Meat the COPCAS 2022 Team

Environmental Science PhD Research Student
My research is looking at soils around declining oak trees in the UK, specifically those with Acute Oak Decline (AOD), to see whether process-level soil microbial biogeochemistry – by using soil enzyme activity as indicators – can be linked to tree physiological and environmental drivers.
Climate change, in particular drought is undoubtably contributing to the decline and death of oak trees, as stressed trees are more susceptible to attack by pathogens and insects etc, and the rate of change is not giving trees time to adapt. If we are seeing this in the UK what about in other parts of the world where changes are far greater?
I am excited to be part of COP CAS 2022 to get a closer look at how this world forum can work together to act for the long term and ensure delivery of the changes necessary to decarbonise society that are needed to limit global changes, in this now time critical time.

Thesis topic: Decadal forecasting for the energy sector. My project explores how the emergent area of decadal forecasting can provide useful information for key actors within the energy sector to help facilitate the transition towards renewable energy technologies.
What I am hoping to get out of COPCAS: I am interested to learn about the day-to-day running of the conference of parties and in particular the process of decision making. I am looking forward to finding out what it’s like to be on the ground at the conference from the people that are there.

My research looks at the role of food manufacturers in creating a circular and sustainable food system. I’m using life cycle thinking to understand the environmental, economic and social impacts of convenience food products. With diets increasingly relying on convenience and processed foods, it is important that these products are designed to be nature and people positive. The food system is responsible for a third of greenhouse gasses, and I’m interested in seeing how climate diplomacy is being used to address the problem of sustainable and healthy diets.

My thesis topic is: Assessing the effect of trophic level and diet on microplastic ingestion by UK birds of prey.
Microplastics are ubiquitous in our environment and most of their effects on organisms are currently unknown. Globally many birds of prey species are endangered or threatened due to habitat loss, persecution and knock-on effects of prey species disappearing. Climate change is predicted to force many species to the extreme in terms of their tolerance and cause species to go extinct as top predators birds of prey are especially vulnerable to food chains being disrupted by these factors. Climate change impacts and is impacted by microplastic pollution. Climate change is predicted to have an impact on the distribution of marine microplastics and understanding the threat that microplastics pose to the health of species is important to protect them from extinction because it is nearly impossible to avoid microplastic pollution in our environment.

Dannielle is a PhD researcher at Cranfield University investigating the impact of biostimulants on soil properties as a mechanism for improved crop quality. Dannielle’s project aligns closely with adapting agricultural practices to provide greater food security and resilience to agricultural businesses to avoid the impact of future climate change. Second, biostimulants may reduce the need for fertilizers, so contributing to mitigation measures of greenhouse gas emissions exacerbating climate change. Lastly, the focus on crop quality is important given the urgent need to enhance and adapt human nutrition under the impacts of climate change. Dannielle is attending COP27 in Egypt as well as COPCAS in Reading and hopes to fully emerge herself in the COP atmosphere. She would like to understand more about how negotiations between parties actually happen on the ground and whether countries back up their climate commitments with realistic, mid-term goals and policy changes to aid successful climate pledges.

Fiona recently started her PhD in the Department of Meteorology. She is working on hybrid modelling approaches for improving seasonal forecasts based on a causal understanding of relevant teleconnections und the supervision of Dr. Marlene Kretschmer and Prof. Ted Shepherd. Previously, Fiona worked on climate finance for mitigation and adaptation at the Coalition for Climate Resilient Investing and the 2° Investing Initiative. At the COP climate action studio, Fiona is particularly interested in progress made on finance commitments for adaptation as well as loss and damage. She also looks forward to conducting interviews with delegates from different countries and hear their view on key contributions that the scientific community can make to progress in the policy space. Fiona graduated from the University of Edinburgh in Mathematical Physics and received a Master’s in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford.

My research is on using simple spectroscopy to measure soil carbon, and whether it can track changes in soil under different agricultural practices. This allows farmers to assess whether a sustainable agricultural method (e.g., cover crops) is working to build soil C, and modify their methods. To achieve the Paris agreement goal off 1.5 oC agriculture needs to become a net sink rather than source of GHG emissions. It currently produces about 30% of our GHG emissions. Increasing soil carbon also helps achieve the SDG2, as it increases fertility and soil health, which makes the soil more productive and resilient.
I am particularly interested in how global agreements can shape policy and actions across the world, and how this then influences the agricultural sector to become more sustainable. I am looking forward to understanding how world agreements are made at this year’s COP27 and see what progress has been made since last year.