Nick Sidwell
Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Geography and the Environment
Supervisors: Professor Jamie Lorimer and Dr Mark Hirons
Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Geography and the Environment
Supervisors: Professor Jamie Lorimer and Dr Mark Hirons
eDNA and the epistemics of biodiversity data: material technologies, data regimes, and environmental governance
Academic Profile
Nick is an environmental geographer interested in ‘nature tech’, environmental data, biodiversity governance, and human-nature relations.
His doctoral research explores the development of environmental DNA (eDNA) as a new tool for biodiversity monitoring and measurement in the UK. As part of an emerging set of novel technologies, eDNA is making available new forms of data for environmental management. Drawing on work in critical environmental geography, science and technology studies, and more-than-human scholarship, the project investigates what impact this is having on how we come to know environments and looks at the ways in which this shapes the politics and practice of biodiversity governance. Nick’s work is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council via the Grand Union DTP.
Nick holds an MSc (Distinction) in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Bristol, as well as an MA (Distinction) in Publishing Studies from City University, London and a BA (hons, First Class) in English Literature from Durham University. Prior to pursuing his doctoral study, Nick worked as an editor and digital publisher in book and newspaper publishing, before co-founding an award-winning tech company.
He is also an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has taught on undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the School of Geographical Sciences at the University of Bristol.
Contacts are welcome at nick.sidwell@ouce.ox.ac.uk.
Awards
- University of Oxford: Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership, Economic and Social Research Council Studentship (2024–2028)
- UCL: UBEL Doctoral Training Partnership, Economic and Social Research Council Studentship (2024–2028) (Declined)
- University of Birmingham: Midlands Graduate School Doctoral Training Partnership, Economic and Social Research Council Studentship (2024–2028) (Declined)
- University of Bristol: South West Doctoral Training Partnership, Economic and Social Research Council Studentship (2024–2028) (Declined)
- University of Bristol: MSc Environmental Policy and Management, Outstanding Research Performance Prize (2022/23)
