Dr Martin Watts

School of Geography and Planning

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Martin Watts profile pic
Profile picture of Martin Watts profile pic
m.a.watts@sheffield.ac.uk

Full contact details

Dr Martin Watts
School of Geography and Planning
Geography and Planning Building
Winter Street
ºù«Ӱҵ
S3 7ND
Profile

Martin joined the Department of Geography as a postdoctoral researcher in July 2023, working on the Indian Food Systems for Improved Nutrition (INFUSION) project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). Martin’s interdisciplinary research cuts across the themes of agricultural systems, climate resilience, and nutrition and well-being outcomes in low-mid-income countries. Prior to joining the INFUSION project, Martin worked on the UKRI GCRF Trade, Development and Environment (TRADE) Hub project, focusing on the social impacts of coffee production and trade. Martin undertook his PhD in Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Southampton, where he used a socio-ecological systems approach to study the potential social and ecological impacts of climate change on tropical agroforestry systems in Tanzania. Martin holds two master’s degrees  - 1) an MSc in Environmental Change and International Development from the University of ºù«Ӱҵ, 2) an MSc in Social Research Methods from the University of Southampton – and a BSc in Physical Geography from the University of Hull.

Research interests

Martin’s research interests are focused on assessing and improving the climate resilience of agricultural and food systems, and how this can lead to different well-being outcomes, using mixed methods approaches in low-mid-income countries. From his interdisciplinary background and experience, Martin is also interested in the environmental aspects of food and agricultural systems, including their ecological interactions and ecosystem services, and how these environmental aspects interact with humans’ social systems (socio-ecological systems). Martin enjoys using qualitative participatory appraisal methods, in conjunction with more advanced statistical analysis techniques, to tackle complex research problems holistically.

Publications

Journal articles

  • Watts M, Hutton C, Paul A, Suckall N & Peh KS-H (2024) . Journal of Rural Studies, 110, 103346-103346. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watts M, Mpanda M, Hemp A & Peh KS-H (2023) . Science of The Total Environment, 865, 161263-161263. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watts M, Hutton C, Mata Guel EO, Suckall N & Peh KS-H (2022) . Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 5. RIS download Bibtex download

Reports

  • Watts M, Dreoni I, Schaafsma M & Mathews Z (2021) The Social Impacts of Coffee Trade: A Systematic Review RIS download Bibtex download
Teaching interests

Martin is interested in teaching around themes of mixed methods research, climate resilience in international development and food systems, and environmental sustainability.

Teaching activities
  • GEO6805 MSc International Developments Dissertation Supervision.
  • GEO6302 Theory and Debates in Food Security and Food Justice.
  • GEO284 Research, Skills, and Ethics for Global Sustainable Development.
  • GEO127 Sustainability in Practice.