Thomas is a DPhil candidate researching ecology and resilience within urban systems – focusing on London, UK. He is a part of the Environmental Change Institute, the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery and works within the Landscape Dynamics and Biodiveristy, Ecosystems, and Conservation Clusters in the School of Geography. He is a member of Oriel College.
During his DPhil he has worked as a research assistant with the Agile Initiative where, alongside Alison Smith, he focused on the Natural infrastructure stream and helped develop a policy primer looking at the role biodiversity plays in national security. He also worked as a teaching assistant for the Biodiversity, Conservation and Nature Recovery MSc in the School of Geography and continues to work as an Impact Coordinator for SUGi – an NGO rewilding urban spaces.
Prior to his DPhil, Thomas completed his MSc SoGE where he studied Biodiversity, Conservation and Management, and earned his BA from McGill University in Montréal, where he studied Philosophy and Environmental Biology, graduating with Distinction.
He is committed to finding solutions to tackle the biodiversity and climate crises in our cities and is looking to work with private, public and third sector organisations to achieve this throughout his DPhil.
Related Research Themes
Ecology
Testing the effectiveness of different ecological approaches for nature recovery to support biodiversity and the delivery of ecosystem services such as climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Society
Encompassing the governance and socio-cultural dimensions of nature recovery.
Policy engagement for nature recovery
We work with policy-makers to foster effective approaches to nature recovery, using the Centre's unique evidence-base and compelling stories about nature and its value to society.
Systems
Developing a novel Analysis and Decision Platform to integrate nature recovery into land-use and infrastructure planning, and exploring scenarios that can deliver local, national and international commitments to nature, climate change and sustainable development.
Related Projects
Assessing urban ecosystem composition and function to understand pathways towards equitable, Nature-smart cities
Through considering the ecosystem composition and functioning of Greater London, I hope to provide not only a comprehensive analysis of nature of in cities as it currently stands, but I also hope to provide routes to improving nature in these areas based on this.
Environment and National Security: Exploring Policy ‘Demand Signals’ and the Science Response
This 6-month research project is exploring urgent evidence needs and use in response to the climate and biosphere emergency and its implications for UK national security.
