Professor David Oliver

Professor

Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Professor David Oliver

Contact details

About me

Professor of Catchment Science.

The use of catchment resources is in ever-increasing demand from a range of stakeholders, often with competing or conflicting agendas. Effective management of pressures on land and water environments around the world is therefore critical to safeguard environmental quality and public health while also delivering opportunities for recreation, food production, energy generation and other key ecosystem services that catchments provide. My research integrates environmental risks and socio-ecological processes across catchment systems from source to sea. I work with both social and natural scientists and end-user & policy communities using interdisciplinary research approaches that span a wide range of fields. My primary research interests can be broadly classified as:

– Fate and transfer dynamics of diffuse pollutants (e.g. nutrients, faecal indicators, pathogens, emerging contaminants) across multiple scales;

– Managing competing demands on soil and water resources in catchments to benefit public health;

– Evidence-based policy for safer, healthier and more resilient bathing water environments;

– Health and wellbeing benefits of green and blue space, in particular the blue-health benefits of freshwater environments;

– Public perception of environmental risks to human health;

– Co-design of models and decision support systems with end-users to visualise risks to water quality at farm-to-landscape scales

For more information please visit: http://dmoliver1.wordpress.com/

Brief Biography 2023: Professor

2017-2023: Associate Professor

2013-2017: Senior Lecturer

2010-2013: Lecturer

2005-2010: PDRA, University of Lancaster

2005: PhD, University of Sheffield in collaboration with Rothamsted Research North Wyke, Physical Geography

2001: BSc, University of Sheffield, Physical Geography

Research InterestsThere are two critical strands of my research portfolio. The first is to further understanding of behavioural traits of pollutants in the soil-water continuum and advance process understanding in environmental and agricultural systems. The second is to use this knowledge to solve real world issues through applied research and knowledge exchange. To maximise the potential of these two research strands I operate within interdisciplinary research teams, with both social and natural scientists and the research and policy communities. My research interests can be defined within the following three key research themes: Environment, Pollution and Human Health: Understanding the fate and transfer of microbial pollutants and emerging pathogens warrants significant attention and is highly topical both within research council agendas and policy arenas. Integrated Catchment Management: Interdisciplinary frameworks that recognise the importance of integrating science and social science, multiple-pollutants and multiple-stakeholders represent an important shift for more rewarding catchment scale studies.Diffuse Pollution Risk Assessment and Modelling: The development of decision support tools and models for different stakeholder and end-users is paramount and offers potential to overlap and complement the previous two research themes.Project webpagesDelivering Healthy Water: Building the science:policy interface to protect bathing water qualityREMOFIO: Reshaping Models to Forecast Faecal Pathogen Risk to Humans ReBALAN:CE - Recycling Biomass to Agricultural LANd: Capitalising on EutrophicationExternal activities Editorial Board Member of the Journal: Environment International Member of the NERC Peer Review College. Member of the British Soil Science Society, British Hydrological Society, Society for General Microbiology, International Water Association and International Commission on Water Quality.

Research projects (18)

Sustainable Plastic Attitudes to benefit Communities and their EnvironmentS
PI: Professor Richard Quilliam
Funded by: Natural Environment Research Council
–

Microbial hitch-hikers of marine plastics: survival, persistence and ecology of microbial communities in the 'Plastisphere'.
PI: Professor Richard Quilliam
Funded by: Natural Environment Research Council
–

MIDST-CZ Maximising Impact by Decision Support Tools for sustainable soil and water through UK-China Critical Zone science
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: Natural Environment Research Council
–

Virtual Inventory Toolbox for Catchment Management
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: Science & Technology Facilities Council
–

The transmissive critical zone: understanding the karst hydrology - biogeochemical interface for sustainable management
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: Natural Environment Research Council
–

Visualising Pathogen & Environmental Risk: transition to a user-ready toolkit (ViPER II)
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: Natural Environment Research Council
–

Integration and Evaluation of LoRa Sensor Technology for a Flood Early Warning System
PI:
Funded by: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
–

Pathogen Risks in Agricultural Catchments: Towards International Collaboration And Learning in Modelling (PRACTICAL Modelling)
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: Natural Environment Research Council
–

Visualising Pathogen & Environmental Risk (ViPER): a KE platform to bridge science and decision-making in catchment microbial dynamics
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: Natural Environment Research Council
–

Re-shaping models for forecast faecal pathogen risk to humans
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: Natural Environment Research Council
–

Call Down Framework Agreement
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: Centre of Expertise for Waters
–

Delivery of Phosphorus and Faecal Indicator Organisms from Agricultural Sources to Watercourses
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: Lancaster University
–

Recycling Biomass to Agricultural LANd: Capitalizing on Eutrophication
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: Natural Environment Research Council
–

Landscape Burden and storm delivery of E. coli from land to water in a headwater catchment
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: Environment Agency
–

