Cian White
The Owl,
Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland
Phone: +353 87 315 6535
ciwhite@tcd.ie
My research interests lie at the intersection of people and nature. I am interested in how an understanding of ecological systems can inform adaptive management for ecosystem service provision to create Nature-based Solutions. Given that ecosystems and society are complex systems I adapt methods from complexity science, particularly graph theory, to study the magnitude and stability of ecosystem service provision. I recently initiated a project using dynamic simulations to relate the network position of a service to its stability through time and am interested in exploring a similar topic with empirical datasets.
Ph.D., Ecology, Trinity College Dublin, Current Concentrations: Nature-based Solutions, Ecosystem Services, Plant Animal Interactions, Network Ecology. Provisional Dissertation Title: Connecting Nature: plant-pollinator interactions, ecosystem services and Nature-based Solutions. Dissertation Advisors: Jane Stout, Ph.D., Marcus Collier, Ph.D.
B.A, Zoology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, 2017 Dissertation: Exploring the population dynamics of three contrasting populations of Plantago lanceolata; an investigation into intra specific variation. Dissertation Advisor: Yvonne M. Buckley, Ph.D. First Class Honours, 73% overall grade. 4th Position in Class.
No papers published yet but below is a selection of manuscripts in various stages of progress.
Primary Authorship Manuscripts
White, C., Collier, M., Stout, J. C. “A framework for identifying Nature-based Solutions”. In submission with Ecosystem Services.
White, C., Collier, M., Stout, J. C. “Synergies of cultural and regulating ecosystem services from urban wildflower meadows: implications for management” Analysis to be finalized.
White, C., Collier, M., Stout, J. C. “The beta-diversity of interactions in human dominated landscapes: effects of landscape type and intensity” Analysis to be finalized.
Co-authorship Manuscripts
Russo, L., Fitzpatrick, U., Larkin, M., Mullen, S., Power, E., Stanley, D., White, C. Stout, J. “Agriculture defaunates plant-pollinator networks”. In submission with Nature Ecology & Evolution.
Ross, S. R. J., Arnoldi, J. -F., Jackson, A., White, C., Stout, J., Donohue, I. “Complexity increases the sensitivity of ecosystem functioning”. Final Draft.
Csergő, A. M., Healy, K., Baudraz, M. E. A., Kelly, D., Kelly, R., O’Connell, D., Ó Marcaigh, F., Smith, A. L., Villellas, J., White, C., Wilson, J., Yang, Q., Buckley, Y. M. “A meta-analysis of mainland and island populations suggests a general isolation syndrome affecting traits, demography and genetic diversity.” Final Draft.
White, Cian (2018). “What is a Nature-based Solution” presented at the Environ Conference at Cork Institute of Technology
White, Cian (2018). “Impact of Human Disturbance on Plant Pollinator Interactions” presented at Scandinavian Association for Pollination Ecology (SCAPE), at Blessington, Ireland.
White, Cian (2018). “Interaction Networks are Impacted by Landscape Type, but not land use intensity” presented at British Ecological Society’s annual meeting in Birmingham, UK.
White, Cian (2019). “Managing Wildflower Meadows for Multiple Ecosystem Services” presented at Scandinavian Association for Pollination Ecology (SCAPE), at Huur, Sweden.
White, Cian (2019). “Redefining Nature-based Solutions” presented at British Ecological Society’s annual meeting in Belfast, NI.
White, Cian (2020). “Does Floral Abundance or Diversity of Wildflower Meadows Correlate with Self-Reported Wellbeing” presented at Irish Pollinator Research Network, Maynooth, Ireland.
Teaching Assistant and Lecturer, Trinity College Dublin, 2017- Current Teaching Assistant Courses: Introduction to Statistics, Plant Animal Interactions, Fundamentals of Ecology. Lecturer: Ecology and Society
Head NERD, Trinity College Dublin, 2018 – 2019 The NERD club is a weekly gathering of researches with an interest in ecology and evolution to discuss ideas and present projects. I organized and ran the club for a year.
Supervisor of Undergraduate Research Projects, Trinity College Dublin, 2018 – Current Co-supervisor of undergraduate student in 18/19 academic year. Student was awarded best thesis. Co-supervising three undergraduate projects in 19/20 academic year.
Trinity Award (Trinity College Dublin Research Grant, 2017)
Winter Workshop on Complex Systems 2020 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Best Overall Oral Presentation, Environ 2018
Best 5 Minute Talk, SCAPE 2018
British Ecological Society Irish Ecological Association
Good knowledge of R statistical program and Arc GIS mapping software.
Upcoming: ‘Biodiversity: what is it, why it’s interesting and how to design with it’. Invited talk for Architecture Students at Technical University of Dublin. 12th February 2020
Ongoing: Aras an Uachtaireann (Irish President’s Residence) Biodiveristy Audit. Ecological Consultant surveying for birds and pollinators across 2020 to make management recommendations.
Previous: ‘Panel Discussion on Pollinator Diversity Decline and Conservation’. Invited guest for Science Gallery event. 5th May 2019
‘Climate Futures Panel Discussion’. Invited panel member to discuss the Irelands possible future climate scenarios as part of Green Week. 7th of February 2019
‘The life of a researcher’. Invited panel member to introduce what it’s like to be a researcher to Transition Year students. Science Gallery 2nd November 2018.s
‘Insects for Kids’. Invited speaker and host on workshop introducing insects to kids. Science Gallery event. 22nd October 2018
‘The life of Bees’. Part of PROBE, Trinity opens its doors to the public on European Researchers Night. I hosted a workshop introducing bees to kids. Science Gallery event. 28th October 2018
‘Fire and Plants’. Part of PROBE, Trinity opens its doors to the public on European Researchers Night. I assisted colleagues at stand introducing fire ecology. Science Gallery event. 28th October 2018