Dean Andrew Waters

Dean Andrew Waters serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York, where he has taught since 2014 after four years as a freelance environmental consultant. Previously, he held a Senior Lecturer position in Zoology at the University of Leeds. His research bridges bat conservation biology with practical engineering applications, most notably through the development of the Ultracane device that translates bat echolocation principles into navigation aids for the visually impaired.

His educational background includes a PhD in Zoology from the University of Bristol and a BSc in Ecology from the University of East Anglia, supplemented by field experience with the RSPB and National Trust. Dr Waters' primary research focuses on bioacoustic monitoring of bats and cetaceans, biomimetic engineering solutions, and ecosystem services management. He currently leads a Natural England-funded project investigating how habitat management interventions affect ecosystem service delivery across diverse landscapes.

Recent publications demonstrate a strategic evolution from field ecology toward genomic conservation methods, with 2024-2025 studies analyzing demographic history and genetic diversity in threatened bird populations. This shift integrates traditional ecological monitoring with advanced genetic techniques to strengthen conservation evidence bases. His work consistently emphasizes practical applications, particularly in acoustic monitoring technologies and habitat management guidelines.

Dr Waters has secured significant research funding as Co-investigator for the Natural Capital Indicators project and as Researcher for the MESER (Managing Ecosystem Services Evidence Review) initiative, both running from 2017-2019. While no current advisees are documented, his teaching portfolio includes undergraduate courses on environmental tools, ecological principles, applied management, and biodiversity policy. He maintains active collaborations with Natural England, RSPB, and interdisciplinary research teams across conservation science.