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- Qualifications:BSc MSc PhD
- Position:Head of School : Applied Sciences
- Department:College of Health, Science and Society School of Applied Sciences
- Telephone:+4411732 85452
About me
I started my scientific career working as a Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer, then, after a number of years I changed scientific direction to follow my lifetime interest in marine ecology. After obtaining a BSc in Marine Biology from Newcastle University I continued my academic studies at Napier University, Scotland with an MSc Biology of Water Resource Management which led onto my PhD on The effects of natural and induced stress on echinoderms. I moved to UWE, Bristol as a post-doc to research the changes in fish communities of the Severn Estuary within the Severn Estuary Research Group. Follow on research projects continued along this theme and focused on the long-term changes in the plankton communities of the Severn Estuary. More lately my research has returned to marine biomarkers. Recent PhD completions include: 'The use of emerging techniques to understand seagrass ecosystems: Case studies using Posidonia oceanica in the Eastern Aegean' (S. Meek 2021) and 'The development of environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques for the detection and monitoring of the critically endangered European Eel, Anguilla Anguilla' (L Weldon 2023). Recent publications include: A comparison of European eel Anguilla anguilla eDNA concentrations to fyke net catches in five Irish lakes (L. Weldon, C. O'Leary, M. Steer, L. Newton, H. Macdonald & S. Sargeant, Environmental DNA 2020). Current PhD supervisions include 'Environmental pollution of marine ecosystems in the Niger Delta: sea sponges as potential novel tools for Environmental Biomonitoring' (S. Nkopuyo Udoekpo).
I have expanded my research interest to examine the long-term resilience of coral reef communities, through a collaboration with the University of Havana, Cuba and through training our students in reef data collection. Recent presentations include: Teaching and Assessing scientific diving in the Caribbean' (L. Newton & D. Reynolds, 2023).
After being appointed as a Lecturer in Environmental Biology I progressed to become programme cluster leader for environmental programmes, then Associate Head of Department. Despite my recent appointment to Dean & Head of School of Applied Sciences, I keep my hand in teaching UG and PG students and help with the field expeditions, as I believe it is important to maintain contact with students to ensure an excellent student experience and engage students in our research.
Area of expertise
Subject expertise includes - Marine ecology, plankton, Marine conservation, tropical marine ecosystems. Practical Skills include- in organising Expeditions, Marine surveys - intertidal and SCUBA, Fieldwork.
Other publications include:
L. Weldon, C. O’Leary, M. Steer, L. Newton, H. Macdonald & S. Sargeant (2020). A comparison of European eel Anguilla anguilla eDNA concentrations to fyke net catches in five Irish lakes. Environmental DNA.
Phillips, E. & Newton, L.C. Attitudes of UK consumers to farmed seafood. (2012) DEFRA Shellfish News no.34.
Culshaw, C. Newton, L.C. & Bird, D.J. Sub-lethal effects of cadmium: Behavioural responses in the brown shrimp Crangon crangon. Mar. Env. Res. 58 (2004) p410-411,
Occasional reviewer for Journal Env Science and Technology; Science for Environmental Policy; Journal Hydrobiologia.
Publications
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