YESI Welcomes Prof Kathryn Arnold as New Food, Water, and Waste Research Theme Lead
Posted on Monday 27 January 2025
The York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI) is delighted to announce Professor Kathryn Arnold as the new lead for our Food, Water, and Waste Research Theme. Kathryn brings an impressive track record of research excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration that aligns perfectly with YESI’s mission to tackle global environmental sustainability challenges.
Kathryn is a Professor in the Department of Environment and Geography and has over 20 years of experience at the interface of science, policy, and regulation. An ecologist by training, her research focuses on how wildlife and ecosystems respond to human impacts, with recent work including managing marine and freshwater organisms affected by environmental change, studying chemical contaminants in water, and applying a One Health approach to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research.
Kathryn’s collaborative approach to research is exemplified in her work with social scientists to apply ecological theories to human behavior. Her multidisciplinary outlook aligns seamlessly with YESI’s commitment to fostering innovative research that spans traditional academic boundaries.
In addition to her research, Kathryn has a deep commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in academia. She leads the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education (YCEDE), a £4M+ initiative that has made significant strides in enhancing ethnic diversity and inclusion in PhD recruitment. As Dean of York Graduate Research School (2020-2024), Kathryn implemented reforms increasing diversity among York’s PhD students and supported the development of an anti-racist toolkit for universities. Her research on equity and diversity has also explored the intersection of gender and caregiving in postgraduate progression.
From 2018 to 2020, Kathryn gained policy experience at Defra, leading a team focused on single-use plastics, the circular economy, and Brexit planning. Her ability to navigate complex policy landscapes will be invaluable in driving YESI’s impact agenda.
Kathryn has also demonstrated a passion for mentoring and supporting postgraduate and early-career researchers. Her dedication to nurturing the next generation of researchers reflects YESI’s values and priorities.
Reflecting on her new role, Kathryn said:
“Understanding how to sustainably manage food, water, and waste is fundamental to life on Earth. It is a real privilege to join Liz and the YESI team in supporting and inspiring novel research and new researchers working within the Food, Water, and Waste theme.”
We are thrilled to welcome Kathryn to the YESI team and look forward to her leadership in driving forward cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research in the Food, Water, and Waste theme.