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Project Seagrass

Advancing seagrass conservation through education, influence, research and action  

  • A Zostera marina (eelgrass) seagrass meadow in Porthdinllaen, Wales.
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CORE TEAM

We're a small team of scientists and conservationists with offices at the Sustainable Places Research Institute at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom. We work all over the world, with current research and conservation projects in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. 

Benjamin Jones

Founding Director
Ben has a degree in Marine Biology from Swansea University and as part of the Seagrass Ecosystem Research Group he completed an MRes Degree in Aquatic Ecology and Conservation. Ben's currently based at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University where he is conducting a PhD on the linkages between seagrass meadows, fisheries and poverty alleviation in the tropics. Ben has over 5 years of experience working with seagrass ecosystems across the globe.

Dr Richard 'RJ' Lilley

Founding Director
RJ is a Teacher of Biology at a secondary school in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is passionate about education, particularly marine science communication and outdoor learning. His research focuses on the sustainable supply chain management of small-scale capture fisheries. He is particularly interested in the role of seagrass meadows in providing local food security. RJ has over seven years experience of research in marine systems. He has primarily worked in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas.  He is a qualified PADI and BSAC scuba-diving instructor and recreational free diver.

Dr Richard Unsworth

Founding Director
Richard is a lecturer marine ecology and leads the Seagrass Ecosystem Research Group at Swansea University. Richard's expertise lie in the ecological structuring processes of marine systems and the implications of these systems for society. This focuses primarily on the interrelationships between foundation species, habitat, and associated productive fauna (mainly fish). He is particularly interested in the consequences of cross-scale environmental changes on seagrass meadows functioning and the implications of this for global food security and other ecosystem services. Richard has more than twelve years’ experience of research in marine systems and conducts collaborative interdisciplinary research in Europe, Australia, Indonesia, Columbia and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth

Director
Leanne is a Senior Research Fellow at the Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University. Leanne's research interests are in coupled social-ecological systems and sustainability in the marine environment, in particular, marine and coastal resource use and management. She currently leads an international project investigating drivers of seagrass decline across multiple scales throughout SE Asia. Through her role as a director of Project Seagrass she is working to improve our understanding of seagrass systems in the UK and raise awareness of their ecosystem service value. Co-development of solutions to resource problems using a variety of mixed methodological approaches, including cooperative research, is a strong interest of hers.

STUDENTS, INTERNS & VOLUNTEERS

Greg Brown (Wales) 2014-15

Greg worked with us during his MSc at Swansea University, where he conducted an exploratory seagrass mapping project.


Sarah Jane Pope (Scotland) 2015- 

SJ has been a regular SEA programme volunteer for outreach events at the Glasgow and Edinburgh Science Festivals. She has also volunteered her time at other community outreach events across Scotland. She has started an MSc in Education for Sustainable Development at Gothenburg University. In 2017 she ran the London, Edinburgh and Stockholm marathons to raise vital funds for Project Seagrass. 


Josephine Wilde (Wales) 2015-

Josephine completed a BSc in Marine Geography, and MRes in Biosciences at Cardiff University. She regularly helps at events and completed a 2 month Placement with us following her undergraduate.


Lauren Clayton (Scotland) 2015-

Lauren has recently graduated with a Masters in Marine Biology from the University of Glasgow, as part of her program she undertook a work placement with Project Seagrass and continues to volunteer at outreach events across Scotland.


Laura Pratt (Wales) 2015-16

Laura has recently graduated with a BSc Biology from Cardiff University. She undertook a internship with Project Seagrass as part of her Professional Training Year (PTY), and while working with us, she investigated changes in the status and distribution of Zostera noltii across Wales.


Jake Davies (Wales) 2016-

Jake is a BSc Applied Marine Biology student currently Studying at Bangor University. He has an internship working with Natural Resources Wales. He also has a partnership internship with Project Seagrass, where he assist’s in data collection and spreading awareness of seagrass within North Wales.


Evie Furness (Wales) 2016-17

Evie is studying for a BSc in Marine Biology at Swansea University. She had previously (2016-2017) undertaken an internship with Project Seagrass for her 'Year in Industry' placement.


Max Robinson (Wales) 2016

Max is a member of the SEACAMS2 team and worked with on the Dugong and Seagrass Research Toolkit


Rufus Sullivan (Scotland) 2017-18

Rufus has recently graduated from St Andrews University with a degree in Marine Biology. He is currently working for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and continues to volunteer at outreach events across Scotland.  

Evie James (Wales) 2017-18
Evie is studying for a BSc in Zoology at Cardiff University. Currently she is undertaking an internship with Project Seagrass for her Professional Training Year.

Chathurika Munasignhe (Sri Lanka) 2017
Chathurika is studying from a MPhil in Coral Reef Biology at the University of Peradeniya. She undertook a 2 month internship with us during 2017 in collaboration with the Sustainable Places Research Institute. She worked on investigating the link between seagrass knowledge and willingness for conservation in Sri Lanka.

Oliver Dalby (Wales) 2018
Oliver is conducting a masters in Marine Environmental Management at the University of York. As part of his masters placement with Project Seagrass, he is investigating the motivations for people to take part in Citizen Science with a specific focus on our SeagrassSpotter programme.

Isadora Sinha (Wales) 2018
Isadora is conducting a BSc in Biology at Cardiff University. She is currently conducting a Cardiff University Research Opportunities Placement (CUROP) at the Sustainable Places Research Institute and exploring the data we have currently collected with our SeagrassSpotter programme.

Bethan Thomas (Wales) 2018-19
Bethan is studying for a BSc in Biology at Cardiff University. Currently she is undertaking an internship with Project Seagrass for her Professional Training Year.