Dr Sophie Watson

Sophie is a Lecturer at the OneZoo CDT. She has always been interested in a holistic view of ecology and how the small things in this world (even microbes) can be used as early warning systems of significant ecological shifts. These tiny, often ignored species are at the forefront of change and therefore are the most critical components in recognising critical turning points. Earlier in her career her research investigated the gut bacteria and parasites of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and wolverines (Gulo gulo), exploring how changes in gut communities could be used as indicators of broader ecological change and threatened survival. Now, Sophie applies the same thinking to address how community shifts and environmental factors can instead provide early warnings of water quality risk in drinking supplies and recreational areas. From this, she aims to understand how ecological restoration can reinstate essential feedback loops necessary to maintain sustainable water supplies; a win-win. As such, she is continually interested in research that tackles human, wildlife and environmental health equally, creating solutions that benefit all (i.e. a One Health approach). Sophie’s research sits directly on the interface between academia and industry. Chiefly, her work bridges critical knowledge and technology gaps within industry, adapting highly complex methodologies in to standard operation procedures for industry use and facilitating data interpretation. She strongly believes that we as scientists are a community and that the knowledge we gain is there to be shared. Email: WatsonS2@cardiff.ac.uk