I am interested in how animals move through complex environments. Man-made systems are nowhere near as resilient at moving through unpredictable environments as animals are, and my research sets out to learn how animals navigate through constantly changing structured spaces so seamlessly. I focus on how animals that move in 3D negotiate obstacles. In my experiments, I observe the behaviour of birds and fish flying or swimming through complex obstacle fields using motion capture and photogrammetry. I then use computer vision techniques to model how the animals respond to their environment to gain insights into what cues are important in making spatial decisions. I have worked in collaboration with other departments in the university (Engineering) and beyond (University of Washington) to apply these learnings to UAVs and to train models that can be applied more broadly.
Beyond my doctoral research, I have a keen interest in applying science for the benefit of humanity, whether that be through entrepreneurship, public engagement or in other ways. I always appreciate the opportunity to meet entrepreneurs, innovators, and industrial scientists, having been involved with several start-ups myself, as well as being an active member of the broader enterprise and innovation ecosystem in Oxfordshire. Please get in touch if you are interested in talking.
