Researcher Spotlight - Louise Gathercole

This #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience Action Oak is proud to support the #WomenInScience, who carry out the critical research needed to protect the UK's native oak trees. 

One of the Action Oak-supported researchers, Louise Gathercole, is completing her PhD with RBG Kew and Queen Mary University London. At the end of 2021, she published a paper looking at the genetic evidence for Acute Oak Decline bacteria on the leaves of Oak trees and is now working on the genomics of environmental adaptation in British oaks, and future climate risks. Louise is a career changer who moved into scientific research after taking a career break to raise a family. She is now working as the Coordinator for the Centre for Forest Protection (CFP), a collaboration between RBG Kew and Forest Research. The mission of CFP is closely aligned with Action Oak's and is focused on the future health and resilience of the UK's woodlands. In June 2024, Louise will present her Oak PhD research at the IUFRO World Congress.