Hi I'm
Dr Lorna Cole

I draw from over 25 years working in the field of agroecology. I feel that agro-ecological principles are key to meeting perhaps our greatest challenge – How can feed our growing world population whilst protecting our environment? I'm based at Auchincruive Estate and SRUC Riverside, Ayr.

To help address this challenge, I am actively involved in a wide range of research projects exploring how biodiversity goals can be positively incorporated into agricultural systems in an economically viable way.

I love being out and about in the countryside, hill walking and spotting wildlife. As keen entomologist, I am particularly interested in the small things that make the world go round – the wide variety of beneficial insects that inhabit farmland. My research aims to increase our understanding of how agricultural practices influence these insects and the ecosystem services (such as pollination and natural pest control) they deliver.

I primarily conduct research on working farms and this gives me a strong practical knowledge of farming systems and enables me to ensure that management recommendations resulting from my research are practical and realistic to achieve on the ground.

I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others and am a lecturer on SRUC’s Conservation and Wildlife Management Degree course. In addition, I love to assist others build their research skills and currently supervise several PhD studentships.

I love being outside immersed in nature. I enjoy walking, cycling and paddleboarding and I'm never happier than when chasing insects in sunny weather.