My profile

Biography

Expert reviewer for external funding bodies

Landscape and urban planning (Elsevier)
Urban forestry and urban greening (Elsevier)
Urban ecosystems (Springer)

Consultancy and advisory roles

National Trust (2015) Statement of Significance for Manchester City Centre: integrating the natural, social, economic and historic heritage.

Community, charity and NGO links

City of Trees
The Mersey Forest
Hulme Community Gardens

Government and industry links

Manchester City Council
Salford City Council

Other distinctions

Chairman, MMU Biodiversity Management Group:
Leading the biodiversity aspect of the university’s environmental management system (ISO14001: 2015/ Eco Campus Platinum accredited)

Member of scientific programme committees for the:
3rd World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities (WSSD-U-2016)
6th World Conference on Ecological Restoration, Society for Ecological Restoration 2015 (SER 2015)
2nd World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities (WSSD-U-2014)

Visiting and honorary positions

Visiting Research Fellow, The University of Manchester
Visiting Research Fellow, University of Salford

Editorial Board membership

Editor, urban restoration theme of the 6th World Conference on Ecological Restoration, Society for Ecological Restoration 2015 (SER 2015)

Membership of professional associations

Fellow, Higher Education Academy (UK)
Chartered scientist (CSci), Council of Sciences (UK)
Member (MIEnvSci), Institution of Environmental Sciences (UK)

Teaching

Why do I teach?

I teach because I enjoy sharing knowledge.
At both undergraduate and postgraduate levels I teach Sustainable Development, Urban ecology, Ecosystem services, Urbanisation, and Research methods. 

How I’ll teach you

Explain topics in lectures
Practice critical analysis tools in seminars
Apply methods and procedures during field work
Discuss personal, pastoral and professional development during tutorials
Guide and coach through project development during supervision

Why study…

The topics that I teach integrate social and physical science perspectives, methods and approaches. These topics allow students to understand the inextricable, complex and dynamic links between social and ecological systems. Understanding how socio-ecological systems work is a key skill in solving complex environmental problems. 

Postgraduate teaching

Policy for sustainable development (Unit coordinator)
Science for sustainable development
Research methods
Education for sustainable development (Unit coordinator)

Subject areas

Sustainable Development | Urban ecology | Ecosystem services | Urbanisation | Research methods

Supervision

PhD the role of green spaces in primary education (Director of studies, in progress)
PhD education for sustainable development in higher education (Director of studies, in progress)
PhD using lichens as bio monitors of urban air pollution (Co-supervisor, in progress)

Research outputs

My research expertise is in urban ecology and green infrastructure planning. I combine ecological and social survey methods to study benefits provided by urban green infrastructure. I am particularly interested in measuring the benefits provide by green infrastructure to human health and well-being, to urban regeneration and to nature conservation.

  • Chapters in books

    Cavan, G., Baker, F., Tzoulas, K., Smith, C.L. (2022) 'Manchester : the role of urban domestic gardens in climate adaptation and resilience.' In Ren, C., McGregor, G. (ed.) Urban Climate Science for Planning Healthy Cities. Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 99-118.

    Cavan, G., Baker, F., Tzoulas, K., Smith, C.L. (2021) 'Correction to: Manchester: The Role of Urban Domestic Gardens in Climate Adaptation and Resilience.' Biometeorology.

    James, P., Tzoulas, K., Dennis, M. (2020) 'Nature's contribution to health and wellbeing in the city.' Designing Future Cities for Wellbeing. pp. 54-70.

    Tinker, H., Tzoulas, K. (2014) 'The benefits and challenges of developing and implementing an environmental management system using a participatory approach: a case study of Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.' In Leal Filho, W., Azeiteiro, U.M., Caeiro, S., Alves, F. (ed.) Integrating sustainability thinking in science and engineering curricula: innovative approaches, methods and tools. Cham: Springer, pp. 425-438.

    Tzoulas, K., James, P., Price, E., Wheater, P. (2014) 'What are the European legal duties to conserve biodiversity in university campuses?.' In Leal Filho, W., Azeiteiro, U.M., Caeiro, S., Alves, F. (ed.) Integrating sustainability thinking in science and engineering curricula: innovative approaches, methods and tools. Cham: Springer, pp. 413-424.

    Tzoulas, K., Greening, K. (2011) 'Urban ecology and human health.' In Niemela, J. (ed.) Urban ecology: patterns, processes and applications. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 263-271.

