Dr Thomas White is a Senior Lecturer and ARC Discovery Early Career Fellow at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney. He leads the Sensory and Evolutionary Ecology (SEE) Lab, focusing on understanding how organisms gather and exchange information to solve ecological challenges. His research spans adaptive evolution, communication systems, and the ecological consequences of sensory interactions, with particular emphasis on insects and invertebrates. Current research themes include predator-prey deception (e.g., spider lures), pollinator behavior, and the ethics of invertebrate welfare. He coordinates courses such as LIFE4000 and BIOL2033, integrating field experiments, modeling, and meta-analysis. Notable awards include the ARC DECRA Fellowship and grants from the Hermon Slade Foundation. His lab actively collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, including software tools for color analysis (e.g., pavo package in R). Students advised include Georgie Brennan, Kristin Hubakk, and Rui Shi, exploring topics like pollination systems and spider communication. Key Projects: Nocturnal pollination resilience, invertebrate sociality, and defensive displays Grants: ARC DECRA (2020), Australia & Pacific Science Foundation (2024) Labs/Teams: Sensory and Evolutionary Ecology (SEE) Lab at University of Sydney
Dr Rachel Grant is a Senior Lecturer and Course Director in Bioscience at London South Bank University (LSBU), affiliated with the Bioscience and Bioengineering Research Centre within the School of Human Sciences. She joined LSBU in 2020 after academic roles at Oxford, Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin, and Northampton Universities. Senior Lecturer, LSBU (2020–present) Course Director, Bioscience Research focus: behavioural and evolutionary ecology Her educational background includes: BSc (Hons) Biology (1986–1990) PG Dip Animal Behaviour (2000–2003) PhD (2003–2010) PG Cert LTHE (2012) Rachel's research spans behavioural and evolutionary ecology , with a focus on amphibians, reptiles, and birds. She investigates the influence of geophysical variables on animal behaviour—work relevant to conservation and hazard forecasting. A significant portion of her recent work centers on psittacine bird welfare and personality models, as well as exotic pet welfare models like the Five Domains. She also explores human behavioural ecology , particularly the evolutionary origins of patriarchy and deimatic displays in humans. Her expertise supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals in education and planetary protection. The recent publication trends highlight her interdisciplinary approach, combining zoology, conservation, animal welfare, and evolutionary theory . Her work frequently intersects with public policy, media, and ethical considerations in pet ownership and research inclusivity. Articles from 2024 demonstrate her engagement with both scientific journals and public-facing platforms, addressing topics from reptile expos to disabled researchers' career progression during the pandemic. Scientific engagement and recognition include: Media contributor: Channel 5's "Tsunami", Discovery Channel, NASA Unexplained Files News and radio interviews on animal behaviour and conservation Public engagement through documentaries and outreach Rachel leads curriculum development as Course Director and teaches modules such as Aetiology of Disease, Foundation Biology, Employability, and Level 6 Project. She mentors student research and integrates research methods and statistics into her teaching. While no formal grants or students are listed, her leadership in the DISCOVerY Project indicates involvement in equity-focused research initiatives. She is actively contributing to academic discourse through peer-reviewed publications and public science communication. She is associated with the Bioscience and Bioengineering Research Centre , where her work contributes to understanding animal-environment interactions, improving welfare standards, and promoting inclusive research practices. Her team collaborates on interdisciplinary projects linking biology, geophysics, and social sciences, particularly in risk forecasting and conservation applications.
Daniel WA Noble is a Lecturer at The Australian National University's Research School of Biology , with a concurrent ARC DECRA Fellow position at the University of New South Wales. His research integrates evolutionary biology, behavioral ecology, and meta-analysis to explore how early environments shape phenotypic development, learning, and adaptation to climate change. PhD in Biological Sciences from Macquarie University (2014) MSc and BSc in Integrative Biology from the University of Guelph (2009) His work spans thermal biology, developmental plasticity, and conservation strategies, often employing meta-analytic methods to synthesize data across species. Recent publications examine salinity fluctuations in fish, cognitive resilience in lizards, and systematic reviews of temperature-metabolism relationships. Scientific awards include the ARC DECRA Fellow (2015–2018). His research has been funded by Macquarie University, UNSW, the Australian Research Council, and the European Commission.
Dr. William Allen is a Senior Lecturer in Biosciences at Swansea University's School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics. He holds a PhD from the University of Bristol (2012) and has held postdoctoral positions at the University of Hull (2014–2016) and New York University (2012–2014). He joined Swansea as a Lecturer in 2016 and became Senior Lecturer in 2019. His research focuses on evolutionary ecology, sensory systems, and conservation challenges. He employs phylogenetic comparative approaches, field experiments, and computer vision to study topics like insect vision, camouflage, and antipredator adaptations. Recent work addresses optimizing pest control strategies using insect visual perception and links life history traits to biogeographic patterns. Teaching includes BIO342 Sensory Ecology and BIO229 Tetrapod Evolution, alongside field courses. His articles (c. 15+ since 2021) explore insect pest management, evolutionary drivers of animal traits, and the intersection of ecology with conservation. He currently supervises doctoral students on topics like elasmobranch phylogeny and urban light environments for pest control. His research team investigates how sensory systems and life history strategies shape ecological and evolutionary outcomes, with applications to global challenges like food security and biodiversity loss.
Dr John Skelhorn is an academic at Newcastle University specializing in evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology. His research focuses on predator-prey interactions, particularly defensive strategies such as camouflage, mimicry, and chemical defenses. He employs experimental frameworks like 3D-printed stimuli and Bayesian modeling to investigate how prey species evolve and deploy antipredator adaptations. Key Research Areas: Batesian and Müllerian mimicry dynamics Camouflage effectiveness and search image formation Chemical defenses and predator learning Deimatic behavior and startle tactics Collaborations: Extensive work with Professor Candy Rowe and colleagues on avian predator behavior, aposematism, and anti-predator strategies. His recent work explores how prey species optimize defensive traits using computational models and experimental setups. Publications from 2020–2025 highlight advancements in understanding the adaptive landscapes of mimicry systems. Notable Contributions: Quantifying the efficacy of eyespot patterns in caterpillars Framework for predicting camouflage detectability Experimental validation of masquerade benefits under varying ecological contexts
Professor Candy Rowe is a prominent academic at Newcastle University, specializing in behavioral ecology and evolutionary biology. Her research focuses on understanding predator-prey interactions, particularly the evolution and efficacy of warning signals (aposematism), chemical defenses, and multimodal communication strategies. She investigates how predators learn to recognize and respond to defended prey, emphasizing the cognitive mechanisms underlying these interactions. Her work spans diverse topics including the impact of prey size, toxicity, and visual patterns on predator behavior, as well as the ecological and evolutionary implications of mimicry and deimatic displays. She has also contributed to studies on animal cognition, including decision-making processes in avian predators and reward systems in primates. Key areas of interest include the design principles of warning signals, the role of sensory modalities in signaling, and the interplay between defense costs and predation risk. Her research frequently employs experimental approaches with birds and insects, combining field observations with controlled laboratory experiments. Professor Rowe’s publications consistently address foundational questions in evolutionary ecology, such as why certain species evolve conspicuous coloration, how predators balance toxin exposure risks, and the cognitive underpinnings of anti-predator strategies.
