Frances Harris

Dr. Frances Harris serves as Reader in Education and the Environment at the University of Hertfordshire's School of Life and Medical Sciences, where she leads the Centre for Agriculture, Food and Environmental Management Research. Her interdisciplinary work bridges environmental science, education, and policy development with international fieldwork spanning Nigeria, Bhutan, India, and Brazil.

Her research focuses on environmental education (particularly Forest School programs and children's nature connection), transdisciplinary research methodologies for complex environmental challenges, and natural resource management in both developed and developing contexts. Current projects include SEND-focused Forest School toolkits and global resilience frameworks addressing food-water-energy nexuses.

Key research trends reveal a strategic shift from localized agricultural studies (2000-2010) toward systemic educational interventions and transdisciplinary knowledge co-production frameworks (2015-present), with increasing emphasis on inclusive pedagogy for neurodiverse learners and crisis resilience planning.

• British Science Association Media Fellowship (2008)

Harris directs four major projects including the ESRC-funded 'Transdisciplinary Skills for Complex Problems' and the GCRF-supported BRACE initiative in Bhutan. Her external examiner role at the University of Gloucestershire (2013-2017) demonstrates sector-wide recognition. Current work integrates forest school methodologies with special educational needs, evidenced by her 2025 SEND practitioner toolkit.

Her research network spans the Nexus Network and BRACE consortium, with field operations in UK schools and Bhutanese communities. Recent work establishes Forest School as a critical framework for building environmental literacy and resilience among vulnerable populations.