Tom Wilding

Tom Wilding is a Benthic Ecologist at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), part of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). He leads the 'Statistics and Experimental Design' undergraduate module and the MSc 'Marine System Monitoring Methods' program. His research focuses on statistical modeling, environmental impact assessments in aquaculture, oil and gas, and marine renewables, with innovative work in metagenomic monitoring of benthic environments.

Academic qualifications include a PhD from the University of Exeter (2003), an MSc from Heriot-Watt University (1993), and a BSc from the University of Exeter (1990).

Key research projects include optimizing pipeline decommissioning, improving marine growth estimates via 3D photogrammetry, and studying calcium dynamics in changing environments. He has contributed to datasets like the UK Fishing Intensity study and co-authored over 70 peer-reviewed articles.

Wilding received the SAMS Research Services Limited Enterpriser of the year award (2020). He actively engages in media, policy discussions, and international collaborations, emphasizing sustainable marine practices and environmental policy.