Delivering Healthy Water
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: Natural Environment Research Council
–

NEA Lakes Pilot Project
PI: Professor Nigel Willby
Funded by: Environment Agency
–

Diffuse Pollution Management
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: University of St Andrews
–

Catchment modelling strategies for faecal indicator organisms
PI: Professor David Oliver
Funded by: Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs
–

Outputs (100)

Article

Plastic pollution and human pathogens: Towards a conceptual shift in risk management at bathing water and beach environments

Oliver DM, Metcalf R, Jones DL, Matallana-Surget S, Thomas DN, Robins P, Tulloch CL, Cotterell BM, Williams G, Christie-Oleza JA & Quilliam RS (2024) Plastic pollution and human pathogens: Towards a conceptual shift in risk management at bathing water and beach environments. Water Research, 261, Art. No.: 122028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.122028

Article

Self-reported benefits and risks of open water swimming to health, wellbeing and the environment: Cross-sectional evidence from a survey of Scottish swimmers

Oliver DM, McDougall CW, Robertson T, Grant B, Hanley N & Quilliam RS (2023) Self-reported benefits and risks of open water swimming to health, wellbeing and the environment: Cross-sectional evidence from a survey of Scottish swimmers. Meena DK (Editor) PLOS ONE, 18 (8), p. e0290834. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290834

Article

Source availability and hydrological connectivity determined nitrate-discharge relationships during rainfall events in karst catchment as revealed by high-frequency nitrate sensing

Yue F, Li S, Waldron S, Oliver DM, Chen X, Li P, Peng T & Liu C (2023) Source availability and hydrological connectivity determined nitrate-discharge relationships during rainfall events in karst catchment as revealed by high-frequency nitrate sensing. Water Research, 231, Art. No.: 119616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.119616

Article

Is water quality in British rivers "better than at any time since the end of the Industrial Revolution"?

Whelan MJ, Linstead C, Worrall F, Ormerod SJ, Durance I, Johnson AC, Johnson D, Owen M, Wiik E, Howden NJK, Burt TP, Boxall A, Brown CD, Oliver DM & Tickner D (2022) Is water quality in British rivers "better than at any time since the end of the Industrial Revolution"?. Science of The Total Environment, 843, Art. No.: 157014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157014

Article

Sewage-associated plastic waste washed up on beaches can act as a reservoir for faecal bacteria, potential human pathogens, and genes for antimicrobial resistance

Metcalf R, White HL, Moresco V, Ormsby MJ, Oliver DM & Quilliam RS (2022) Sewage-associated plastic waste washed up on beaches can act as a reservoir for faecal bacteria, potential human pathogens, and genes for antimicrobial resistance. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 180, Art. No.: 113766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113766

Article

Spatio-temporal characteristics and determinants of anthropogenic nitrogen and phosphorus inputs in an ecologically fragile karst basin: Environmental responses and management strategies

Xu G, Xiao J, Oliver DM, Yang Z, Xiong K, Zhao Z, Zheng L, Fan H & Zhang F (2021) Spatio-temporal characteristics and determinants of anthropogenic nitrogen and phosphorus inputs in an ecologically fragile karst basin: Environmental responses and management strategies. Ecological Indicators, 133, Art. No.: 108453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108453

Book Chapter

Phytoremediation using Aquatic Plants

Fletcher J, Willby NJ, Oliver DM & Quilliam RS (2020) Phytoremediation using Aquatic Plants. In: Shmaefsky BR (ed.) Phytoremediation – In-Situ Applications. Concepts and Strategies in Plant Sciences. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00099-8_7

Article

Rainfall and conduit drainage combine to accelerate nitrate loss from a karst agroecosystem: insights from stable isotope tracing and high-frequency nitrate sensing

Yue F, Li S, Waldron S, Wang Z, Oliver DM, Chen X & Liu C (2020) Rainfall and conduit drainage combine to accelerate nitrate loss from a karst agroecosystem: insights from stable isotope tracing and high-frequency nitrate sensing. Water Research, 186, Art. No.: 116388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116388

Article

Impact of Freeze-Thaw Cycles on Die-Off of E. coli and Intestinal Enterococci in Deer and Dairy Faeces: Implications for Landscape Contamination of Watercourses

Afolabi EO, Quilliam RS & Oliver DM (2020) Impact of Freeze-Thaw Cycles on Die-Off of E. coli and Intestinal Enterococci in Deer and Dairy Faeces: Implications for Landscape Contamination of Watercourses. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (19), p. 6999. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17196999

Article

Land use interacts with changes in catchment hydrology to generate chronic nitrate pollution in karst waters and strong seasonality in excess nitrate export

Yue F, Waldron S, Li S, Wang Z, Zeng J, Xu S, Zhang Z & Oliver DM (2019) Land use interacts with changes in catchment hydrology to generate chronic nitrate pollution in karst waters and strong seasonality in excess nitrate export. Virgílio Cruz J (Editor) Science of The Total Environment, 696, Art. No.: 134062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134062

