Colin Bean

Colin Bean is an Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow's School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, and a Senior Science and Policy Adviser at Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). His primary affiliation is with the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine. Bean has over 25 years of research experience across universities in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and international institutions like the Freshwater Biological Association and Stirling University's Institute of Aquaculture.

His research focuses on evolutionary processes in rare fish populations, conservation genetics, invasive species management, and the ecological impacts of renewable energy technologies. Bean has held visiting professorships, including a British Council-funded role at Universidad Austral in Chile. He actively participates in peer review for NERC, Defra, Marine Scotland Science, and international journals, and is a member of the IUCN Freshwater Fish Specialist Group.

Bean’s work integrates conservation science with policy, emphasizing practical applications. He has developed standardized protocols for assessing Arctic charr and whitefish populations and contributed to reports on beaver reintroduction impacts and biodiversity targets. His research spans freshwater and marine ecosystems, with a strong emphasis on sustainable management and mitigating human-induced threats to aquatic biodiversity.