Simon Black
Research Associate
Director of DICE EARTH Centre |
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E-mail: S.Black
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CV
| 2008 - |
Researcher, DICE |
| 2007 - 08 |
MSc Conservation Biology, DICE, University of Kent |
| 2002 - 07 |
Education and Faculty Management, Business and IT (UK) |
| 2000 - 02 |
Human Resources and Management Development (UK, Europe, USA) |
| 1994 - 00 |
Organisation Development and Quality Improvement (UK, Europe) |
| 1990 - 93 |
PhD, European Centre for Total Quality Management, University of Bradford, UK |
| 1986 - 90 |
BSc Food Technology: microbiology, food science, engineering and management |
Research Interests
My interests include the genetics of small populations and its effects on survival, diversity and disease resistance and the resulting impacts on management strategies for conserving and sustaining populations. I am also interested in the interfaces between science, field research and project management and how conservation management can be improved and sustained.
Conservation genetics
Current work focuses on genetic diversity at MHC genes in birds, with a focus on the endangered bird populations in Mauritius. I am also examining how MHC diversity in endangered island species, which have experienced population bottlenecks in their recent history, compares with more robust species. I have recently examined the conservation genetics of Moroccan Royal lions, the captive population thought to be descended from the now extinct North African lion (Panthera leo leo). The work has reviewed the status of these animals and has established a draft studbook for use by zoos involved in maintaining the bloodline.
Ecosystems
I maintain an interest in the interaction of ecosystems with human land use and the restoration of ecosystems for both human and wildlife benefit. I have a personal interest in the Mediterranean biome, particularly North Africa, as the region was a focus of my MSc research.
Management Research
I have maintained an interest in management effectiveness, improvement and learning over the past fifteen years as a manager, consultant, researcher and educator. I have developed teaching and learning materials for corporate, university degree and school programmes. My published research papers span leadership, business improvement and management development. I have recently examined how management assessment frameworks can be used to improve the effectiveness of conservation programmes.
Selected publications (click here for a full list)
Black SA and JJ Groombridge (2010) How conservation biologists might learn from Business Excellence. Conservation Biology (in press).
Black, S, Yamaguchi, N, Harland A and Groombridge J (2009) Maintaining the genetic health of putative Barbary lions in captivity: an analysis of Moroccan Royal Lions, European Journal of Wildlife Research, DOI: 10.1007/s10344-009-0280-5
Black S.A. and Porter L.J. (1996) Identification of the Critical Factors of TQM, Decision Sciences, 27, 1, 1-21
Black S.A. (1996) Driving commitment to business excellence through self-assessment, Total Quality Management in Action, (ed. G.K. Kanji), London, Chapman & Hall, 153 - 156
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