About
Dr. Sam Walker is a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow at Bournemouth University, specializing in zooarchaeology with a focus on long-term faunal patterns in Fennoscandia. His research investigates climate change impacts on species such as puffins, goshawks, and chickens, leveraging ancient DNA, osteological analyses, and archaeological deposits from Norwegian caves like EvoCave and SaveCave. His work aligns with UN SDGs addressing Climate Action, Life Below Water, and Life on Land.
Education:
- PhD in Natural History (University of Bergen, 2021)
- MSc in Osteoarchaeology (Bournemouth University, 2014)
- BSc (Hons) in Archaeology (Bournemouth University, 2013)
Research Interests: Dr. Walker’s work bridges archaeology and ecology, exploring how environmental change and human activity shape biodiversity. Key themes include Holocene faunal expansion, avian adaptation to climate shifts, and human-mediated species dispersal. His methodologies integrate paleogenomics, morphometrics, and interdisciplinary approaches to reconstruct past ecosystems.
Awards & Grants:
- British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship (2024–2025)
- Archaeozoology for Bird Conservation Network (ABCN) Grant
Advising & Outreach: Engages in public lectures (e.g., Salisbury Cafe Scientifique) and conferences, including presentations at the Association for Environmental Archaeology and ICAZ Bird Working Group Meetings. His research actively bridges historical and contemporary conservation challenges.
Labs & Collaborations: Co-leads projects like EvoCave and SaveCave, collaborating with institutions across Scandinavia and Indonesia to study cave archives and faunal diversity.
