Lorna Cole

Lorna Cole is a Senior Consultant and agricultural ecologist at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), where she lectures in Wildlife and Conservation Management. She holds a PhD from the University of Glasgow (1997) and has over two decades of expertise in agroecology, focusing on integrating biodiversity goals into agricultural systems while ensuring economic viability. Her work emphasizes beneficial insects like pollinators and predatory beetles, exploring how agricultural practices influence their ecosystem services.

Education: PhD in Agricultural Ecology (1997, University of Glasgow).

Research Interests: Sustainable agriculture, pollinator conservation, agroecological practices, ecosystem services, and biodiversity in intensive farming landscapes. Current projects include sustainable land management, agroecological policy exploration, and virtual outreach for climate solutions.

Grants & Projects: Principal Investigator for multiple projects funded by RESAS, SEFARI, and National Lottery Heritage Fund. Collaborations include RSPB, Buglife, and The Scottish Wildlife Trust for initiatives like Garnock’s Buzzing. Co-investigator on ecosystem services and strategic cereal farm monitoring.

Labs/Teams: Involved in SRUC’s research farms and interdisciplinary teams addressing climate, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture challenges.