Christopher Collins

Christopher Collins is Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the University of Reading, affiliated with the Department of Geography and Environmental Science within the School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science. He also serves as Head of Knowledge and Evidence at Natural Resources Wales (0.75 FTE) and has held leadership roles including Director of the Soil Research Centre (2016–2021) and Coordinator of the NERC Soil Security Programme (2015–2020).

His research focuses on the fate, transport, and risk assessment of organic contaminants in soils, with a strong emphasis on bioaccessibility, soil carbon dynamics, and sustainable land management. He has led major interdisciplinary projects funded by government, industry, and research councils.

His recent publications reflect a growing focus on sustainable agriculture, particularly Zero Budget Natural Farming in India, soil health in horticultural systems, and the environmental impacts of biodegradable plastics. His work combines experimental studies with modeling to assess pollutant exposure and soil function.

His scientific contributions have informed national policy through advisory roles on the Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee (Chair 2017–2022), the Natural Capital Committee (2018–2022), and the Sustainable Soils Alliance. He is also active in public engagement via the Science Media Centre.

• PhD student: J. Underwood – Soil health in UK horticultural systems
• Completed PhDs: D. Antony (soil carbon storage), E. Baker (optical methods for water protection)

He leads the Soil, Health and Environment Network (SHE-Net) and has been involved in numerous collaborative research initiatives addressing soil security and environmental sustainability.