Franky Rogers

Franky Rogers

Profile

Beginning my university education in palaeontology built a strong foundation for my scientific understanding, studying subjects such as climatology, ecology, and environmental sciences. From this foundation, I developed a passion for conservation and preserving biodiversity in a world increasingly affected by anthropogenic climate change.

My postgraduate studies in ecology and evolutionary biology made me keenly aware of the importance of advising policy-makers and landowners when it comes to matters of conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services. I therefore directed my career in this direction, which led me to an important and beneficial first step; working as a research associate on the Biodiversity Audit of the Norfolk Coast at the University of East Anglia.

My role has largely been focussed on processing and managing the database of over 6 million biological records in R, as well as producing maps using GIS software and contributing to ecological analysis.

Qualifications:

MSc Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Distinction) – Queen Mary University of London, 2020

Dissertation: An individual based model comparing asymmetric and symmetric mutual mate choice under varying environments

BSc Palaeontology – University of Portsmouth, 2019

Dissertation: A multifaceted palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Albian (Early Cretaceous) at East Wear Bay, Folkestone (England).

Franky Rogers

PhD title: Integrating multi-taxa biodiversity conservation into upland ecosystem land-use models

Conservation is still failing to reverse biodiversity declines, but land-use strategies must now be balanced with multiple other ecosystem services (ES) including food, carbon sequestration, and flood mitigation. To resolve this crisis, decision makers need robust evidence of what management to undertake, and where. However, existing spatial models and ES decision-support tools lack comprehensive understanding of biodiversity, instead relying on inappropriate proxies.

During my project, I will incorporate large bodies of information on biodiversity distribution and requirements into future land-use models recently developed by RSPB scientists. Results will directly address how upland habitats in the UK can be best managed to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change.