Professor Tim Acott BSc, PhD

Professor in Human Geography

Tim is a Professor in Human Geography exploring inter- and transdisciplinary approaches for understanding sense of place, cultural values and environmental management. He has particular interest in understanding arts-based approaches in relation to diverse values and land / seascapes. He joined the University of Greenwich in 1993 after completing a PhD at the University of Stirling. He has had numerous roles during his time at the University including Programme Leader for BSc Environmental Science, BA/BSc Geography, Director of Learning and Quality (NRI) and Director of the Greenwich Maritime Centre. Tim has enjoyed teaching a wide range of environmental social science related subjects during his career including Sustainable Development, Environmental Ethics, Cultural Geography and Environmental Sociology. He currently works part time with a focus on research in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Since 2009 he has worked on research projects with a total award value in excess of £8M, this includes leading projects with an award value over £6M. Tim has led and collaborated on UKRI projects, with funding from NERC, AHRC and ESRC as well as INTERREG and various consultancy projects. Tim was Chair of the RGS Coastal and Marine Research Group from 2016-2019 and is a member of the Defra Advisory Group for ‘Marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services Assessment’. Tim is Co-Chair and a founder member of the international Marine Social Science Network.

Social work and social policy

Responsibilities within the university

Part Time Research Professor (2023 -)
Director of Greenwich Maritime Centre (2015-2020)
Director of Learning and Quality (NRI) (2002-2003)
Programme Leader BSc Environmental Science, BA/BSc Geography (2006-2012)

Recognition
  • Member Defra Advisory Group for ‘Marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment’ since 2021.
  • Chair Coastal/Marine Research group, RGS, 2016-2019
  • 2018 - present, Co-Chair/founder member international Marine Social Science Network

Research / Scholarly interests

Dr Acott's research interests can be broadly grouped under the heading 'environmental geography'. He is interested in the myriad and diverse entanglements of people and nature as seen through an interdisciplinary perspective and is happy to cross the borders of science, social science and art in order to bring new perspectives to contemporary issues with sustainability as a central element. Specific research interests include: sense of place (particularly linked to art and photography), cultural ecosystem services, diverse values, co-constructionism and social wellbeing applied to resource management issues including wetlands, coasts and small-scale fisheries.

Since 2009 funded projects include:

2021 – 2024: Co-Leader for a UKRI funded project ’ “Integrating diverse values into the sustainable management of marine resources in the UK”, (ESRC and NERC), particular focus on diverse values and arts based research, Total award £1.8M funded through the SMMR program.

2020 – 2022: Co-I for AHRC funded project called ALERT 4 DM - Art and Artists in Landscape and Environment Research Today for Decision Making, Total project value £100,000.

2021: Research Consultant for Natural England: Nature Visuals Social Research, Jan – April 2021. Interviews, expert opinion and report on the use of photography to represent nature in publications.

2018 - 2019: Co-I for Natural England / Defra funded project called “Living Coast: Understanding Local Community Perspectives and Values on the English Coast Path”. Marine Conservation Society are leading the project with UoG as a sub-contractor. Total project value £61,441 (UoG £26,274.98).

2016 - 2019: Principal Investigator for a joint UK Research Council (AHRC / ESRC / NERC) funded project titled, Taking the bite out of wetlands: Managing Mosquitoes and the socio-ecological value of wetlands for wellbeing. Total value of award £1.3M. Co-investigators and consultants include University of Bristol, Cranfield University, University of Brighton, Forest Research, Public Health England.

2015: Principal Investigator for Interreg IVa cluster funding to support a project titled: ‘Tourism for Inshore Fishing, Food and Sustainability’ (TOURFISH). Value €541,672.

2012 - 2014: Principal Investigator for an Interreg IVa 2 Seas funded project called the ‘Geography of Inshore Fishing and Sustainability (GIFS). Total project budget €4,600,306.

2009 - 2012: Principal Investigator for the University of Greenwich element of a European INTERREG 4a funded collaborative project, CHARM III (Channel Habitat Atlas for Resource Management), investigating the contribution of marine fishing to sense of place and identity in coastal communities on both sides of the English Channel (value €935,171).