  • Journal articles

    Niepsch, D., Clarke, L.J., Jones, R.G., Tzoulas, K., Cavan, G. (2024) 'Lichen biomonitoring to assess spatial variability, potential sources and human health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and airborne metal concentrations in Manchester (UK).' Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 196(4)

    Niepsch, D., Clarke, L.J., Newton, J., Tzoulas, K., Cavan, G. (2023) 'High spatial resolution assessment of air quality in urban centres using lichen carbon, nitrogen and sulfur contents and stable-isotope-ratio signatures.' Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(20) pp. 58731-58754.

    Dennis, M., Barker, A., Anderson, J., Ashton, J.C., Cavan, G., Cook, P.A., French, D., Gilchrist, A., James, P., Phillipson, C., Tzoulas, K., Wheater, C.P., Wossink, A., Lindley, S. (2022) 'Integrating knowledge on green infrastructure, health and well-being in ageing populations: principles for research and practice.' Ambio, 52(1) pp. 107-125.

    Niepsch, D., Clarke, L.J., Tzoulas, K., Cavan, G. (2021) 'Distinguishing atmospheric nitrogen compounds (nitrate and ammonium) in lichen biomonitoring studies.' Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 23(12) pp. 2021-2036.

    Niepsch, D., Clarke, L.J., Tzoulas, K., Cavan, G. (2021) 'Spatiotemporal variability of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution in Manchester (UK) city centre (2017-2018) using a fine spatial scale single-NOx diffusion tube network.' Environmental Geochemistry and Health: official journal of the Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 44(11) pp. 3907-3927.

    Tzoulas, K., Galan, J., Venn, S., Dennis, M., Pedroli, B., Mishra, H., Haase, D., Pauleit, S., Niemelä, J., James, P. (2020) 'A conceptual model of the social–ecological system of nature-based solutions in urban environments.' Ambio, 50(2) pp. 335-345.

    Vargas, V.R., Lawthom, R., Prowse, A., Randles, S., Tzoulas, K. (2019) 'Implications of vertical policy integration for sustainable development implementation in higher education institutions.' Journal of Cleaner Production, 235

    Vargas, V., Lawthom, R., Prowse, A., Randles, S., Tzoulas, K. (2018) 'Sustainable development stakeholder networks for organisational change in Higher Education Institutions: a case study from the UK.' Journal of Cleaner Production, 208pp. 470-478.

    Dennis, M., Barlow, D., Cavan, G., Cook, P., Gilchrist, A., Handley, J., James, P., Thompson, J., Konstantinos, T., Wheater, C., Lindley, S. (2018) 'Mapping Urban Green Infrastructure: A Novel Landscape-Based Approach to Incorporating Land Use and Land Cover in the Mapping of Human-Dominated Systems.' Land, 7(1)

    Tzoulas, K., James, P. (2010) 'Making biodiversity measures accessible to non-specialists: An innovative method for rapid assessment of urban biodiversity.' Urban Ecosystems, 13(1) pp. 113-127.

    Tzoulas, K., James, P. (2010) 'Peoples' use of, and concerns about, green space networks: A case study of Birchwood, Warrington New Town, UK.' Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 9(2) pp. 121-128.

    James, P., Tzoulas, K., Adams, M.D., Barber, A., Box, J., Breuste, J., Elmqvist, T., Frith, M., Gordon, C., Greening, K.L., Handley, J., Haworth, S., Kazmierczak, A.E., Johnston, M., Korpela, K., Moretti, M., Niemelä, J., Pauleit, S., Roe, M.H., Sadler, J.P., Ward Thompson, C. (2009) 'Towards an integrated understanding of green space in the European built environment.' Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 8(2) pp. 65-75.

    Tzoulas, K., Korpela, K., Venn, S., Yli-Pelkonen, V., Kaźmierczak, A., Niemela, J., James, P. (2007) 'Promoting ecosystem and human health in urban areas using Green Infrastructure: A literature review.' Landscape and Urban Planning, 81(3) pp. 167-178.

  • Conference papers

    Cavan, G., Fletcher, C., Baker, F., Tzoulas, K., Smith, C. (2019) 'Co-production of knowledge on urban gardens to aid urban planning and encourage citizens to implement local scale adaptation solutions.' In European Conference on Climate Change Adaptation. Lisbon, 28/5/2019 - 31/5/2019.

