Teresa F. Fernandes

Professor Teresa F. Fernandes is a Professor of Environmental Science at Heriot-Watt University, affiliated with the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society. She holds a dual professorship in the Institute for Life and Earth Sciences. Previously, she served as Director of the Centre for Environment and Marine Sciences at Edinburgh Napier University.

Education:

• BSc (Hons) Environmental Engineering, Lisbon (1986, 1st class)
• MSc (Marine and Fisheries Science), University of Aberdeen (1988)
• PhD (Oil Pollution: Assessment and recovery in the marine benthos), University of Aberdeen (1992)
• PGDip (Applied Statistics), Napier University (2001, Distinction)

Research Interests: Professor Fernandes specializes in sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems, with focus on nanomaterial ecotoxicology, marine pollution, eutrophication, and aquaculture impacts. Her work integrates ecological, chemical, and policy approaches to address environmental challenges. Recent projects include EU-funded initiatives like NanoImpactNet and collaborations with industry partners like Unilever.

Key Projects and Collaborations:

• EC FP7 funding for nanomaterial safety (NanoImpactNet, Qnano)
• Marine spatial planning with Marine Scotland Science
• Defra-sponsored studies on nanomaterial impacts
• Global collaborations in marine biodiversity (e.g., Cayman Islands shark studies)

Grants and Impacts:

• NERC-funded research on nanoparticle exposure
• EU SPICOSA project on coastal zone management
• Industry partnerships (Unilever, Danish Government)

Labs and Teams: Active in interdisciplinary teams addressing nanotechnology risks and marine ecosystem restoration. Collaborates with institutions like Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Marine Scotland Science.