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Eoin Lettice

Lecturer - Plant Science
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Butler Building
University College Cork
Cork
Ireland

T: +353-21-490-4562
E: e.lettice@ucc.ie
W: http://www.lettice.eu/

Plant Scientist at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science at University College Cork.
I hold a BSc in Plant & Microbial Biotechnology (2002), a Masters in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2011) and a PhD in Plant Science (2014).
My research interests include plant pathology, nematology, biological control, soil biology and sustainable agriculture. I am former Director of the Centre for Organic Horticulture Research (COHR) formerly coordinator of  and lecturer on the MSc Organic Horticulture. I am also responsible for the School of BEES website and the School's social media platform.
I currently serve as Treasurer of the International Association for Plant Biotechnology (IAPB). I am a member of the IAPB Executive Team as well as being a member of the National Organszing Committee and International Committee for the International Association for Plant Biotechnology Congress which takes place in Dublin in 2018 (IAPB2018),

Research Interests

  • Chemical signalling in the Potato - Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis) - Soil Rhizobacteria interaction.

  • Biological control of PCN using bacteria, novel crops (e.g. Solanum sisymbriifolium) and soil amendments.

  • Community-level physiological profiling of soil bacterial communities 

  • Biological control of plant-pathogenic organisms.

  • Organic horticulture
  • Green-roofing
  • The use of social media in teaching and learning

Research Grants

 ProjectFunding
Body		Start DateEnd DateAward
Chemical signalling in the Potato-Potato Cyst Nematode- Rhizobacteria interactionIrish Research Council€66,500.00
Grant for design, manufacture and erection of polytunnel for COHR growing site at Liss Ard.Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (DAFF)€12,000.00
Exploring the potential of potato peel waste as a source of phytochemicals, bioactive peptides and as a control measure for potato cyst nematodesDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (DAFF)01-DEC-0830-MAY-14€198,000.00
Geology and Geophysics Gardens: E-learning Resources and Public Access Geoscience PortalOther: Not Listed01-NOV-1301-NOV-14€1,700.00
Evaluation of crab compost for the control of plant parasitic nematodes in agriculture and sports turfEnterprise Ireland01-FEB-1230-NOV-13€5,000.00

Peer Reviewed Journals

YearPublication
(2016)'Effect of soil and soil bacteria on hatching activity towards potato cyst nematodes (Globodera spp.)'
Lettice EP; Jones PW (2016) 'Effect of soil and soil bacteria on hatching activity towards potato cyst nematodes (Globodera spp.)'. Nematology, 18 :803-810 Globe icon [DOI] [Details]
(2017)'Bacterial functional diversity in Irish potato field soil'
Lettice EP and Jones PW (2017) 'Bacterial functional diversity in Irish potato field soil'. Biology and Environment, [Details]
(2017)'Interspecific and intraspecific competition in potato cyst nematodes (Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis)'
Hearne R, Lettice EP, Jones PW (2017) 'Interspecific and intraspecific competition in potato cyst nematodes (Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis)'. Nematology, [Details]
(2015)'Evaluation of rhizobacterial colonisation and the ability to induce Globodera pallida hatch'
Lettice, EP; Jones, PW (2015) 'Evaluation of rhizobacterial colonisation and the ability to induce Globodera pallida hatch'. Nematology, 17 (2):203-212 [DOI] [CORA Link] [Details]

PhD Thesis

YearPublication
(2014)Interactions between nematodes, potato and soil-borne micro-organisms and their effect on the management of potato cyst nematodes.
Lettice, EP (2014) Interactions between nematodes, potato and soil-borne micro-organisms and their effect on the management of potato cyst nematodes. PhD Thesis [Details]

Thesis/Dissertation

YearPublication
(2011)Student Attitudes to Web 2.0 for Teaching and Learning.
Lettice, EP (2011) Student Attitudes to Web 2.0 for Teaching and Learning. Thesis/Dissertation [Details]
(2010)Teaching and learning online: wikis as a tool for constructivist learning in undergraduate science courses.
Lettice, EP (2010) Teaching and learning online: wikis as a tool for constructivist learning in undergraduate science courses. Thesis/Dissertation [Details]
(2009)Building a learning community: teaching and learning in applied plant pathology.
Lettice, EP (2009) Building a learning community: teaching and learning in applied plant pathology. Thesis/Dissertation [Details]

Magazine article

YearPublication
(2013)End of the World Again?.
Lettice, E (2013) End of the World Again?. Cork: Magazine article [Details]
(2012)The Pathology of Plants.
Lettice, E (2012) The Pathology of Plants. Cork: Magazine article [Details]

Newspaper Articles

YearPublication
(2012)Why Ireland needs to test GM potatoes.
Lettice, E (2012) Why Ireland needs to test GM potatoes. London: Newspaper Articles Globe icon [Details]
(2012)It will take the best of organic and conventional farming to feed the world.
Lettice, E (2012) It will take the best of organic and conventional farming to feed the world. London: Newspaper Articles Globe icon [Details]
(2011)Barack Obama was right: Guinness really does taste better in Ireland.
Lettice, E (2011) Barack Obama was right: Guinness really does taste better in Ireland. London: Newspaper Articles Globe icon [Details]
(2011)Greens' departure allows Irish government to embrace GM crops.
Lettice, E (2011) Greens' departure allows Irish government to embrace GM crops. London: Newspaper Articles Globe icon [Details]
(2010)GM crops: The EC allows politics to trump science.
Lettice, E (2010) GM crops: The EC allows politics to trump science. London: Newspaper Articles Globe icon [Details]
(2010)We need GM plants that benefit consumers and not just farmers.
Lettice, E (2010) We need GM plants that benefit consumers and not just farmers. London: Newspaper Articles Globe icon [Details]
(2010)Survey suggests half of EU citizens believe scientists are 'dangerous'.
Lettice, E (2010) Survey suggests half of EU citizens believe scientists are 'dangerous'. London: Newspaper Articles Globe icon [Details]
(2010)James Watson: 'cancer research is over regulated'.
Lettice, E (2010) James Watson: 'cancer research is over regulated'. London: Newspaper Articles Globe icon [Details]

