Clemency Cooper

PhD topic title: Informing evidence-based perspectives and scenarios on past, present and future landscapes in North Yorkshire

PhD supervisor: Jonathan Finch, Alison Dyke, Lindsey Gillson, Andreas Heinemeyer

Biography and research

My research aims to understand how the character of North Yorkshires moorlands have been shaped by human use and associated social-ecological systems. There are conflicting perceptions of what the landscape should deliver and how it is valued, meaning that participatory, evidence-based information is urgently needed to inform decisions about the future character of the landscape. I will be consulting stakeholders using participatory scenario planning to explore what the landscape could look like and its ecological functions, cultural significance, and economic benefits to future generations. I aim to understand how knowledge about the past environment shapes present perceptions of the landscape and how this, in turn, influences decisions about the character of upland areas.

I have a BA in Geography from the University of Cambridge and a MSc in Applied Landscape Archaeology from the University of Oxford. I have extensive experience as a public engagement practitioner in the heritage sector and continue to promote opportunities for community participation as a trustee of the Council for British Archaeology and Young Volunteer Assistant for the North York Moors National Park Authority.

Funder

The Leverhulme Trust