Rob Marchant

Professor Rob Marchant is a leading academic in environmental science at the University of York, serving as a Professor in the Department of Environment and Geography and YESI Research Theme Lead. His work focuses on tropical ecosystems, climate change, and conservation. He holds affiliations with the York Environmental Sustainability Institute and co-ordinates the York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems (KITE), a Marie-Curie Excellence Centre exploring ecosystem dynamics in Africa. Marchant earned his PhD and BSc from the University of Hull.

Research Interests:

• Paleoecology and vegetation modeling
• Climate change impacts on tropical ecosystems
• Human-environment interactions
• Policy development for sustainable futures

His recent publications emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to ecosystem resilience, including studies on peatland restoration, land-use change in Nigeria, and climate adaptation strategies in African mountain regions. Marchant’s work bridges science and policy, aiming to inform sustainable development agendas globally.

Key Collaborations:

• National Museums of Kenya
• World Conservation Monitoring Centre
• African Conservation Centre

He has supervised 36 PhD students (17 from Africa) and 15 postdoctoral researchers, fostering international partnerships through summer schools and capacity-building initiatives. Funding sources include the UK Natural Environment Research Council, EU grants, and NGOs like WWF.

Notable Awards:

• Rapid Response Learning Award (Mozambique, 2019)
• COVID19 Impacts in African Informal Settlements (2020)