University of Exeter professor wins Marsh Award for Ecology

The Marsh Award is presented annually to an Ecologist, from anywhere in the world, in recognition of outstanding recent ecological discoveries or developments which have had a significant impact on the development of ecology. The prize of £1,000 and a certificate is supported by the Marsh Christian Trust and administered by the British Ecological Society.

Professor Gaston is a prolific and highly cited ecologist. He leads basic, strategic and applied research in ecology and conservation biology with particular emphases on ecosystem goods and services. He is particularly well known for his pioneering work on spatial patterns in species abundance and the underlying causes of rarity, and more recently for his work on urban ecosystems and the associated issues, such as human-wildlife interactions and the impacts of light pollution.

Professor Gaston said: “I’m honoured to have received the prestigious Marsh Award for Ecology. The research that colleagues and I are undertaking in the ESI aims to enhance people’s lives by improving their relationships with the environment; being presented with this award is recognition of this work and demonstrates that our efforts are acknowledged both at home and internationally.”

Based on the University’s Penryn Campus, near Falmouth, the ESI is an interdisciplinary centre leading cutting-edge research into solutions to problems of environmental change. It has been funded by the ERDF Convergence Programme (£22.9M), and the South West Regional Development Agency (£6.6M), with significant support from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).