How have plants adapted over centuries or millennia to survive and recover from human interference? David Moreno-Mateos and his team are analysing tree species in Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest to find out, and to help inform and improve future restoration practice.
News
Why ‘de-extinct’ dire wolves are a Trojan horse to hide humanity’s destruction of nature
In a thought-provoking feature for The Conversation, Dr Rich Grenyer, Associate Professor in Biodiversity and Biogeography, examines the ethical and ecological concerns surrounding de-extinction, arguing that the allure of reviving species like dire wolves risks diverting attention from the ongoing human-driven destruction of the natural world.
Nature launches new food journal
Volume 1 Issue 1 of the new Nature Food journal features two articles from ECI. John Ingram discusses why nutrition security is more than food security, and the wider Interdisciplinary Food Systems Teaching And Learning (IFSTAL) team highlight their unique approach to equip graduate professionals with the skills, tools and capabilities to better understand and manage food-system complexity.
IN THE MEDIA
A brief history of electric cars
The idea that electric vehicles, or 'EVs', are new is thoroughly misguided. In a video for The Times, Tim Schwanen explains the history of the EV, from its birth in the early 1800s through to the climate emergency today, being touted "an important part of the future of urban mobility". However, he explains, to make our transport systems truly sustainable "we will need to move away from owned vehicles towards walking, cycling and public transport".
IN THE MEDIA
Rewilding the Arctic could stop permafrost thaw and reduce climate change risks
A new paper from the School of Geography and the Environment, and the Environmental Change Institute, suggests that wide-scale introduction of large herbivores to the Arctic tundra could be an economically viable way of restoring the 'mammoth steppe' grassland ecosystem and mitigating global warming.
IN THE MEDIA
Finding the Heads: Oxford's mystery statues
Central Oxford is guarded by statues of 17 unknown figures. What is the history behind the mysterious Oxford heads, scattered across the city? Professor Heather Viles and Dr Katrin Wilhelm explore who they are and how they came to be here, in this short video.
IN THE MEDIA
Apocalypse Cow: How Meat Killed the Planet
In a provocative new Channel 4 documentary, George Monbiot argues that the biggest problem driving us towards global disaster is how we feed ourselves. Yadvinder Malhi joins George to talk about the importance of trees - and reminds viewers that Britain is one of the most deforested landscapes on Earth.
IN THE MEDIA
Clever vlogs open Oxford to minorities
Second year geography undergraduate Tony Farag is contributing author in The Sunday Times’ piece on how student vloggers are playing an important role in Oxbridge access campaigns. He pitched, researched and worked on the article, which explores the positive impact that youtubers are having on diversity at Oxbridge, whilst working on the news desk for two weeks over the Christmas break.
NEWS
The UN climate talks ended in deadlock. Is this really the best the world can manage?
Opinion piece in the Guardian on the disappointing outcome of COP25 from journalist Aruna Chandrasekhar, currently on the MSc in Environmental Change Management. "But dysfunctional as they are, COPs are perhaps the only international legal forum that are partly open to observers to witness geopolitics and global call-out culture first-hand. And it's those witnesses - all of us - who must apply the pressure," writes Aruna.
IN THE MEDIA
