Research Interest

 

My research interests cover a broad field ranging from behavioural ecology, ecophysiology, analytical chemistry to environmental protection. My main activities over the past decade focused on the use of chemical signals, pheromones, also known as the ‘language of life’ as almost all organisms use odour as communication tool. We study how animals utilize these and how pollution affects such interactions and how human activities interfere with signaling system. Main interests here are the impact of climate change (ocean acidification) and the role changes in pH play in what is described as ‘olfactory disruption’. Other stressors we study include endocrine disrupters and micro-plastic derived stress that affects animal signaling.

Having worked with commercially important species (shrimps, lobsters) and invasive species (green crab, Carcinus maenas) I also apply our knowledge to aquaculture/fisheries and integrated pest management as applications of chemical ecology. As part of such co-operations with aquactulture we are also involved in projects on development of biodegradable plastic alternatives.

Of late my team has also been involved in research on renewable energy– mainly the development of more cost effective production of hydrogen for hydrogen fuel cells. We use electrochemical cleavage of water into hydrogen and oxygen, which particularly when achieved using renewable energy sources, potentially presents an attractive solar/wind to fuel conversion route.

This diversity of research ultimately aims to gain a better understanding on how animals use chemical signals, what sender and receiver of such signals are able to gain from such cues and how human activity affects signaling either negatively or in a more manipulative role as mechanism of population management and aquaculture. As such the research is laying the foundations for global conservation efforts at a time of rapid climate change.

 

since 2009: Reader in Chemical Ecology, Dept. Biological Sciences, Hull University, UK