In the BES Theme we study the way that organisms react, adapt and interact.
Within the BES Theme, we investigate the ecological and evolutionary processes that generate and maintain biodiversity, and evaluate biodiversity-driven functions that underpin ecosystem services essential to human well-being. We monitor the impacts of global change drivers such as climate change, habitat destruction, and pollution on biodiversity loss, providing science-based evidence to design strategies for reversing it and for the sustainable use of resources, ultimately guiding policy. Our work covers a variety of ecosystems—from marine to freshwater and terrestrial—and includes a broad range of organisms, including microbes, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates.
We combine classical approaches with state-of-the-art molecular and mathematical techniques. We are part of to the London CEE (Centre for Ecology and Evolution) network, are linked colleagues at various universities, museums and other institutions around the world, and conduct fieldwork and laboratory research in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
BES is tightly linked with the Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour (EEB) with respect to both its membership and all activities, which include weekly seminar and discussion sessions, as well as regular naturalist activities and social events.
Get involved
Find out which BES projects you can get involved with as part of an MSc Biological Science by Research.
You can also see what PhD projects we have available here.
