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Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity

World-leading interdisciplinary research into the complexities of biodiversity change in the Anthropocene, funded by the Leverhulme Trust

The Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity examines how the relationship between humanity and the natural world is changing, and how we might develop and maintain a sustainable Earth.

Human activities have caused the world’s physical and biological processes to change so significantly that we increasingly think of Earth as having entered a new geological epoch – the ‘Anthropocene’.

This disruption has resulted in the extinction of many species, but the Anthropocene is also a time of biological gains; it may eventually be considered one of the greatest boosts to biological diversity in history. We aim to understand the causes and consequences of biodiversity gains and losses, and inform and influence how society responds.

Research programmes

Biodiversification

Understanding how human impacts and biological processes underpin the gains and losses of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Philias and phobias

Identifying the causes and consequences of varied human attitudes to the growth and loss of biodiversity.

Utility

Establishing the gains and harms people experience from biodiversity altered by humans and novel ecosystems.

Moulding the future

Integrating knowledge to foster further gains, without compromising human wellbeing or risking ‘past’ biodiversity.

People

Our Centre represents an interdisciplinary collaboration between multiple departments at the University of York, the University of Sherbrooke, University College London and the University of St Andrews.

Our expertise is wide-ranging and our researchers consider the changing relationship between humanity and the natural world, and how we might maintain and develop a sustainable Earth.

Meet our team 

Contact us 

Watch https://youtu.be/wj9R4rqSKL0 on YouTube

Professor Lindsey Gillson - Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity

Cross-cutting themes

Change is a defining feature of the Anthropocene, requiring agile and creative adaptations. LCAB research helps to leverage human ingenuity to create, conserve, restore and adapt social-ecological systems that safeguard biodiversity, while meeting the needs of people in ways that are fair and just.

Professor Lindsey Gillson, Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity

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