Curriculum Vitae
Last update 2025-06
Dr. W. Edwin Harris, FRSS
Reader in Statistics, Harper Adams University
Director Centre for Agriculture Data Science Research
2002 PhD Biostatistics, Purdue University, US
1996 BSc Biology, University of Tampa, US
📫 eharris@harper-adams.ac.uk :: 🎓 Google Scholar :: 🌱 ORCID :: 𝕏/Twitter :: 🔗LinkedIn :: 🔬ResearchGate
Appointments :: Recent projects :: Publications :: Research students :: Teaching and pedagogy :: Roles, talks, service, & outreach
I am a Data scientist with over 20 years experience in experimental design, statistical methods and AI-driven analytics for agriculture, ecology and conservation. My current research involves adapting foundation AI model tools to problems in ag-tech and biodiversity monitoring. I have extensive experience in course management and curriculum design in data science and quantitaitive methods. I support and champion open source, open data and FAIR data principles.
Research themes:
- Sensor-to-decision pipelines For example, I use UAV imagery and ML to predict crop productivity; Leveraging productivity data to inform management to miniimise beef-farm carbon emissions.
- AI for wildlife & biodiversity – For example, I design automated vision and acoustic systems for monitoring species such as the mountain bongo, grey parrot and hazel dormouse, influencing conservation policy.
Appointments
2023 – present Director, Centre for Agriculture Data Science Research, Harper Adams University
2024 – present Reader, Department of Agriculture & Environment, Harper Adams University
2019 – 2024 Senior Lecturer, Department of Agriculture & Environment, Harper Adams University
2013 – 2019 Senior Lecturer, School of Science & Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University
2008 – 2012 Lecturer, School of Science & Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University
2002 – 2008 Post-doctoral Researcher, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester
Recent projects
2024 £550k HADIF – Digital Innovation Farm (River Severn Partnership)
2024 ÂŁ55k Land-use classification (Shropshire Council)
2023 £358k SLIMERS – Strategies for slug IPM (Innovate UK)
2023 £250k ABP Prism 2030 – Data-driven sustainable beef production (Consultancy)
2022 €8.4m SOB4ES – Soil Biodiversity to Ecosystem Services (EU Horizon)
2021 ÂŁ55k Beef Toolkit (Innovate UK/CIEL)
2020 £1.92m Tuberscan Demo – AI potato harvest system (Innovate UK)
Publications
See Publications or Google Scholar
Research students
Research supervision
George Wager, Joe Collins, Sotiria Boutsi, Hayden Tempest, Peter Ngimbwa
Completed PhD students
Carlos Bedson, Fraser Combe, Danny Norrey, Roisin Stanbrook, Simon Valle, Vanessa Huml, Tommi Sandri
Additional roles
PhD examiner :: Harper Adams University, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Manchester, University of Chester and University of Lancaster
Teaching and pedagogy
Philosophy
My teaching approach is rooted in promoting active, inclusive learning through a range of innovative methods that engage students in problem-based learning and critical thinking. In my modules, I implement interactive case studies and real-world scenarios to foster deeper understanding, particularly within STEM disciplines. For example, I use Dragon’s Den-style peer evaluations in postgraduate AI and Data Science courses, where students pitch solutions to complex, data-driven problems, encouraging peer feedback and collaborative learning. I also incorporate hackathons to challenge students to develop rapid, innovative solutions, reinforcing teamwork and practical application of theoretical concepts. Additionally, I integrate blended learning platforms and flipped classroom strategies, combining online resources with in-person workshops to enhance accessibility and student engagement. These methods are designed to develop critical thinking skills, promote inclusivity, and prepare students for interdisciplinary challenges in agriculture, ecology, and technology.
Programme Leadership
2024-present Programme leader, MSc Data Science for Artificial Intelligence, Harper Adams University
2024-present Programme leader, BSc Applied Data Science, Harper Adams University
2019-2024 Programme leader, MSc Data Science for Global Agriculture, Food & Environment, Harper Adams University
Module Leadership
2020-present c7082 Techniques in Machine Learning and AI, HAU
2020-present c7084 Big Data and Decision Making, HAU
2022-present c6010c17 International Perspectives in Wildlife Management, HAU
Past
HAU :: c7081 Statistical Analysis for Data Science :: c7041 Experimental Design and Analysis :: c7083 Data Visualisation and Analytics :: c5018C17 Modelling Geochange and the Environment
MMU :: 6F7Z1012 Statistics and Research Design :: 6F7Z1016 Genetics of Populations :: 6F6Z1005 Molecular Conservation Genetics and Evolutionary Biology :: 69EG6518E1 Field Research: Specialism Belize and Ecuador :: 6ABL3313 Population and Community Ecology
Short Courses
2019–present Friendly R Bootcamp – annual, Harper Adams University, UK
2023 Statistics for Researchers, University of Mpumalanga, ZA
2014-2016 Experimental Design & Statistics for Conservation - annual, Wildlife Service & College for African Wildlife Management, Nyeri, KE (2014).
2010–2019 R programming & data analysis – MMU “Futures” Programme, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Capacity Building
2019-present Founder HARUG! Harper Adams R Users Group (> 160 meetings)
2019-present Creator R Stats Bootcamp An open short courses in experimental design, R and data visualisation for industry and academia.
Roles, talks, service, & outreach
2024-07 Natural England Soil-Health Conference, Sheffield – “Developing land-management data systems”
2024-10 ICPA 15, Kansas State University – “Data-Driven Agriculture & Sustainable Farming”
2024-07 World Congress of Conservation Agriculture, Cape Town – “Systems-level evaluation of UK conservation agriculture”
2024 Consultant/external reviewer, Horizon-Scan on AI Ethics, Governance & Regulation, UK Parliament
2023-07 (Invited) “Happy cows & global warming” – address during HRH Princess Anne visit to HAU.
2021–present Statutory Biostatistician, Animal Welfare & Ethical Review Body (AWERB), Harper Adams University
2020-present Executive committee NABES (UK Network of Agricultural, Biological & Environmental Statistics)
2011–2019 Associate Editor for genetics, Bird Conservation International .
2009-present FRES (Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society)
References
Available upon request