Professor Bethan Wood
- Professor of Ecology/ Deputy Head of School (Staff and Student Experience) (Social & Environmental Sustainability)
- Elected Academic Staff Member on Court (Academic Services)
telephone:
01387702096
email:
Bethan.Wood@glasgow.ac.uk
Biography
Biography
Bethan read Zoology at University of Wales, Cardiff; her final year project looked at the population dynamics, home range and diet of the common field vole Microtus agrestis. Her MSc (by research and thesis) was based in the Wenallt Woods (near Cardiff) and on Flatholm Island in the Severn Estuary; she looked at the population dynamics of two terrestrial isopods – Armadillidium vulgare and Onsicus aselles.
Bethan's PhD on the dietary effects on milk protein in dairy cows was with the Scottish Agricultural College. The research was carried out on the dairy herd at the Crichton Royal Farm, Dumfries.
After gaining a PGCE (Secondary) with distinction from St. Andrew's College (University of Glasgow), she taught biology on the University of Glasgow's access school. Bethan then obtained a position as a teacher in a local secondary school teaching biology and science, where she remained for nine years.
Bethan has been lecturing at the Dumfries Campus since 2003. In 2007 she created the postgraduate MSc Carbon Management programme and was its programme director for 5 years. In 2010 Bethan created the undergraduate programme BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Sustainability and was its programme director from its creation to September 2016. Bethan is now Deputy Head of School for Staff and Student Experience and sits on the University Court as the Senior Elected Member of Academic Staff.
Research interests
Research Interests
- Ecology
- Biodiversity and conservation
- Ecosystems and ecosystem services
- Environmental education
- Embedding sustainability within the curriculum
- Teaching and learning
Grants
Grants
- Researcher Development Programme £1000 - Funding for an intern on the Academic Staff: Peer Support of Teaching 2022-2023.
- Researcher Development Programme £1000 – Funding for intern on Peer support of Teaching project 2019-2020.
- Mains of Loirston Charitable Trust (with Professor D Roberts SRUC Future Farming Research Group, and Professor Robert Davis) £80k
Funding for a full-time PhD 'Examining the efficacy of agricultural experiences as part of Scottish Secondary Pupils' interdisciplinary learning under the Curriculum for Excellence'
September 2016 - Crichton Foundation (£500)
Funding to support a student co-presenter at the Inspire to succeed: transforming teaching and learning in STEM conference. Higher Education Academy, Nottingham, 28-29th January 2016 - Mains of Loirston Charitable Trust (with Professor D Roberts SRUC Future Farming Research Group, and Professor Robert Davis) £26k
September 2014 - Crichton Foundation £378
High profile speakers: widening participation - Teaching, Learning and Participation Project
September 2013 - The Chancellor's Fund, University of Glasgow £2.2k
High profile speakers: widening participation - Teaching, Learning and Participation Project
September 2013 to September 2015 - The Hollywood Trust £1k
Widening participation - Teaching, Learning and Participation Project
March to September 2013 - Mains of Loirston Charitable Trust (with Professor D Roberts SRUC Future Farming Research Group) £75k
Funding for a full-time PhD examining 'Farm visits and the primary school curriculum'
September 2012 - September 2015 - First Steps Innovation Network £5K
Health Assessment of the Celsius Solar 'Jompy'
September 2011 to January 2012 - Davies M, Bold V, MacLeod D, Gillespie S, and Wood B (2010-2011 ASRF Seedcorn Fund Round 1)
Participatory identification of research challenges for the Galloway and South Ayrshire Biosphere
March to July 2011 - First Steps Innovation Network £5k
Carbon and Energy Assessment of the Celsius Solar ‘Jompy’
November 2010 to April 2011
Supervision
Completed students:
- Dr Sophie Brett: Examining the opportunities for agricultural experiences as part of Scottish secondary school pupils’ learning under Curriculum for Excellence. Supported by a Mains of Loirston Charitable Trust PhD studentship.
- Ms Harriet Fraser (with Dr David Borthwick) - ‘Open Fell Poetics’ A year in upland farming: investigating the Lake District as a cultural landscape through practice based poetics Supported by the Cairncross-McRae Scholarship.
- Dr Elaine Crawford Advancing education for sustainable development in the curriculum in Scotland's Colleges - An Analysis. Supported by a College of Social Sciences PhD studentship.
- Dr Leanne Mattu: Farm visits: interdisciplinary outdoor learning for primary school pupils and Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence. Supported by a Mains of Loirston Charitable Trust PhD studentship.
- Mr Lesten Chatepa: Evaluation of the nutritive value of lucerne (Medicago sativa L) in dairy cows for improved milk yield and quality. Supported by a Scottish Government (International Division) funded project through the Scottish Rural University College.
Teaching
Undergraduate
- Level 2: Biodiversity, Ecology and Ecosystems
- Level 3: Applied Ecology and Conservation
- Level 3: Dissertation
- Level 4: Environmental Stewardship Project supervisor
Professional activities & recognition
Professional & learned societies
- Principal Fellow, Higher Education Academy
- Fellow, Royal Society of Biology
- Member, British Ecological Society
- Fellow, The Linnean Society
Additional information
Roles within the University
- Senior Elected Academic Member of Staff on Court
- Ex-officio Member of Senate
- School Complaints Investigation Officer
- Deputy Head of School (Staff and Student Experience)
Professional membership
- Fellow of the Society of Biology
- Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Sci Sister
- Chartered Biologist
- Member of the British Ecological Society
- Fellow of the Linnean Society
External Examining:
- University of Newcastle (2013-2017): F850 Environmental Science BSc; F8C1 MEnv Ecosystems Management; F8D4 MEnv Agricultural and Environmental Science; F8F6 MEnv Environmental Geochemistry; F8H8 MEnv Clean Technology
- University of the Highlands and Islands (2020-2025): Tier 2 (Awards, Progression, Student Cases) for Science, Technology and the Environment (STE) Subject Network
- Liverpool John Moores University (2020-2024): BSc Wildlife Conservation
- University of Brighton (2024-2028): BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation; BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation with Integrated Foundation Year (L4-L6) and MSci (Hons) Ecology and Conservation