Zoe Brown

Ecologist / Environmental Scientist

Hello! My name is Zoe Brown, and I’m an ecologist—which means I study ecosystems (an ecosystem is like nature’s community where—plants, animals, and even the sun—has an important job). I’m working on my PhD at the University of Oxford, studying how we can use and work with nature to help small islands adapt to climate change.

My story

I was born and raised on Grand Bahama Island in The Bahamas. My dad is from Leicester, UK, and moved to The Bahamas in the 1980s, where he met my mom and never left! When I was 10, my parents opened a frozen yogurt shop, so I spent much of my childhood helping out and enjoying tasty treats.

I’ve always been fascinated by animals and nature. When I was younger, you could find me climbing trees, swimming in the ocean, or caring for my many pets—dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, turtles, and fish! Once, when I was five, I scared my parents by catching a snake in the backyard and trying to bring it inside! If I wasn’t outside exploring, I was lost in a book—I loved to read and write, and I still do.

At school, I enjoyed studying science subjects like biology, chemistry, and geography. I also loved English literature. When I turned 18, I moved to Canada to study Biology with a focus on Ecology and Conservation (more on this later). I also took fun courses in fantasy fiction, including classes about Harry Potter and The Hobbit. As part of my studies, I had the opportunity to live in Norway for a year to attend the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. It was cold but beautiful!

After graduating, I returned to The Bahamas to work at a research institute on a different island to where I grew up. There, I worked on several different research projects related to climate change, fisheries, and ecological restoration:

• For the climate change project, I interviewed people in The Bahamas to learn what they know about climate change and how it has been affecting their lives. This is important because small island countries like The Bahamas are at risk from problems caused by climate change (more on this later).
• For the project on fisheries, which are places where people catch fish and seafood, I explored how local communities rely on fisheries to get food during tough times, like after hurricanes or during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• For the ecological restoration project, which is about helping nature recover from damage, I helped create a plan to restore a forest that used to be a garbage dump by cleaning up trash and planting trees to bring the area back to life.

This work inspired me to learn more about using science to help people on islands affected by climate change, and I realised how much I loved spending time in the ocean and in nature.

I then applied for a Master’s in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Management at the University of Oxford, and moved to the UK. As part of my Master’s research, I traveled to Nigeria in Africa to study how farmers can plant more trees on their farms, helping crops survive hot weather caused by climate change, while also protecting forests. Even though my current research focuses on islands, I care about protecting nature in all its forms — from farms and forests to coasts and seas.

My research

Imagine living on a beautiful tropical island surrounded by the sea – like the one I grew up on. Small island countries, like The Bahamas, Fiji, and the Maldives, are incredible places with rich cultures and breathtaking nature. But these islands are also some of the first to feel the effects of climate change. Because islands are so close to the ocean, they face big challenges from rising sea levels, stronger storms, hotter waters, and more acidic oceans (ocean acidification happens when the ocean absorbs too much carbon dioxide from the air. This can make it harder for sea creatures like corals and shellfish to live and grow, because the materials they use to build their shells dissolves in the acidity). All of these climate-related problems make it harder for people and nature to survive on islands, especially since island people rely on the sea for food, jobs, and protection.

So, what can we do? One solution is to work with nature instead of against it. Nature-based Solutions are all about protecting and restoring natural places like mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds. These coastal ecosystems (or communities of animal and plants living together) protect coastlines from storms, provide homes for fish, and help people stay safe and fed. By keeping these ecosystems healthy, islands can better face the challenges of climate change. And the best part? These solutions don’t just help humans; they help wildlife too, making the world a better place for everyone.

My research focuses on finding the best ways to use Nature-based Solutions. In my work, I do a lot of reading to learn about the impacts of climate change and different ways people are solving climate problems. I also travel to islands to talk to people working on Nature-based Solution projects to find out what’s working and what isn’t. Sometimes, I monitor ecosystems to check if our efforts to protect them are successful – this can look like measuring tree growth using a measuring tape or by flying drones to take pictures of the ecosystems to observe how they are changing over time. I also go to events and conferences to speak about the importance of my research.

When I’m not working, I love reading, writing and performing poetry—I’m even putting together my first poetry book! I also enjoy playing squash, practicing yoga, and going for long walks in nature.