Dr Jonathan Mosedale

About me:

I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Environment & Sustainability Institute of the University of Exeter. I carry out policy-facing research on topics primarily relating to the protection and restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity with both regional and national partners.

Current Projects Climate service for plant pest/pathogen risk

The project is a collaboration between scientists at the Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter University, and plant pest risk experts at Defra (Plant Health Team) and Forest Research. With Prof Ilya Maclean, I am researching the application of microclimate modelling to pest risk monitoring and management.

Mapping historic habitats

With colleagues in Digital Humanities and Archaeology, I am exploring the application of AI to digital repositories of historic maps and remote sensing imagery to improve our understanding of historic changes in land cover and use. The project builds on previous research mapping historic forest cover across Cornwall (c. 1860s) from the analysis of 1st edition Ordnance Survey maps.

Completed Projects SWEEP (South West Partnership for Environmental and Economic Prosperity)

I was a SWEEP Impact Fellow leading work on the ‘Mainstreaming Environmental Growth’ project which supported delivery of Cornwall’s Environmental Growth Strategy. The project developed the LAGAS suite of regional mapping tools in support of strategies and policies that protect and renew ecosystems and biodiversity. The project also supported the work of the Tevi programme with small and medium sized businesses throughout Cornwall realise opportunities for growth, improve resource efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. Funded by NERC.

Prospects for Cornish wine in a warmer world

I was Post-doctoral Research Fellow on this interdisciplinary project involving the development and empirical validation of fine-resolution climate maps for vineyards in Cornwall. The work explored with regional winemakers present and future climate risks and opportunities to winemaking. Funded by European Social Fund and NERC.

Prior Experience

• Doctoral and Post-doctoral researcher at the University of Oxford and at INRAE Montpellier, working on the properties of oak wood influencing the maturation of wines and spirits.
• Statistician and Senior Policy Adviser for the UK Department for Transport.
• Independent research consultancy work for Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Cornwall AONB on habitat opportunity mapping.
• I maintain an active interest in the public understanding of science, particularly in relationship with policy and religion. I was awarded a Science and Religion course award from the Templeton Foundation (2000), was associate lecturer at the Institut de Théologie Protestant de Montpellier (2000-01), and awarded a writing fellowship on science and religion with Arizona State University (2016-7).

Qualifications

• DPhil. Variation of oak wood properties influencing the maturation of whisky, Department of Plant Sciences,University of Oxford.
• MSc. Biological Computation, University of York.
• BSc. Biology, Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London.
• Licence (BA) Theology, Faculté de Théologie Protestante, Montpellier & Paris.