Martha has a background in ecology, with a BSc in Biology and a PhD in Fungal Ecology, both from Cardiff University. Since completing her PhD in 2008 Martha has slowly shifted her focus from ecology towards people and nature. This shift was initiated through ten years with environmental NGO Earthwatch Europe, a citizen science-focused organisation, where, among other projects, she co-managed a long term forest carbon cycling project, working extensively with citizen scientists from a range of backgrounds. Martha built on this experience while working with the Oxfordshire Treescape Project, an initiative to support community groups and land managers in nature recovery planning through opportunity mapping, and in her current role with the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery in which she is exploring equity of access to green space.
Throughout her career Martha has focused on communication, being on the British Mycological Society's Education and Outreach Committee, teaching on Oxford University's Postgraduate Certificate in Ecological Survey Techniques course, giving talks at careers events, conferences and lab meetings, and running innovative workshops such as Fungal Ecology for Forest Ecologists and a workshop on using Lego Serious Play to generate innovative research collaborations. Martha has authored papers and reports reflecting the breadth of her experience and research interests, and continues to have an open attitude to exciting new research directions and opportunities.
Martha's research interests are wide-ranging, but centre around people and nature. Martha has a general background in ecology, and expertise in fungal ecology, citizen science, forest carbon cycling, aspects of sustainable agriculture. This expertise is now being applied in understanding how we can "do" nature recovery so that benefits to people and nature are maximised, how we can engage communities in nature recovery efforts and equity of access to nature and green spaces.
Martha maintains an interest in fungal ecology, running a fungal citizen science project in Wytham Woods and taking opportunities public engagement mycology events.
Martha is interested in people and nature and how to bring them more closely together for mutual benefit. When she's not working she is a keen reader, pianist and runner.