Dr Mark Taggart
Environmental Research Institute
Castle St
Thurso
KW14 7JD
Available to talk to the media about
Ecotoxicology, analytical chemistry, pollution, environmental chemistry
In these languages
EnglishBiography
Dr Taggart joined the Environmental Research Institute as a Research Fellow in 2011 and is currently a Senior Research Fellow and group leader for ‘Environmental Contamination and Ecological Health’. Prior to the Environmental Research Institute, he spent four years in Spain, at the University of Castilla-la Mancha, where he held a “Juan de la Cierva” Research Fellowship. Before this, he spent seven years at the University of Aberdeen undertaking his PhD (in arsenic biogeochemistry) and subsequently a post-doctoral teaching and research fellowship. Dr Taggart has around 30 years’ experience in the environmental sector and has worked in academia, but also in industry (in power generation/flue gas desulphurisation) and in regulation (for the UK Environment Agency). He holds a broad range of interdisciplinary research interests which are founded on a background in earth science, soil science and biogeochemistry. Current research tends towards ecotoxicology and the fate, behaviour and effects of pollutants and toxins within the environment.
Current research
Phos4YOU - EU Interreg NW Europe project - 2016-2021 - seeking to create more circular and sustainable phosphorous use and recycling processes with the EU - https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/phos4you-phosphorus-recovery-from-waste-water-for-your-life/
SHOTSWITCH - With the University of Cambridge - 2020-2025 - aims to monitor the transition to non-lead gunshot use in the UK over coming years - https://eri.ac.uk/research/major-projects/shot-switch/
SAVE - "Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction" with the RSPB - ongoing since 2004 - https://save-vultures.org/
Research groups and interests
Fate, behaviour and toxicity of pollutants in the environment - especially in relation to metals and pharmaceuticals - Wildlife forensics - Ecotoxicology - especially in relation to birds and mammals - Water quality and wastewater treatment - One Health - Analytical and environmental chemistry