Rick is a marine biologist and academic based at Bournemouth University. His research is currently focused on understanding and protecting the marine environment in a holistic manner.
This involves understanding the role of multiple stresses which act on marine organisms, and the interactions between the organisms (which can form part of the stress). Currently, Rick’s work involves over-fishing, and how marine protected areas can be effective. Large scale ecosystem effects of over-fishing – including the potential for over-fished environments to contribute to climate change, and the adaptive potential of organisms to multiple stresses, including climate.
While most of his work is in marine ecology, Rick has worked in many different environments and on many different species, and in several disciplines, including economics, neuroscience and robotics.
He uses a range of tools and techniques to conduct his work, but is especially experienced in computer simulations and quantitative methods.
Rick is a member of the Society for Conservation Biology, Estuarine and Coastal Science Association, is a Committee member for British Ecological Society Special Interest Group in Quantitative Ecology and a Committee member for Royal Statistical Society Environmental Statistic.
Rick has written an article for The Conversation and has had several interviews for radio and newspapers, such as Nature, Radio Solent and the Bournemouth Echo.