Sven Batke

Dr. Sven Batke is the Associate Head of Biology and Reader in Plant Science at University College Dublin (UCD). He holds a PhD in Plant Science from Trinity College Dublin (2015) and a BSc in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Plymouth. His research focuses on crop sciences, plant ecology, taxonomy, climate modelling, and global change, with a particular emphasis on protected horticulture and fern conservation in Honduras. He chairs the Greenhouse Innovation Consortium and facilitates InnovateUK’s ADOPT project. Batke teaches modules including Canopy Biology, Plant Diversity, and Restoration & Conservation Planning.

His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to biodiversity conservation and climate action. Key projects include the Honduran Fern Flora Project and the mire restoration initiative (2021–2024). He has published extensively on fern taxonomy, climate change impacts, and epiphyte ecology, with notable works including the integration of herbarium data into conservation strategies and pioneering research on stomatal conductance in ferns.

Batke’s interdisciplinary approach bridges botany, ecology, and technology (e.g., the Wheat3D PartNet dataset). He actively supervises PhD students in greenhouse optimization and Honduran flora studies. His research has been featured in journals like Plants People Planet and Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, with global collaborations in Central America and Europe.