Welcoming Dr Natasha Coleman to the Rural Policy Centre Team
This month we welcome Dr Natasha
Coleman who joins the Rural Policy Centre as a Research Assistant. She is an
interdisciplinary Social Scientist with a background in Human Geography and a
strong interest in rural land use change, rural livelihoods/communities, and
the interconnected dynamics between people and nature.
Natasha grew up in an estate
rental cottage on a hill sheep and game sporting estate in the uplands of
Lancashire - an experience that deeply shaped her perspectives on rural
livelihoods, working landscapes, and the everyday realities of land use. That grounding
continues to inform both her personal and professional approach.
Her work to date has explored how
rural communities and land managers are responding to environmental, social,
and policy changes – from climate resilience in woodlands to the complexities
of wildlife management. She primarily draws on qualitative methods, including
interviews, workshops, and ethnographic fieldwork, but also has experience in
leading mixed-methods research involving large-scale surveys and secondary data
analysis. She brings a creative, reflective approach to her work and is
committed to supporting inclusive, sustainable futures for rural people and
places.
Before joining SRUC, Natasha
worked as a Social Scientist within the Society and Environment Research Group
(SERG) at Forest Research. There, she co-led several UK-wide interdisciplinary
projects, including research on biosecurity behaviours, climate adaptation in
forestry, and collaborative approaches to species management.
In 2023, Natasha completed a PhD in Human Geography and Rural Studies at Swansea University via an ESRC Welsh Doctoral Training Partnership. Her doctoral research examined rural land use change through the lens of game management, combining case studies with a national stakeholder survey to explore how land, policy, and identity are evolving across England and Wales.