Katie Lois Hutchinson

Interests and expertise

My research interests are inter-disciplinary, covering biology, geography and anthropology. Primarily, I am interested in species conservation and the importance of maintaining high levels of biodiversity in relation to climate change, specifically within the mega-diverse Global South.

My DPhil project, primarily linked to SDG’s 13 and 15 and supervised by Professor Nathalie Seddon (Biology) and Professor Laura Rival (Anthropology), explores the ecosystem health outcomes of Nature-based Solutions for Adaptation in the Tropical Andean region of South America, and how these interventions are perceived/implemented by Indigenous Peoples. The main study country of my work is Ecuador, and I will be carrying out fieldwork in Tena, a city surrounded by numerous Indigenous communities that have implemented NbS for Adaptation for many years. The fieldwork element of my project will be carried out in collaboration with academic and NGO partners in Ecuador, and it will involve social surveys and interviews.

My project comprises of numerous interlinked elements, with a systematic review, GIS and fieldwork all coming together to enable assessment of the impacts of NbS for Adaptation upon ecosystem health. The benefits of this project will hopefully be wide-reaching, with influences primarily in remote communities that rely more on natural resources than those in the westernised world.

Background

I completed my undergraduate BSc in Biology at the University of Nottingham in 2020 and this degree gave me experience in international fieldwork and hugely developed my understanding of and passion for ecology and conservation, with a particular focus upon conservation in the face of climate change and animal behaviour. After graduating and prior to starting my DPhil research at Oxford in October 2022, I worked with the London Wildlife Trust and RSBP on conservation projects across London and the south east of England.

Aside from my research, I am passionate about outreach and advocate for equality in higher education, regardless of background. As part of this, I run an online blog dedicated to sharing my experience as a state educated woman in STEM, and I frequently undertake and enjoy outreach work within the local community, including within the Darwin Institute and the Oxford Museum of Natural History. I am also an Aspen UK Rising Leaders Fellow.