Honours and Awards

 YearTitleAwarding Body
2013President's Award for Research on Innovative forms of Teaching and Learning Ionad Bairre, UCC
2002Postgraduate College Scholar University College Cork
2002Daniel O'Carroll Prize in Plant Science University College Cork
2002Government of Ireland Scholar Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET)

Professional Associations

 AssociationFunctionFrom / To
International Association for Plant Biotechnology Committee Member30-SEP-14 /
Association of Applied Biologists Member/

Conference Contributions

YearPublication
(2016)Food Security, Biosecurity and Trade. The role of plant health,
Lettice EP, Hearne R, Jones PW (2016) British Society for Plant Pathology. [Poster Presentation], Food Security, Biosecurity and Trade. The role of plant health, St Hugh's College, Oxford, UK , 12-SEP-16 - 13-DEC-16. [Details]
(2006)Chemical signalling in the potato-potato cyst nematode-rhizobacteria interaction,
Lettice EP; (2006) Oral Presentation. [Oral Presentation], Chemical signalling in the potato-potato cyst nematode-rhizobacteria interaction, Irish Plant Scientist Association Meeting (IPSAM), NUI Galway, Ireland , 14-APR-06 - 14-APR-06. [Details]
(2005)Chemical signalling in the potato-potato cyst nematode- Rhizobacteria interaction,
Lettice, EP; (2005) Oral Presentation. [Oral Presentation], Chemical signalling in the potato-potato cyst nematode- Rhizobacteria interaction, Advances in Nematology, Conference at Linnean Society, London, UK. Organised by Association of Applied Biology , 14-DEC-05 - 14-DEC-05. [Details]
(2005)Has the Potato met its Nemacys? Controlling the Potato Cyst Nematode,
Lettice, EP; (2005) Oral Presentation. [Oral Presentation], Has the Potato met its Nemacys? Controlling the Potato Cyst Nematode, Science for All Competition, UCC, , 16-MAR-05 - 16-MAR-05. [Details]
(2005)Potato soils and their effect on pest-potato interactions,
Lettice, EP & Jones PW; (2005) Poster Presentation. [Poster Presentation], Potato soils and their effect on pest-potato interactions, IRCSET annual symposium, Dublin , 10-NOV-05 - 10-NOV-05. [Details]
(2004)A study of the effect of the potato rhizosphere on soil microbial diversity using Community-Level Physiological Profiling,
Lettice, EP & Jones, PW; (2004) Poster Presentation. [Poster Presentation], A study of the effect of the potato rhizosphere on soil microbial diversity using Community-Level Physiological Profiling, IRCSET annual symposium, Dublin , 17-NOV-04 - 17-NOV-04. [Details]
(2003)Chemical signalling in the tritrophic potato-PCN-rhizobacteria interaction,
Lettice, EP & Jones, PW; (2003) Poster Presentation. [Poster Presentation], Chemical signalling in the tritrophic potato-PCN-rhizobacteria interaction, IRCSET annual symposium, Dublin , 20-NOV-03 - 20-NOV-03. [Details]

Committees

 CommitteeFunctionFrom / To
Applied Plant Biology Programme Board Member2006 /
UCC Green Campus Forum Member2013 /

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
2011University College Cork MATeaching & Learning in Higher Education
2002University College Cork BSCPlant & Microbial Biotechnology
2009University College Cork Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Ed.Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
2010University College Cork Postgraduate Diploma Teaching & Learning in Higher EducationTeaching and Learning in Higher Education
2014University College Cork PhDPlant Science

Outreach Activities

 Description

Science Ambassador for Discover Science and Engineering. 

Finalist in the Science for All - Plain Speaking in Science Competition. Presentation of my research findings to an audience of lay people. 

Various public talks and demonstrations to a range of audiences including festivals, school children, science groups, etc.
 
Designed, developed and now run the School of BEES website along with the School of BEES social media platform.

Run the Communicate Science blog which has been nominated for two Eircom Spiders and in the Irish Blog Awards and Irish Web Awards.
 
Write for the Guardian science blog.

Teaching Interests

Undergraduate
BL1002

Cells, Biomolecules, Genetics and Evolution

PS2001

Introduction to Plant Biotechnology

BL3001 Literature Project

GN3002 Literature Project on Genetics

AE4015 Biology and Management of Alien Species

BL4001

Research Project

PS4006

Genetic Manipulation of Plants

PS4021 Environmentally Protective Management of Plant Pests and Pathogens
DENVSP Diploma in Environmental Science and Social Policy (Evening)


Postgraduate
PS6001 Plant Genetic Engineering
PS6004 Structure and Improvement of Soils
PS6006 Organic Crop Pest & Pathogen Management
PS6007 Research Methods for Crop Science
PS6010 Organic Horticulture Research Project

Modules Taught

 Term (ID))TitleLinkSubject
2017Literature Project on Genetics GN3002Literature Project on Genetics
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