- B514 Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 585901
- kim.ward@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Dr Kim Ward
Lecturer in Human Geography
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Biography
Biography
Qualifications
Qualifications:
Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP), Plymouth University
PhD Human Geography, University of Exeter
MSc Nature, Rurality and Society, University of Exeter
BSc Zoology (Hons), University of Nottingham
Postdoctoral research:
Research Fellow on the DEFRA-funded, multidisciplinary project: 'Identifying RiskFactors that Affect the Spread of Bovine Tuberculosis at the Endemic Front'. School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University. (2013-2014)
Associate Research Fellow on the ESRC-funded project: 'Biosecurity-Borderlands'. Geography, University of Exeter (2012) seewww.biosecurity-borderlands.org
Professional membership
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Research
Research
Research interests
Broad Research themes
- Nature-society relationships
- Animal management and governance
- The socio-politics of biosecurity
- Environmental-knowledge systems
- Farming and agricultural change
- Sustainable food
Overview
Broadly speaking my research explores relationships between societies and environments and seeks to identify and understand the values and meanings embedded within these relations. In particular my research has focused on two areas of interest: (1) exploring biosecurity, risk and the socio-politics of zoonotic disease within farming and conservation systems and (2) the socio-politics of nature conservation.
My research on the former has explored approaches to biosecurity by examining how farmer behaviours are linked to environmental knowledge(s) and perceptions in relation to the emergence of zoonotic disease in agri-food systems. More broadly this research asks questions of the value(s) placed on human and non-human health within food systems, and examines public and animal health narratives which frame risk and biosecurity at an agricultural and institutional level. My research on the later theme has focused on exploring the socio-politics of the emerging conservation practice of rewilding, in particular by examining the cultural and political influences that frame rewilding approaches and the environmental knowledges that are (re)produced for and through such conservation narratives.
Research degrees awarded to supervised students
Completed PhD students
Cara Clancy. 'Wild entanglements: exploring the visions and dilemmas of ‘renaturing’ urban Britain'. 2019. https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/handle/10026.1/14717 (DoS)
Current PhD students
Carlotta Molfese. Project title: 'The Back-To-The-Land movement and nature in the Anthropocene: a personal journey through anarchist geographies'. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/carlotta-molfese Funded by the ESRC (DoS)
Dylan Beard. Project title: 'Glaciers as secondary sources of anthropogenic pollutants: an emerging socio-environmental challenge'. Funded by SoGEES (2nd supervisor)
Grants & contracts
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Personal
Personal
Reports & invited lectures
Invited expert discussant, 'How wild is wild? Rewilding the island of Ireland', British Ecological Society (BES) with the Irish Ecological Society (IES), Belfast, November 2019.
Invited talk, 'An environmental ethic for rewilding'. The Zoological Society of London, September, 2019.
'Invited expert discussant, 'Gender and rewilding' workshop, University of Exeter, December, 2018.
Invited talk, ‘Understanding risk perceptions and the social impacts of Avian Influenza (AI)’. Social Research on Exotic Disease and Biosecurity workshop, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, London. June, 2015.
Invited talk, ‘Managing the breakdown: forms and calculations in the administration of bovine Tuberculosis, a UK case study’. PAN Seminar series at the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Paris. November, 2013.
Invited expert discussant ‘Making Life Safe’. Animal Exchanges Workshop: Anthropologies Beyond Species, Institute for Science, Innovation and Society, University of Oxford. May 24th, 2013.
Links
Media
"Rewilding: Reintroduction extinct species back to Britain will be 'enormous' challenge".
The Independent on Sunday features research conducted by social scientists,including Dr Kim Ward from the School of Geography, Earth and EnvironmentalSciences, on dwindling beaver populations in Britain.
Read the full article in 'The Independent' -http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rewilding-reintroduction-extinct-species-back-to-britain-will-be-enormous-challenge-study-finds-10478370.html
"First official mammal reintroduction to UK"
Online news site TheCanary features research conducted by scientists, including Dr Kim Ward from the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, on dwindling beaver populations in Britain. The Eurasian beaver has been officially reintroduced to Scotland after being extinct in Britain for over 400years. This also makes them the first official mammal reintroduction in the UK.
Read the full article in ‘The Canary’ – http://www.thecanary.co/2016/11/27/beaver-reintroduction-could-be-good-news-for-the-uks-natural-diversity/