Article

How can we improve understanding of faecal indicator dynamics in karst systems under changing climatic, population, and land use stressors? - Research opportunities in SW China

Buckerfield SJ, Waldron S, Quilliam RS, Naylor LA, Li S & Oliver DM (2019) How can we improve understanding of faecal indicator dynamics in karst systems under changing climatic, population, and land use stressors? - Research opportunities in SW China. The Science of the Total Environment, 646, pp. 438-447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.292

Article

Seasonal persistence of faecal indicator organisms in soil following dairy slurry application to land by surface broadcasting and shallow injection

Hodgson CJ, Oliver D, Fish R, Bulmer N, Heathwaite AL, Winter M & Chadwick DR (2016) Seasonal persistence of faecal indicator organisms in soil following dairy slurry application to land by surface broadcasting and shallow injection. Journal of Environmental Management, 183 (1), pp. 325-332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.08.047

Article

Quantitative PCR Profiling of Escherichia coli in Livestock Feces Reveals Increased Population Resilience Relative to Culturable Counts under Temperature Extremes

Oliver D, Bird C, Burd E & Wyman M (2016) Quantitative PCR Profiling of Escherichia coli in Livestock Feces Reveals Increased Population Resilience Relative to Culturable Counts under Temperature Extremes. Environmental Science and Technology, 50 (17), pp. 9497-9505. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b02657

Article

Molecular tools for bathing water assessment in Europe: balancing social science research with a rapidly developing environmental science evidence-base

Oliver D, Hanley N, Van Niekerk M, Kay D, Heathwaite L, Rabinovici S, Kinzelman J, Fleming L, Porter J, Shaikh S, Fish R, Chilton S, Hewitt J, Connolly E & Quilliam R (2016) Molecular tools for bathing water assessment in Europe: balancing social science research with a rapidly developing environmental science evidence-base. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment, 45 (1), pp. 52-62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-015-0698-9

Article

Predicting microbial water quality with models: Over-arching questions for managing risk in agricultural catchments

Oliver D, Porter K, Pachepsky YA, Muirhead RW, Reaney SM, Coffey R, Kay D, Milledge DG, Hong E, Anthony SG, Page T, Bloodworth JW, Mellander P, Carbonneau PE, McGrane SJ & Quilliam R (2016) Predicting microbial water quality with models: Over-arching questions for managing risk in agricultural catchments. Science of the Total Environment, 544, pp. 39-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.086

Article

Employing the citizens' jury technique to elicit reasoned public judgments about environmental risk: Insights from an inquiry into the governance of microbial water pollution

Fish R, Winter M, Oliver D, Chadwick DR, Hodgson CJ & Heathwaite AL (2014) Employing the citizens' jury technique to elicit reasoned public judgments about environmental risk: Insights from an inquiry into the governance of microbial water pollution. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 57 (2), pp. 233-253. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2012.738326

Article

Opportunities and limitations of molecular methods for quantifying microbial compliance parameters in EU bathing waters

Oliver D, Van Niekerk M, Kay D, Heathwaite AL, Porter J, Fleming LE, Kinzelman J, Connolly E, Cummins A, McPhail C, Rahman A, Thairs T, de Roda Husman AM, Hanley N, Dunhill I & Quilliam R (2014) Opportunities and limitations of molecular methods for quantifying microbial compliance parameters in EU bathing waters. Environment International, 64, pp. 124-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2013.12.016

Article

Engaging with the water sector for public health benefits: waterborne pathogens and diseases in developed countries

Bridge J, Oliver D, Chadwick DR, Godfray HCJ, Heathwaite AL, Kay D, Maheswaran R, McGonicle DF, Nicols G, Pickup R, Porter J, Wastling JM & Banwart SA (2010) Engaging with the water sector for public health benefits: waterborne pathogens and diseases in developed countries. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 88 (11), pp. 873-875. http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/88/11/en/index.html; https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.09.072512

Article

Development and testing of a risk indexing framework to determine field-scale critical source areas of faecal bacteria on grassland

Oliver D, Page T, Hodgson CJ, Heathwaite AL, Chadwick DR & Winter M (2010) Development and testing of a risk indexing framework to determine field-scale critical source areas of faecal bacteria on grassland. Environmental Modelling and Software, 25 (4), pp. 503-512. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13648152; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2009.10.003

Book Chapter

Mitigation and current management attempts to limit pathogen survival and movement within farmed grassland

Oliver D, Heathwaite AL, Hodgson CJ & Chadwick DR (2007) Mitigation and current management attempts to limit pathogen survival and movement within farmed grassland. In: Sparks D (ed.) Advances in Agronomy. Advances in Agronomy, 93. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 95-152. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S006521130693003X; https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113%2806%2993003-X

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