In the lead-up to COP27 in November, and with the imperative climate emergency, we thought we would speak to some of the talented minds at Lancaster about their areas of research within sustainability, and what they would like to see focused on in this wide-reaching topic.

This week, we have spoken to Dr Eva Maire, a Research Fellow at the Lancaster Environment Centre.

Can you give me a brief overview of your role at the University?

I have been a Research Fellow at the Lancaster Environment Centre since April 2019.

My research examines the interactions between coral reefs and people, using ecological and social-ecological approaches and involving field and lab-work, statistical models, and spatial analyses.

More broadly, my research is highly interdisciplinary, spanning global issues of small-scale fisheries management, environmental change, human health, and biodiversity conservation.

What areas of sustainability are you currently focused on in your work?

My research aims at supporting the sustainable use of marine resources by focusing on the long-term contribution small-scale fisheries can make to human health. The many effects of human-induced pressures including climate change are important components of my research. These include environmental aspects but also socio-economic aspects such as environmental justice.

What has been your biggest achievement this year?

I have just been awarded a Leverhulme Early-Career Fellowship to investigate under which conditions area-based fisheries management can help alleviate poverty and malnutrition in fishing communities in sub-Saharan Africa.

What do you think is the biggest challenge in the work that you do?

Keep pace with the acceleration of climate change’s effects on the systems I study (mostly tropical marine fisheries and tropical coral reefs).

Did you always want to work in the area of sustainability?

I have always been interested in biodiversity/natural systems conservation - without naming it as ‘sustainability’.

COP27 is in November 2022 in Egypt, what area(s) would you like to see being talked about more in order to help the climate emergency?

I have no doubt key topics are discussed. Having attended COP26 in Glasgow last November, I would like to see countries (especially the biggest CO2 emitters) taking real actions, now, to tackle the climate emergency.

What do you think is the role of Universities in sustainability and addressing the climate emergency?

There is no doubt Universities must be leaders to raise awareness, trigger behavioural changes and ‘teach’ future generations (even if I believe young people have a lot to teach us!) and more broadly, to help society understand and respond to a wide range of sustainability challenges.

To find out more about Lancaster University's work in this area, explore our sustainability pages.