Professor Juliet Osborne

Juliet Osborne is now an Honorary Professor afflliated to the University of Exeter.

She is an applied ecologist, studying how insects and plants interact within the environment, focussing on pollination ecology and services. She is particularly interested in conserving and promoting bee populations, and protecting and promoting wild flower and crop pollination. To achieve this, she and her research group have worked closely with beekeepers, land-owners, businesses and conservation organisations. Her most recent work has examined ways in which the threat of the invasive Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) can be managed to avoid damage to wild insects and honeybees.

She has also driven change within the University to reduce its own carbon footprint and environmental impact. She chaired the University of Exeter working group to develop a plan for the University to address the climate and environment emergency. This was published in a white paper in 2019. Subsequently she was on the UKRI expert steering group to develop the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice, and she Co-Chaired the Advocates for Climate Taskforce (ACT) at the University of Exeter until December 2024

From 2017-2020 Professor Osborne was Director of the Environment and Sustainability Institute, promoting cross collaboration between disciplines to solve the challenges of our environment.  She left the University's academic staff in December 2024 and became an Honorary Professor, continuing to collaborate on research, and delivering impact from her work.

You can find out more about her research group in this video https://vimeo.com/181611961