Tilly Collins

Dr. Tilly Collins serves as a Senior Teaching Fellow and Deputy Director of the Centre for Environmental Policy (CEP) within Imperial College London's Faculty of Natural Sciences. Her interdisciplinary work focuses on advancing ecological, social, and economic sustainability in land-use transitions through research on tree crop expansion (viticulture/palm crops in West Africa), urban greenspace dynamics, and environmental pesticide pollution via the PREPP group.

Her academic foundation includes:

• BSc in Ecology from the University of Sussex
• PhD (2001) in aphid ecology of willow trees, establishing expertise in applied entomology and crop pest biology

Dr. Collins' research integrates Sustainability, Ecology, and Entomology with practical applications in Urban Ecology and Environmental Science. She investigates novel protein sources like insects as food/feed while maintaining strong connections to Public Health through environmental health linkages. Her work bridges fundamental ecological science with real-world sustainability challenges in agricultural and urban systems.

Her scientific leadership has been recognized through Imperial College London's prestigious President's Awards:

• Excellence in Teaching
• Excellence in Pastoral Care
• Excellence in Culture and Community

As an educator, Dr. Collins oversees MSc Quantitative Skills and Ecology teaching while directing CEP's contributions to Natural Resource Management programs. She previously served as Senior Women's Tutor, created the MSc in Ecological Applications, and convened undergraduate biology modules. Her external roles include sustainability consultancy for international projects and former Senior Lecturer position in Entomology at Harper Adams University.

Dr. Collins actively engages in scientific outreach through BBC Radio 4's TODAY and Loose Ends, Blue Peter, First News, and multiple insect-eating documentaries, while contributing to both popular and specialist publications on ecological and sustainability topics.