Stephen Alexander Hutton

Dr Stephen Hutton is a Technical Officer at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences since March 2022. Graduating with an honours degree (B.Sc. Rural Resources; Napier University), M.Sc. (Ecology; University of Aberdeen) and a Ph.D. (Terrestrial Ecology; UCC), his research has focused primarily on terrestrial and freshwater invertebrate ecology, from aggregation patterns and habitat preferences of dung beetles to the impacts of forestry on water quality (freshwater invertebrates, diatoms, fish), and also general terrestrial/freshwater invertebrate ecology (bioassessment, species/community analysis, ecosystem function and conservation). He worked as a research assistant on an European Research Council Starting Grant project entitled “Alternative life histories: linking genes to phenotypes to demography” with Dr Thomas Reed. In recent years, Steve has worked with UNEP GEMS/Water Capacity Development Centre based in the Environmental Research Institute (ERI), UCC, which provides global capacity development in the field of water quality monitoring and assessment. The importance of good quality freshwater for health and development have recently been highlighted by the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the associated Sustainable Development Goals, and Steve, as part of the Centre, has worked on a programme of activities to support this Agenda, in particular establishing an online field course and summer school in freshwater quality monitoring.

Ecology Ecosystem function Terrestrial invertebrate ecology Freshwater invertebrate ecology Community ecology Biodiversity Water quality monitoring and assessment Climate change