Chair of Science, Policy and Society Committee
Professor Darren Evans is Professor of Ecology and Conservation and Director of Expertise – Ecosystems at Newcastle University. His research focuses on understanding and reversing biodiversity loss through the development and application of network science, with particular expertise in plant–animal interactions, pollination ecology and insect conservation.
Darren has pioneered innovative approaches to studying ecological networks, including the use of nested-tagging DNA metabarcoding to investigate plant–insect and host–parasitoid interactions. His work has helped reveal the impacts of environmental pressures on biodiversity, including demonstrating links between artificial light at night and insect declines. Increasingly, his research operates at the interface of science, policy and practice, supporting nature recovery, sustainable agriculture and evidence-based conservation strategies.
Alongside his research, Darren has extensive experience in scientific leadership, governance and policy engagement. He serves on Defra’s Biodiversity Expert Committee, Forest Research’s Expert Committee on Forest Science and NERC’s Peer Review College, and is Senior Editor of the Journal of Animal Ecology. He has also served as Deputy Chair of the British Ecological Society’s Policy Committee, helping to translate ecological research into policy and public benefit.
As Chair of the Royal Entomological Society’s Science, Policy and Society Committee, Darren is committed to strengthening connections between research, policy and public engagement, helping to advance understanding, appreciation and conservation of insects.
