Len Thomas

Len Thomas is a Professor of Statistics at the University of St Andrews, affiliated with the Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) and the School of Mathematics and Statistics. He specializes in developing statistical methods for ecological applications, particularly in wildlife conservation and population dynamics. His research focuses on estimating animal populations using distance sampling, passive acoustics, and particle filter algorithms. Key projects include assessing the impact of human activities (e.g., oil spills, naval sonar) on marine mammals and developing frameworks like PCoD (Population Consequences of Disturbance).

His work addresses critical issues such as vaquita porpoise conservation, North Atlantic right whale health, and the ecological effects of offshore wind energy development. Thomas collaborates internationally, contributing to policy and conservation efforts through interdisciplinary projects like the Wildlife and Offshore Wind (WOW) initiative. He is also involved in software development, notably the Distance sampling software, and supervises research projects funded by organizations like the EPSRC and the Royal Society.