I am a third year PhD student working in the Ecosystems team at BAS; I am also affiliated to the Department of Geography and the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge.  My main research interest is remote sensing, currently focussing on penguins. I have previously obtained an MSc in Remote Sensing and an undergraduate degree in Geography, from UCL and the University of Cambridge, respectively.

 

Research interests

My research is looking into the use of remotely sensed satellite imagery for the detection and monitoring of Antarctic penguin species. Improving current methods of penguin population monitoring will help to improve estimates of population trajectories at a regional scale. Recent and future advances in remote sensing with new satellite sensors and platforms offers an increased potential for accurate, consistent large scale data collection, which will enable us to address previously untested hypotheses on penguin population change.

Antarctic penguins are long lived, upper trophic predators so are potentially sensitive indicator species of the marine ecosystem in which they live. Accurate monitoring of these populations is therefore of growing importance owing to the changing environment in which these penguins live, particularly on the Western Antarctic peninsula where rapid warming is occurring. This research will focus on the more difficult to monitor pygoscelid penguins (Adélies, chinstraps and gentoos), aiming to develop new techniques and algorithms to improve monitoring of these species.

Collaborations

Scott Polar Research Institute (Department of Geography),  University of Cambridge