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Fiona’s story

Utilising technology has opened new avenues for wildlife protection, helping us to monitor more species that are under threat.” Fiona mathews
Professor of Environmental Biology
Chair of Mammal Conservation Europe

‘As Professor of Environmental Biology at Sussex and Chair of Mammal Conservation Europe, I use innovation to inform practical conservation action.

My practice is led by curiosity. I use new tools and approaches to solve complex problems, which might involve harnessing pure mathematics or artificial intelligence (AI) to handle big data generated by automated radio tracking systems, or to construct the flight paths of animals through space.

Sussex encourages people to work beyond their disciplinary boundaries. Recently, I collaborated with colleagues across geography, law and anthropology to ensure the land rights of indigenous people in Ecuador. Together, we’ve considered how this issue connects with deforestation and conflicts with local wildlife like the Andean bear – a species perhaps more familiar as Paddington! These projects help us support global communities while connecting more effectively across different fields and audiences.

Field trips at Sussex are valued both as teaching methods and opportunities to discuss wider ecological issues. I currently lead the postgraduate field trip to Africa, where students make a lasting contribution to the places they visit while considering potential career paths.

I also co-supervise PhD students with the Departments of Engineering and Design, and Informatics. One of my students is looking at the global exploitation of bats. They are more widely traded as curiosities than previously thought. AI has enabled us to gather and analyse data that would otherwise be impossible to access: we’ve used predictive modelling to forecast potential trading hotspots, and considered how to better train extraction tools in language to generate specific data. Utilising technology has opened new avenues for wildlife protection, helping us to monitor more species that are under threat.

Alongside building relationships with organisations such as the Vincent Wildlife Trust, I’ve worked in environmental consultancy, which has been helpful in understanding the role of academia in policymaking and industry. While the environmental crisis is too big for biosciences to solve on its own, I’m an eternal optimist – everyone has a part to play in conservation, and embracing diverse skills and experiences can help us shape a healthier world.’

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