    Tzoulas, K., James, P. (2017) 'Measuring composite ecosystem services potential at the neighbourhood scale.' In Green Infrastructure: Nature based solutions for sustainable and resilient cities. Orvieto, Italy, 4/4/2017 - 7/4/2017.

    Tzoulas, K. (2015) 'Bridging the humanities disciplines with urban ecology and temporal well being.' In Well being Beyond GDP. Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK, 4/11/2015 - 4/11/2015.

    Tzoulas, K. (2015) 'Integrating urban to rural and local to global: ecosystem restoration through green infrastructure.' In World Conference on Ecological Restoration, Society for Ecological Restoration 2015. Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK, 23/8/2015 - 27/8/2015.

    Tzoulas, K., James, P., Price, E., Wheater, P. (2014) 'What Are the European Legal Duties to Conserve Biodiversity in University Campuses?.' In World Symposium on Sustainable Development in Universities (WSSD-U 2014). Manchester Metropolitan University, 3/9/2014 - 5/9/2014.

    Tinker, H., Tzoulas, K. (2014) 'The Benefits and Challenges of Developing and Implementing an Environmental Management System Using a Participatory Approach: A Case Study of Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.' In World Symposium on Sustainable Development in Universities (WSSD-U 2014). Manchester Metropolitan University, 3/9/2014 - 5/9/2014.

    Tzoulas, K. (2012) 'Biodiversity conservation in public health or public health in biodiversity conservation? The diffusion of research evidence..' In British Ecological Society Annual Meeting. Birmingham, UK, 17/12/2012 - 20/12/2012. pp. 22-22.

    Tzoulas, K., James, P. (2009) 'Linking Social and Human Systems to Promote Safe, Secure and Cohesive Communities in Urban Areas: An Integrative Conceptual Framework.' In International Conference on Human Ecology. Manchester, UK, 29/6/2009 - 3/7/2009.

    Tzoulas, K. (2009) 'Cultural activities and urban green space: linking people, communities and the natural environment.' In Seminar for the Ore Valley Green Space Cultural Programme. Hastings, UK, 22/10/2009 - 22/10/2009.

    Tzoulas, K. (2008) 'Biodiversity, Development and Health in Higher Education Programmes: Current Provision and Future Potential.' In 2nd Conference on Health & Biodiversity, COHAB 2008. Galway, Ireland, 25/2/2008 - 28/2/2008.

    Tzoulas, K., Olson, S., Truckner, B., Banks, C. (2008) 'A survey of expectations, educational goals, and research activity of EcoHealth students.' In International EcoHealth Forum. Merida, Mexico, 5/12/2008 - 8/12/2008.

    Tzoulas, K. (2006) 'Introduction on Multifunctional Landscapes.' In Post Modern Landscape Ecology: multifunctional landscapes. University of Salford, 30/5/2006 - 30/5/2006.

    Tzoulas, K., James, P. (2005) 'Biodiversity and human health and well-being: an integrative case study.' In 1st Conference on Health & Biodiversity, COHAB 2005. Galway, Ireland, 23/8/2005 - 25/8/2005. pp. 84-84.

    Tzoulas, K., James, P. (2005) 'Surrogate measures for urban biodiversity and human health and well-being.' In 5th International Postgraduate Research Conference in the Built and Human Environment. 2. The Lowry Centre, Salford,, 14/4/2005 - 15/4/2005. pp. 826-836.

    Tzoulas, K., James, P. (2004) 'Finding links between urban biodiversity and human health and well- being.' In 4th International Postgraduate Research Conference in the Built and Human Environment. 1. University of Salford, 1/4/2004 - 2/4/2004. pp. 208-218.

    Tzoulas, K., James, P. (2003) 'Finding the links between biodiversity in urban green space and human well-being.' In British Ecological Society Annual Meeting. Manchester Metropolitan University, 9/9/2003 - 11/9/2003. pp. 18-18.

  • Posters

    matthews, H., Vargas, V.R., tzoulas, , dunk, (2017) 'Embedding Education for Sustainable Development in the curriculum: an example from Manchester Metropolitan University.' [Poster] In 23rd International Sustainable Development Research Society Conference. Date viewed 14/6/2017.

Press and media

Media appearances or involvement

Human wellbeing can strengthen case for conservation, By Mark Kinver, Environment reporter, BBC News, 19 December 2012