remote sensing data for monitoring of land degradation and resilience in rangeland ecosystems, in collaboration with a community conservation organisation in Northern Kenya. 

I began my PhD studies following five years working at The Nature Conservancy on land sector pathways to climate change mitigation (Natural Climate Solutions) including conservation agriculture, agroforestry and sustainable wood products. I am interested in how research can be most effectively used to support environmental policy and practice.

My wider research interests include:

• Remote sensing for real-time monitoring and management of ecosystems
• Nature-based solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation
• The role of carbon dioxide removal in climate change mitigation
• Building sustainable food systems in a world of growing demands for food and energy

Jake Curry

Background: BSc Zoology; MRes Computational Methods in Ecology and Evolution.

PhD Research: Bringing ‘Big Data’ to conservation; applying computer vision techniques to automate detection and classification in camera trap image data.

Cohort: 3 (2021)

Supervisors: Benno Simmons, Sareh Rowlands and Jacqueline Christmas.

Jake's Profile: Jake Curry

Nicola Wilson

Background: BSc Geography with Oceanography; MSc Water and Coastal Management.

PhD Research: How can digital technologies help upscale and finance blue carbon?

Cohort: 2 (2020)

Supervisors: Chris Laing, Bob Brewin, Rudy Arthur and Sarah Hartley.

Nicola's Profile: Nicola Wilson

Postgraduate

I am an interdisciplinary scientist interested in the use of novel technologies and data science to drive system change, improve decision making and inform policy. I particularly enjoy working at the interface of research with policy and business applications. 

My research area is focusing on how novel digital technologies can help upscale and finance blue carbon, with a focus on seagrass. 

Before joining the CDT, I worked for many years in flood and coastal risk management in both public and private sectors, later specialising in coastal adaptation strategies and policy research.

Research interests

• Financing blue carbon
• Satellite applications
• Nature-based solutions
• Digital technologies and innovation
• Socio-ecological interactions
• Systems thinking

Cesar Arturo Angeles Ruiz

Background: BSc Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering; MSc Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology.

Cohort: 3 (2021)

Supervisors: James Dyke, James Salter and Sarah Hartley.

Cesar's Profile: Cesar Arturo Angeles Ruiz

Ellie Fox

Background: BA Geography.

Cohort: 3 (2021)

Supervisors: Steven Palmer, Ernesto Schwartz-Marin and Sally Rangecroft.

Ellie's Profile: Ellie Fox

In 2022, I started my PhD at the University of Exeter. My research is titled ‘Investigating the relationships between mountain cryosphere change and water availability, access and use for communities in the Semi-Arid Chilean Andes’. This project is funded by the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Environmental Intelligence. The research sits at the intersection of glaciology, political ecology, and critical physical geography.

Broadly speaking, I am interested in the changing interrelationships between mountain glaciers and society, and the application of interdisciplinary methodologies to study and address changes in these areas. Specifically, my research examines these complex interrelationships in the context of the changes to water availability, access and use in glacier- and rock glacier-fed catchments in the Semi-Arid Chilean Andes.

Prior to beginning my research, I completed a training year as part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Environmental Intelligence at the University of Exeter, where I trained in machine learning for earth observation, and studied critical perspectives on the use of big data and machine learning for addressing environmental challenges.

Ian Burton

Background: LLB Law and Criminology; MA Politics and Contemporary History.

PhD Research: The impact of innovation and technology diffusion decarbonisation policy packages on the global economy-energy-environment system.

Cohort: 2 (2020)

Supervisors: Jean Francois Mercure, Femke Nijsse and Sarah Hartley.

Ian's Profile: Ian Burton

Margaret Bolton

Background: BSc Ecology; MSc Applied Ecology.

PhD Research: Inter-comparability and consistency of ecological fitness proxies across populations.

Cohort: 1 (2019)

Supervisors: Regan Early, Sabina Leonelli and Bram Kuijper.

Arthur Vandervoort

Background: BA International Relations.

PhD Research: In the wake of disaster: analysing gendered mobility patterns by leveraging mobile phone data, data feminism, and justice.

Cohort: 1 (2019)

Supervisors: Sabina Leonelli, Karyn Morrissey and Riccardo di Clemente.

Emily Robinson

Background: BSc Marine Environmental Science; MRes Geochemistry.

Cohort: 3 (2021)

Supervisors: Sarah Hartley and Chico Camargo.

Monty Sant

Background: MChem Chemistry.

PhD Research: Ocean abosorption and storage of anthropogenic carbon.

Cohort: 2 (2020)

Supervisors: Andrew Watson and Peter Challenor.

Liam Berrisford

Background: BSc Computer Science. Professional experience as a Software Engineer in Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Counter Terrorism and Security Division).

