MRes Student
holly6.smith@live.uwe.ac.uk
Research Interests: Bioremediation, Soil Health, Ecotoxicology, Urban Ecology, Invertebrate Ecology
I am beginning my MRes in Applied Sciences supervised by Dr Freya Radford in September 2023 with a focus on heavy metal bioremediation and soil macroinvertebrate community health. I am ex-forestry worker by trade and recently completed my BSc in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science at UWE.
In my research I will be exploring toxicological thresholds for heavy metal pollution in earthworms and springtails and comparing the efficacy of different methods of bioremediation on removing lead from polluted soils. Despite our understanding of toxicological thresholds of lead for humans, it’s effects on beneficial macroinvertebrates is largely misunderstood, despite the plethora of ecosystem services they provide. My goal is to better understand how we can support these species through innovative natural solutions to improve soil health and ecosystem function.