In honour of International Women’s Day, we are showcasing a few of the women at the Natural Resources Institute that are making an impact in science and around the world.
Katie August
Katie works on a project using a OneHealth approach to understand the contribution of grey squirrels to the spread of Lyme disease and the potential risk this poses to public health in the UK. Katie works on the project (known as the ‘RodTickPathMan’ project), with Professor Steven Belmain and Dr Daniel Bray. Grey squirrels are host to both ticks and Lyme disease and are an important link in the transmission of the disease to humans. Katie is based at the project field sites in Cumbria and runs the fieldwork aspects of the project, including camera trap surveys to assess grey squirrel abundance and assessing tick density. She also coordinates the squirrel trapping which allows researchers to assess how removing grey squirrels impacts tick abundance and other host species behaviour.
‘What I love most about my work is the potential applications of the results, including reducing the public’s risk of catching Lyme disease and helping everyone enjoy nature as safely as possible. Also, the varied nature of the work and being able to spend a lot of time in the field is great!’
Truly Rintanen
Truly studies the intricate relationships between land use, environmental change, and human activity, weaving together the complex narratives of agricultural expansion and forest conservation. Collaborating with partners in tropical regions, she investigates how land transformations intersect with global trade and food security, seeking to understand their broader impacts. Tropical nations play a crucial role in the global food and energy sectors, where rapid land use changes create both opportunities and challenges. Yet, crop production dynamics remain underexplored. By addressing these knowledge gaps, Truly hopes to foster a deeper, context-specific understanding of tropical agriculture to support resilient food systems amid climate pressures.
‘The most exciting part of my work is analysing data to uncover how land use, the environment, and human actions are linked. I’m fascinated by how policies, culture, social factors, and economics shape these interactions, both as causes and consequences. To me, data isn’t just numbers, it’s a tool for gaining deep insights when combined with local knowledge. I’m motivated by the challenge of finding hidden patterns, understanding behaviours, and using this information to help make better decisions for a more sustainable future, where context and nuance are important.’
Rejoice Wadiam Papka
Rejoice is exploring the nexus of climate change, peace and prosperity in the Lake Chad region. In doing this, she employs a social-ecological systems lens to enhance understanding of how conflict dynamics, climate change and institutions impact interconnected nature-society systems within the Lake Chad region. She works with Dr Uche Okpara and Dr Mofakarrul Islam to gather evidence that will enhance understanding of the relationship between climate, peace, and prosperity and the pathways to achieve these outcomes. The aim is to offer entry points for decision-makers tasked with the responsibility of designing context-specific solutions for long-lasting peace and prosperity in the region.
‘Interestingly, I have always had a keen interest in the development space - driving social change, particularly in hard-to-reach locations. So, many things excite me about my work. First, the passion that I have, being from this region, and I get to document the lived experiences of the local people who have been trapped in between insurgent struggles, environmental challenges and erosion of livelihood options for over 15 years. Second, contributing to scholarly knowledge, particularly in the utilisation of system-thinking tools in assessing complex social and ecological challenges. Third, providing evidence that will be useful for diverse stakeholders including policy makers in designing practical solutions for fostering peace and prosperity in Lake Chad.’
Dr Lucie Büchi
Lucie is a crop ecologist, working on the impact of cropping practices such as reduced tillage, cover cropping, legume integration, soil health and crop production. She is also working on weeds that are emerging as a threat to crop production - for example, parasitic plants which are expected to become more widespread in Europe as a result of climate change. The aim is to better understand how they appear, their spread and their impact on crop production. Lucie is interested in alternative types of agriculture such as agroecology, conservation and regenerative agriculture, and on interdisciplinary research around gender and soil health.
What I find exciting is the practical implications of my work, which is done as much as possible collaboratively with farmers, in terms of benefits for the environment, food production and the actors involved. In addition, working with a diversity of colleagues, partners and students from a multitude of different background and origins is an amazing journey.’
Pamela Katic
Pamela works in the Livelihoods & Institutions Department of NRI, where she leads interdisciplinary, international, policy-engaged research projects in and across the fields of water management and water justice, agroforestry and biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples’ food systems and biocultural heritage, and social and gender equity. Pamela works with collaborators and communities in many countries of the Global South to jointly produce knowledge that improves lives through transformative change for a more just and sustainable world. In addition to research, Pamela engages actively in knowledge exchange collaboration through international platforms such as Future Earth, the Water Justice Hub and the FAO’s Global Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems.
‘I am passionate about making a positive impact on people and nature. Through my research, I aim to ensure all voices are heard and all rights are respected at the heart of environmental and climate action.’