Professor Shonil Bhagwat

Professional biography

As Professor of Environment and Development, my research interests sit at the cross-section between natural and social sciences and my research centres on the links between environment and development. In particular, my research engages critically with discussions on a variety of key environmental concerns: agriculture and food security, biodiversity conservation, climate change, ecosystem services, and sustainability. It addresses these perceived grand environmental challenges within the context of growing discussion on the Anthropocene, the age of humans.

Before joining The Open University as Lecturer in Geography in February 2013, I directed an international and interdisciplinary masters programme in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management at the School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, UK (2009-2013). I have also held post-doctoral research appointments at the University of Oxford (2006-2009) and at the Natural History Museum, London, UK (2003-2006).

Qualifications

DPhil (PhD), University of Oxford, UK, 1998-2002
MSc, University of Oxford, UK, 1997-1998
MSc, University of Pune, India, 1994-1996
BSc (Hons), Sir Parshurambhau College, University of Pune, India, 1991-1994

Professional affiliations

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK)
Fellow of Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers, London
Member, Peer Review College, Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF)
Adjuct Fellow, Linacre College, Oxford

Research interests

My research is organised under three broad themes, each addressing a number of research questions:

1. Biocultural diversity studies

I investigate the role of cultural values in nature conservation, particularly at sacred natural sites: areas of land and water that have spiritual significance to people. These sites are 'nodes' of nature and culture, where human interaction with the natural environment manifests through 'nature spirituality'. My research goes beyond the observed correspondence between biological and cultural diversity at broad spatial scales and asks local-scale questions about biocultural diversity of sacred natural sites: Why are sacred natural sites located where they are? How do land tenure, institutions and governance of these sites influence their protection status? What role can sacred natural sites and nature spirituality play in modern-day nature conservation?

2. Resilience of agriculture and food systems

The global concern over feeding 9 billion people by 2050 has led to the discussion on increasing food production. Development of resilient food systems, however, requires consideration of issues other than production alone: access to food, nutrition, health and wellbeing. My research examines trade-offs between food production, nature conservation and human wellbeing. In particular it addresses the following questions: What are the benefits of keeping trees on farms in agroforestry systems? How can available technologies help to build resilience in food systems? How can agricultural landscapes be designed to support biodiversity, ecosystem services and to reduce poverty?

3. Geographies of the Anthropocene

There is increasing interest in the idea of the Anthropocene: a new geological epoch that has arisen due to widespread human activity on the planet. Human activity, in particular the development of agriculture, goes back more than 10,000 years. My research takes a long-term view of the development of the Anthropocene and asks: How can we identify baselines and thresholds that are necessary to manage dynamic and complex social-ecological systems? How can we live with the 'novel ecosystems' that human activity on the planet has created? How can we manage the interaction between humans and non-human species and leave space for wild nature on a highly human-dominated planet?

PhD supervision

I supervise postgraduate research in all three of my research themes and I welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students

Teaching interests

• Investigating the social world (DD103)
• Environment: Sharing a Dynamic Planet (DST216)
• Environmental Policy in International Context (DU319)
• Earth in crisis: environmental policy in an international context (DU311)
• Environment: responding to change (SDT306)

Impact and engagement

Blog at http://shonilbhagwat.wordpress.com
Twitter @shonilbhagwat