The Biodiversity Research Hub is an overview of biodiversity research, practical restoration projects and interdisciplinary collaborations. The work spans historical projects that have been completed, work in progress and new speculative ideas.

The Biodiversity Research Hub is founded by Barbara Smith who is an applied ecologist and works as Associate Professor at the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University. She is part of the core team developing the MA Regenerative Design at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts, London where she leads on Ecology and is part of the Living Systems Lab Research Group. She is also a consultant ecologist on landscape restoration projects.

Barbara received her PhD for work investigating the restoration of limestone grassland from Bournemouth University while based at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UK). She went on to focus on much of her work in agroecosystems as Senior Scientist at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust where she worked on the restoration of functional biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.

Between 2012 -2020 Barbara worked intensively in India, where she established a Centre for Pollination Studies at the University of Calcutta and co-developed participatory research projects between the farming community and the University. 

Her current work is focussed on integrating biodiversity research into multi-disciplinary projects including those investigating small scale agroecological farming, regenerative agriculture, renewable energy production, the built environment, digital ecology, and policy. 

In a new initiative she is co-developing the ‘Ecosystem Alliance’ with Designer Judith Van Den Boom – an experimental collaborative studio fusing Ecology and Design, with seed funding from LVMH.

Interested in Biodiversity Research Hub research, collaboration or futures? Reach out via the email below.

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