Professor Stephen Willis

Director of Research

What do you do?

I first came to Durham as MSc student in the 1990s, before then staying on to study for a PhD, exploring and modelling the invasion of non-native plant species along County Durham's rivers. Since then, I have worked my way up to being a Professor and, currently, Director of Research in Biosciences. During that period I have worked on ecology and conservation projects across all seven continents.

How are you involved in this area of science? 

My work in biodiversity conservation started immediately after my BSc, when I spent a year volunteering for the RSPB, principally doing work related to turning around the fortunes of a rare breeding bird, the Bittern, whose population at that time was down to around 12 calling males nationally (now up to 200+ calling males).

This period reignited my interest in research, and I soon moved back into academia. Over the years, I have worked with many conservation organisations, nationally and internationally, including RSPB, Butterfly Conservation, Natural England and many others.  

I now work on highly varied conservation topics, from weighing rhinos on scales in Africa to simulating the migration of 10gram birds between Europe and Africa. A major focus of my current research relates to understanding how species will respond to future climate change, and trying to ensure species persistence through the changing times ahead.

What do you love about this topic?

I have a great passion for natural history and the outdoors, though ironically my work rarely gets me outside these days. As a result, I relish every opportunity to get into the field. I love teaching on undergraduate field courses, both in the UK and Africa, and have travelled to many parts of the world for research.

I am also a passionate supporter of local wildlife and really enjoyed pushing forward the university biodiversity strategy, adopted in 2023. I also now enjoy supporting local conservation where I can, and am a Trustee of Project Brightwater, which aims to reinvigorate the River Skerne catchment.

How does this work deliver real-world impact?

At a large scale, our research has features in numerous reports, highlighting challenges and solutions to conserving biodiversity.  Work with RSPB was specifically flagged as being instrumental in the retention of the EU Habitats Directive.

We have also worked with Audobon, a large US conservation charity, on a 'Climate Action Plan for the Americas'. Nationally, I am a Trustee of the British Trust for Ornithology, which monitors biodiversity across the UK, influencing conservation policy both in the UK and Europe.

Closer to home, DU’s Biodiversity Strategy is already delivering results, with Barn Owls and Buzzards breeding on the University estate, and many hectares of land reverting to wildflower meadows.