Thomas Davies

Thomas Davies is an Associate Professor of Marine Conservation at the University of Plymouth, affiliated with the School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering). His research focuses on the ecological impacts of artificial light at night (ALAN), particularly in marine ecosystems. He has held roles including Sêr Cymru II Independent Research Fellow at Bangor University and NERC-funded Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, investigating topics such as light pollution, conservation prioritization, and biodiversity loss.

Education & Professional History:

• 2019–present: Associate Professor, University of Plymouth
• 2017–2019: Sêr Cymru II Fellow, Bangor University
• 2011–2017: Research Fellow, University of Exeter (ECOLIGHT project)
• 2006: Marine Curatorial Assistant, National Museum of Wales

Research Interests: Thomas investigates how artificial light disrupts marine organisms' behavior, reproduction, and ecosystem dynamics—particularly for coral spawning, crustacean physiology, and predator-prey interactions. His work bridges ecology, conservation, and policy, emphasizing global light pollution trends and mitigation strategies. He collaborates internationally to map subsea lightscapes and quantify impacts on biodiversity.

Supervision & Teaching: Leads the MAR530 Managing Marine Ecosystems module and supervises PhD students Emma Moyse (University of Plymouth) and Leo Burke (Bangor University). His teaching spans marine conservation practice, research methods, and field courses in the Isles of Scilly.

Grants & Fellowships:

• Welsh Government/EU-funded Sêr Cymru II Fellowship (2017–2019)
• NERC Valuing Nature Placement (2017)

Labs & Collaborations: Engages with Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and interdisciplinary teams at Bangor and Exeter. His work informs marine protected area management and light pollution policy.