Dr William Stiles
BSc. (Hons) PhD
Lecturer in Soil Science
Contact Details
- Email: wvs@aber.ac.uk
- Office: 2.33, Cledwyn Building
- Phone: +44 (0) 1970 823039
- Twitter: @Wil_Stiles
- Research Portal Profile
Profile
Will has a background in soil science and ecology, particularly with regard to soil biology and plant-soil interactions, and his research looks for ways to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture and make farming and food production more sustainable.
Current projects:
Biomass Connect, the Biomass Innovation and Information Platform, is a demonstration and knowledge sharing initiative to showcase best practice and innovations in land-based biomass feedstock production. Biomass Connect is funded the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DSNEZ), as part of the government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which looks to accelerate the commercialisation of low-carbon technologies and systems.
In addition to his university responsibilities, Will is also a director of an external company, Vertikit, which aims to support the development of the CEA and Vertical Farming sectors in the UK.
Additional Information
Will completed a PhD in ecology and biogeochemistry at IBERS, Aberystwyth University, with a thesis entitled: Identifying key environmental factors affecting primary productivity and ecosystem services in the uplands.
Prior to this, Will Studied for a BSc (Hons) in Ecology & Environmental Management (joint honours) at the University of Worcester, graduating with First-class honours, before working on a project at Cranfield University for the HGCA to develop a calibration model for measuring phosphorus in UK soil, using visible and near infrared spectroscopy.
Teaching
Module Coordinator
Grader
Coordinator
Moderator
Lecturer
- BR27620 - Agronomy and Crop Improvement
- BR18040 - Crop, grassland, soil and agricultural land management
- BR34520 - Wildlife Conservation
- BRM6520 - Introduction to Environmental Law and Environmental Impact Assessment
- PGM4210 - Principles of Research Design
- PGM4820 - Orientation in Professional Research
Tutor
Research
Research interests include:
Soil system responses to land use change, such as the introduction of biomass crops, and ecological and soil based responses to system biogeochemical change, such as in response to nutrient, particularly nitrogen (N), pollution. Specifically, this has focused on the effect of phosphorus (P) availability in situations of chronic N pollution and the role of P limitation with regard to influence on plant diversity, soil biology, carbon fluxes and soil carbon storage potential.