The following scientists make up the Edge of Existence research team and collaborators.
These individuals are involved in implementing the EDGE conservation projects and/or
undertaking the EDGE research expeditions.
These individuals are involved in implementing the EDGE conservation projects and/or
undertaking the EDGE research expeditions.
Jonathan is a global authority on the status and trends of threatened species. He is Head of Field Conservation at the Zoological Society of London and works with a large number of projects which focus on monitoring the status of rare and threatened species.
His extensive fieldwork experience includes research and monitoring of western lowland gorillas in Gabon, Central Africa, developing ecotourism sites in Central Africa, monitoring rare endemic birds in the Gulf of Guinea, behavioural studies ofdesert baboons in Namibia.
His extensive fieldwork experience includes research and monitoring of western lowland gorillas in Gabon, Central Africa, developing ecotourism sites in Central Africa, monitoring rare endemic birds in the Gulf of Guinea, behavioural studies ofdesert baboons in Namibia.
Sam is an expert on past and present mammal extinctions.
His research addresses historical and prehistoric human impacts on global ecosystems and the magnitude of human-driven extinctions over time, and how to develop conservation strategies for today’s endangered mammal species. Sam is already heavily involved with active conservation projects for top EDGE species. He has been one of the key co-ordinators for the recovery programme of the Critically Endangered Yangtze River dolphin and for the Hispaniolan solenodon.
His research addresses historical and prehistoric human impacts on global ecosystems and the magnitude of human-driven extinctions over time, and how to develop conservation strategies for today’s endangered mammal species. Sam is already heavily involved with active conservation projects for top EDGE species. He has been one of the key co-ordinators for the recovery programme of the Critically Endangered Yangtze River dolphin and for the Hispaniolan solenodon.
Nick's background is in evolutionary biology and phylogenetic analysis. These skills are essential for calculating Evolutionary Distinctiveness scores. Nick is currently exploring how abundance varies among populations of butterflies and mammals in response to different forms of land-use. His research uses patterns in biodiversity to understand extinction risk and predict how threatened animals can survive into the future.
Ben’s research has provided valuable insights into extinction processes and conservation decision-making. He is currently developing species-based biodiversity indicators to enable conservationists and policy-makers to determine whether we can achieve a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss.
Carly is the EDGE Programme Co-ordinator. She has researched the
life history traits, threats and conservation requirements of the top
100 EDGE mammals. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the EDGE website and overseeing the EDGE Fellows programme and all EDGE research and conservation activities.
Helen is the EDGE Amphibians Co-ordinator. She is responsible for developing the amphibian EDGE list. She is currently writing the species accounts and researching the conservation requirements of the top 100 EDGE amphibians, which will be presented on this website in the near future.
Sally is the Assistant Co-ordinator for EDGE Amphibians. Her role involves supporting Helen with all aspects of the conservation work EDGE carries out on amphibians. This includes development of the programmes for the ten Focal Amphibian species, identifying potential EDGE Fellows, and writing material such as species accounts and blogs for the website.
Alasdair is the Lead EDGE Technical Adviser. His background in Multimedia and Internet Technology enabled him to create the EDGE website, supported by Carly Waterman and volunteers.
He now manages the EDGE website team and as is Programme Director of the Great Primate Handshake - An innovative primate conservation awareness tour
of Africa.
Kate’s research is focused on the evolution of mammal biodiversity, understanding the processes that drive past and present patterns to predict the future. Kate works developing and analyzing global datasets of mammal distributions, life histories and phylogenies. In fact, she was part of the team that put together the supertree of all mammals that the ED part of the EDGE score is calculated.
David is one of the EDGE Technical Advisers, and is responsible for developing, updating, and maintaining the EDGE of Existence website. With a BSc in Computer & Video Games, David has used his strong programming background to work for a number of software companies, including Electronic Arts.
While EDGE is the first conservation programme that he has participated in, David is a proud member of our team; filled with the same passion and drive to preserve the species of the world.
Nadia is the EDGE Fellows Coordinator. She is responsible for identifying potential EDGE Fellows and making sure the current Fellows receive as much support as possible. Nadia is also in charge of making sure the website is updated with regular news from the field and offers general support for other members of the EDGE Team. Nadia has recently completed her MSc in Wild Animal Biology where her project focussed on EDGE. She has worked on conservation initiatives in South Africa, Ecuador and the UK and is currently involved in the Great Apes Film Initiative (GAFI).
James is a freelance web-developer. He is responsible for extending and improving database design, web programming, and other related activities on the EDGE project. Having programmed computers in several different languages from the age of eight, James studied Physics at Imperial College, London. He worked as a software developer for ICL and then Deustche Bank for nearly five years, before deciding to go freelance. In addition to his development work, James is a professional Thai massage practitioner and an occasional life-model and piano teacher.
David, originally from Sweden, lives in Ireland with his wife and
works for an IT company. Passionate about nature since a young age
his interest in conservation was particularly stirred during a recent
year-long round-the-world trip, when he among other things made friends with a baby Giant Anteater in an Amazonian animal orphanage and on Borneo saw EDGE Species #97 the Orangutan, as well as the endless rows of palm-oil plantations that are now pushing it towards extinction.
works for an IT company. Passionate about nature since a young age
his interest in conservation was particularly stirred during a recent
year-long round-the-world trip, when he among other things made friends with a baby Giant Anteater in an Amazonian animal orphanage and on Borneo saw EDGE Species #97 the Orangutan, as well as the endless rows of palm-oil plantations that are now pushing it towards extinction.
Arne, a Canadian evolutionary biologist, is the author of over 40 papers and book chapters on the evolutionary aspects of biodiversity. Alongside recent work on the effects of El Nino on butterfly communities in Borneo, he has had a long-standing interest in the shape of the Tree of Life. It is this characteristic shape (a tree with many lonely species) that is captured in measures of Evolutionary Distinctivness and so EDGE. Arne was trained at McGill University and at Oxford, and worked at the University of British Columbia and the Zoological Museum of Amsterdam.
Dave is a Ph.D. student working at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. He first studied evolutionary distinct species for his Master’s thesis project and now is researching how EDGE scores can be applied to the world’s birds. He also plans to investigate geographical patterns of distinctness with the hope of finding out which regions or habitats need to be prioritized.