PhD Research: The structure and dynamics of future transport infrastructure.

Cohort: 1 (2019)

Supervisors: Ronaldo Menezes, Hugo Barbosa and Ricardo Safra de Campos.

Liam's Profile: Liam Berrisford

Postgraduate Researcher

2019 - Present   Postgraduate Researcher within the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Enviromental Intelligence 

2018-2019         Software Engineer

2015-2018         BSc Computer Science

Research Interests: Sustainable and Resilient Smart Cities, Citizen Science and Human-Computer Interaction

Personal Website for more information: Liam Berrisford

Emma Bailey

Background: MMath in Mathematics.

PhD Research: Tipping Sustainable Change: Social Dynamics and Contagion.

Cohort: 2 (2020)

Supervisors: Tim Lenton, Hywel Williams and Catherine Butler.

Ned Westwood

Background: BA International Relations and Politics; MRes Politics.

PhD Research: Computer assisted classification of political narratives that impede and promote action on climate change.

Cohort: 1 (2019)

Supervisors: Travis Coan, Hywel Williams and Saffron O'Neill.

Chris Kerry

Background: BSc Physical Geography, MSc Biodiversity and Conservation.

PhD Research: Enforcement, remote sensing, and data science for effective illegal fishing deterrence.

Cohort: 1 (2019)

Supervisors: Kristian Metcalfe, Saptarshi Das, Karyn Morrissey, Sam Weber and Tom Letessier.

Chris's Profile: Chris Kerry

Chris's Publications: Chris Kerry Publications

Research Interests

I am a marine conservation scientist with my research mainly focussed on investigating methods of tracking global fishing activity to monitor ecological impacts. I am interested in how remote sensing and data science can be used to inform ocean management and have also been involved in the satellite tracking of basking sharks and tuna in UK waters and creating quantitative assessments of ocean health. 

Rhiannon Grant

Background: BSc and MSc Geography

Cohort: 4 (2022)

Kevin Donkers

Background: MSci Chemical Physics.

PhD Research: Can agroforestry be utilised at scale to meet climate adaptation and mitigation needs of UK agriculture?

Cohort: 2 (2020)

Supervisors: Brett Day and Danny Williamson.

Kevin's Profile: Kevin Donkers

Kevin is a PhD student at the University of Exeter as part of the UKRI Environmental Intelligence CDT. His research focusses on modelling agroforestry at scale to understand the trade-offs between terrestrial carbon sequestration and food security. 

Keywords: biophysical modelling, land-use modelling, carbon sequestration, climate change mitigation, Bayesian model calibration.

Daneen Cowling

Background: BSc Geography; MSc by Research Geography.

PhD Research: Enhanced erosion and the land-ocean continuum: Assessing the biogeochemical responses to vulnerable landscapes.

Cohort: 2 (2020)

Supervisors: Tim Lenton, Ute Schuster and Jacqueline Christmas.

Nathanael Sheehan

Background: BSc Computer Science and Mandarin; MSc Smart Cities and Urban Analytics

PhD Research: TBC

Cohort: 3 (2021)

Supervisors: Sabina Leonelli and Federico Botta.

Paul Bell

Background: MSci Physics

Cohort: 4 (2022)

Zihao Chen

Background: MSc Urban Informatics, BSc Computer Science

Cohort: 4 (2022)

Alex Edwards

Background: MSc Climate Change and Environmental Policy, BSc Conservation Biology

Cohort: 4 (2022)

Ceren Barlas

Background: MSc in Environmental Health, BSc in Biology & Computer Science

Cohort: 4 (2022)

Morgan Sparey

Background: Natural Sciences integrated MSc

Cohort: 4 (2022)

Ashish Sundar

Background: MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Cohort: 4 (2022)

Sara Sjosten

Background: BA Natural Sciences; MSc Geological Sciences.

PhD Research: How can drastic changes in the Earth system in deep time help us understand how current ecosystems may respond to further human perturbation? How much more human disturbance can ecosystems tolerate before they collapse?

Cohort: 2 (2020)

Supervisors: Tim Lenton and Peter Roopnarine (External).

Sara's Profile: Sara Sjosten

Current Research

My PhD research concerns ancient ecosystems and the feedbacks between their biotic and abiotic components which have driven the long-term evolution of the Earth system. I use biogeochemical models of the ocean and atmosphere in combination with ecophysiological modeling of past organisms and ecological community dynamics to consider how life has shaped the Earth system and how that holistic system can be stabilized or destabilized.  

Past Research

MSci Geological Sciences, University of Cambridge. Thesis: Trilobite Diversity and Disparity through the Phanerozoic.