Matthew Adeleye

Dr. Matthew Adeleye is an Assistant Professor of Physical Geography and Fellow of Girton College at the University of Cambridge. He holds a PhD in Archaeology & Natural History (Paleoecology) from Australia, an MSc in Forest Ecology and Palaeoecology from Canada, a BSc in Botany from Nigeria, and a PMP certification. His research focuses on using fossil proxies (pollen, charcoal) to study long-term ecosystem-climate-human interactions, integrating Indigenous knowledge for biodiversity conservation. He leads projects in West Africa, Australia, and the UK, including UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship-funded work on cultural and ecological baselines.

Key research interests include paleoecological baselines, Holocene climate dynamics, and Indigenous land management. Current projects address conservation in Gashaka-Gumpti National Park (Nigeria), peatland restoration in the Great Fen (UK), and Tasmanian landscape history. Awards include the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (2024-2028) and the Bob Anderson Award (2021).

• Research Groups: Climate & Environmental Dynamics, Biogeography & Biogeomorphology
• Grants: Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA (2024-2026), Isaac Newton Trust (2024-2025)
• Supervision: Open to PhD/MPhil students in palaeoecology and conservation frameworks

Publications span over 30 peer-reviewed articles, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to ecological baselines, fire regimes, and cultural landscapes.