James Westfield
Associate Lecturer

Profile

Biography

James is an Associate Lecturer in Human Geography and Environment in the Department of Environment and Geography.

He joined the teaching staff in 2024 after three years in the department as a PhD Researcher in Environmental Geography and working extensively as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.

James is an interdisciplinary researcher, using mixed methods to understand the intersection between people and nature. His core research areas are ethnobotany, cultural and environmental heritage, ecosystem services and stakeholder engagement.

His PhD research looks at managing weeds through productive use - understanding how plants were used historically in and by society, how they have come to be perceived and managed as weeds today, and how productive use could be employed as a sustainable management method in future.

Career

• PhD Environmental Geography - University of York, 2021-Present
• MSc Environment, Politics and Society - University College London, 2020-2021
• BSc (Hons) Geography - University of Exeter, 2017-2020