Grant bidding - Dept. Life Science U. Roehampton

Anne Robertson researched the ecology of benthic river microcrustaceans for her PhD at University of London, discovering that there is a distinctive community living in the muddy sediments of rivers, examining their population dynamics and calculating their productivity.  Subsequently she has broadened these research interests and has examined the ecology and function of meiofauna (very small bottom living river invertebrates) in rivers, the colonisation of new river systems following deglaciation in Alaska and the ecology and functioning of groundwater ecosystems. Her current research builds on this background and is funded by the Leverhulme Trust. The project (Microplastics in groundwater ecosystems: A global impact analysis) focusses on microplastics, these are small particles that are found everywhere on earth. Groundwater is the largest source of liquid fresh water and globally 2.5 billion people exclusively depend on it to meet their freshwater needs. While initial surveys indicate microplastics presence in groundwater, the distribution, total quantity and impact of microplastics on groundwater ecosystems is completely unknown. The project, in collaboration with co-investigators at Roehampton and Birmingham Universities, will use an interdisciplinary approach incorporating ecohydrology, analytical chemistry, mathematical modelling and ecology to 1) establish the first global baseline of groundwater microplastic contamination, 2) investigate microplastic uptake by, and effects on, groundwater food webs, 3) model the global risks of microplastics to groundwater.

Dr Adele Costabile is a Reader in Nutrition in the School of Life and Health Sciences (University of Roehampton). Adele completed her PhD in Food Science, Microbiological Safety, Genetic Improvement of Farm Animal and Immunology at the University of Naples, Veterinary, Italy. Her primary research interests include the gut microbiota and its contribution to host metabolism; the carcinogenic potential of the microbiome and the impact of early life events on metabolism and development. He more recent work has focused on the gut microbiota as a therapeutic target for nutritional interventions. During this Podcast, she and Dr Richard Mackenzie discuss successful bidding in the field of Nutrition & Health