Recent publications

Article

Fairbrass, A.J. , Fradera, K., Greenhil, L., Acott, T. , Ekins, P. (2025), Revealing gaps in marine evidence with a natural capital lens. The Royal Society. In: , , , . The Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions B, 380: 20230214 (1917) ISSN: 0962-8436 (Print), 1471-2970 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2023.0214).

Acott, Timothy and , (2024), Wetland photography, encounters and values. Taylor and Francis Group Routledge. In: , , , . Taylor and Francis Group Routledge, Landscape Research . pp. 1-16 ISSN: 0142-6397 (Print), 1469-9710 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2024.2399660).

Medlock, J.M. , Hawkes, Frances, Cheke, Robert, Gibson, Gabriella , Abbott, Anthony , Cull, B. , Gandy, S. , Hardy, Harrison , Acott, Timothy , Vaux, A.G.C. (2024), Mosquito diversity and abundance in English wetlands – empirical evidence to guide predictions for wetland suitability for mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). Koninklijke Brill BV - Brill Academic Publishers. In: , , , . Koninklijke Brill BV - Brill Academic Publishers, Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association . pp. 1-27 2054-930X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.52004/2054930X-20231002).

Jay, Stephen and , Acott, Timothy (2023), Tussling with seascape character assessment and assemblage theories. Taylor and Francis Group - Routledge. In: , , , . Taylor and Francis Group - Routledge, Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 25 (6) . pp. 676-689 ISSN: 1523-908X (Print), 1522-7200 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2023.2251905).

Acott, Timothy G. , Willis, Cheryl, Ranger, Sue, Cumming, Gabriel , Richardson, Peter , O'Neil, Rose , Ford, Adriana (2022), Coastal transformations and connections: revealing values through the community voice method. Wiley Open Access. In: , , , . Wiley Open Access, People and Nature, 5 (2) . pp. 403-414 2575-8314 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10371).

McKinely, Emma , Acott, Tim, Yates, Katherine L. (2020), Marine social sciences: Looking towards a sustainable future. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Environmental Science and Policy, 108 . pp. 85-92 ISSN: 1462-9011 (Print), 1873-6416 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.03.015).

Book section

Ford, Adriana , Gearey, Mary, Acott, Timothy (2021), Living with mosquitoes in disease-free contexts: attitudes and perceptions of risk in English wetlands. Routledge. In: , , In: Marcus Hall, Dan Tamïr (eds.), Mosquitopia: The Place of Pests in a Healthy World. Routledge, Oxon (1st) . pp. 123-143 . ISBN: 9781003056034 (doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003056034-9).

McKinely, Emma , Acott, Tim, Stojanovic, Tim (2019), Socio-cultural dimensions of marine spatial planning. Palgrave Macmillan. In: , , In: Jacek Zaucha, Kira Gee (eds.), Maritime Spatial Planning. Palgrave Macmillan, . pp. 151-174 . ISBN: 9783319986951 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98696-8_7).

Acott, Tim G. and , Urquhart, Julie (2017), Co-constructing cultural ecosystem services and wellbeing through a place-based approach. Springer. In: , , In: Derek S. Johnson, Tim G. Acott, Natasha Stacey, Julie Urquhart (eds.), Social Wellbeing and the Value of Small-scale Fisheries. Springer, Cham, Switzerland , 17 . pp. 23-43 . ISBN: 9783319607504 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60750-4_2).

Edited book

Johnson, Derek S. , Acott, Tim G., Stacey, Natasha, Urquhart, Julie (2017), Social Wellbeing and the Values of Small-scale Fisheries. Springer. In: , , In: Derek S. Johnson, Tim G. Acott, Natasha Stacey, Julie Urquhart (eds.), . Springer, , 17 . ISBN: 9783319607498ISSN: 2212-6260 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60750-4) NB Item availability restricted.

Monograph

Saratsi, Eirini , Acott, Timothy, Allinson, Ewan, Edwards, David , Fremantle, Chris , Fish, Robert (2019), Valuing Arts and Arts Research. Valuing Nature Paper VNP22. In: , , , . Valuing Nature Paper VNP22, (doi: https://valuing-nature.net/valuing-arts-and-arts-research).

Acott, Timothy , Cumming, G, Ford, A, Ranger, S , Richardson, P (2019), Living Coast: Understanding Local Perspectives and Values of the Coast using Community Voice Method in Portsmouth and on the Durham Heritage Coast. Natural England. In: , , , . Natural England, (doi: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/4934605948059648).

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