Murat Okumah
- Email: ee15sa@leeds.ac.uk
- Thesis title: MITIGATING DIFFUSE WATER POLLUTION FROM AGRICULTURE: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH USING BEHAVIOURAL AND CATCHMENT SCIENCE
- Supervisors: Professor Julia Martin-Ortega, Professor Pippa Chapman, Dr Paula Novo (https://www.sruc.ac.uk/pnovo)
Profile
I am a PhD Researcher at the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI), School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds. I take an interdisciplinary approach to my research, using behavioural and catchment science to explore whether/how psychosocial factors (such as awareness, attitudes, norms) influence behaviour regarding diffuse pollution mitigation within the farm environment and how these interact with biophysical factors (such as soil and hydrological characteristics of catchments) to affect water quality. I am also interested in exploring how to reduce diffuse pollution from agriculture, improve water quality and more broadly, how policy best responds to environmental impacts of agricultural land use.
My interest in and motivation for this doctoral research and environment-development issues in general was derived from my undergraduate studies (BSc. Development Planning), graduate studies (MSc. Environment and Development) and experiences; intern at the Global Environment Facility – United Nations Development Programme, Teaching and Research Assistant at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Leeds. I have acquired a considerable amount of experience, skills and interest in policy-facing and end-user focused research with particular interest in ecosystems, water resources, rural livelihoods and development planning. I am a postgraduate research member of the water@leeds Doctoral Research and Training Centre, one of the largest interdisciplinary centres for water research in any university in the world, encompassing expertise from across the physical, biological, chemical, social and economic sciences and engineering as well as the arts.
Research interests
1. Agri-environment Schemes
2. Pro-environmental Behaviour
3. Diffuse Pollution and Water Quality
4. Development Planning and Policy
5. Sustainability Indicators
6. Ecosystem Services
Qualifications
- MSc Environment and Development
- BSc Development Planning
Research groups and institutes
- Sustainability Research Institute
- River Basin Processes and Management
- water@leeds
- Economics and Policy for Sustainability