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).
BL1002 Cells, Biomolecules, Genetics and Evolution
PS2001 Introduction to Plant Biotechnology
PS4006 Genetic Manipulation of Plants
PS4021 Environmentally Protective Management of Plant Pests and Pathogens
DENVSP Diploma in Environmental Science and Social Policy (Evening)
Biography
Plant Scientist at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science (BEES) and the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) 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 teach various modules across a number of academic programmes including the BSc Apllied Plant Biology; Bachelors in Agricultural Sciences; Diploma in Specialty Food Production (Co-ordinated by Adult Continuing Education, ACE, UCC); and the Postgraduate Diploma in Irish Food Culture (launching in 2019).
I am currently the School of BEES' Exams Officer. I also manage the School of BEES website and the School's social media platform.
I served as Treasurer of the International Association for Plant Biotechnology (IAPB) from 2014-2018 and was member of the IAPB Executive Team as well as being a member of the National Organising Committee and International Committee for the International Association for Plant Biotechnology Congress which took place in Dublin in 2018 (IAPB2018). I currently serve as a member of the International Committee for IAPB 2024 which will take place in Korea.
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
- The use of social media in teaching and learning
Research Grants
| Project | Funding Body | Start Date | End Date | Award | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical signalling in the Potato-Potato Cyst Nematode- Rhizobacteria interaction | Irish Research Council | 01-OCT-02 | 30-APR-06 | €66,500.00 | |
| Strategic Research Fund: Development of a secure crop growing area. | UCC Strategic Research Fund | 01-MAR-14 | 31-DEC-14 | €5,000.00 | |
| Grant for design, manufacture and erection of polytunnel for COHR growing site at Liss Ard. | Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (DAFF) | 01-JAN-13 | 31-DEC-13 | €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 nematodes | Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (DAFF) | 01-DEC-08 | 30-MAY-14 | €198,000.00 | |
| Geology and Geophysics Gardens: E-learning Resources and Public Access Geoscience Portal | Other: Not Listed | 01-NOV-13 | 01-NOV-14 | €1,700.00 | |
| Evaluation of crab compost for the control of plant parasitic nematodes in agriculture and sports turf | Enterprise Ireland | 01-FEB-12 | 30-NOV-13 | €5,000.00 |
Publications
Books
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2018) | Special Issue, International Association for Plant Biotechnology 2018. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology- Plant. Doyle Prestwich, B, Lettice, EP (2018) Special Issue, International Association for Plant Biotechnology 2018. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology- Plant. Berlin: Springer. [Details] |
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2019) | 'The Rhizosphere: Measuring the Zone of Interaction' Lettice, EP (2019) 'The Rhizosphere: Measuring the Zone of Interaction'. Annual Plant Reviews online, 2 :1-17 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2017) | 'BACTERIAL FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY IN IRISH POTATO FIELD SOIL, AS DETERMINED BY COMMUNITY-LEVEL PHYSIOLOGICAL PROFILING' Lettice, EP;Jones, PW (2017) 'BACTERIAL FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY IN IRISH POTATO FIELD SOIL, AS DETERMINED BY COMMUNITY-LEVEL PHYSIOLOGICAL PROFILING'. Biology and Environment-Proceedings of The Royal Irish Academy, 117B :107-119 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2017) | 'Interspecific and intraspecific competition in the potato cyst nematodes Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis' Hearne, R;Lettice, EP;Jones, PW (2017) 'Interspecific and intraspecific competition in the potato cyst nematodes Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis'. Nematology, 19 :463-475 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (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 [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] [Full Text] [Details] |
Conference Publications
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2018) | MERA Workshop Proceedings de Lacey, J and Lettice, EP (2018) Analysis of historic climate data for Ireland and its impact on Late Blight of potatoes . In: Gleeson and Whelan eds. MERA Workshop Proceedings , pp.13-17 [Details] |
Abstract
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2018) | Can Genetically Modified Food Be Part Of A Green Ireland?. Cotter, S;Lettice, E;Shaughnessy, MO;Prestwich, BD (2018) Can Genetically Modified Food Be Part Of A Green Ireland?. NEW YORK: Abstract [Details] |
PhD Thesis
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (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
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (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
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (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
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2012) | Why Ireland needs to test GM potatoes. Lettice, E (2012) Why Ireland needs to test GM potatoes. London: Newspaper Articles [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 [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 [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 [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 [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 [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 [Details] | |
| (2010) | James Watson: 'cancer research is over regulated'. Lettice, E (2010) James Watson: 'cancer research is over regulated'. London: Newspaper Articles [Details] |
Professional Activities
Honours and Awards
| Year | Title | Awarding Body | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | President's Award for Research on Innovative forms of Teaching and Learning | Ionad Bairre, UCC | |
| 2002 | Postgraduate College Scholar | University College Cork | |
| 2002 | Daniel O'Carroll Prize in Plant Science | University College Cork | |
| 2002 | Government of Ireland Scholar | Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) |
Professional Associations
| Association | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Association for Plant Biotechnology | Committee Member | 30-SEP-14 / | |
| Association of Applied Biologists | Member | / |
Conference Contributions
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (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
| Committee | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exams Officer | Exams Officer | 2018 / 2019 | |
| Applied Plant Biology Programme Board | Member | 2006 / | |
| UCC Green Campus Forum | Member | 2013 / |
Education
| Year | Institution | Qualification | Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | University College Cork | MA | Teaching & Learning in Higher Education | |
| 2002 | University College Cork | BSC | Plant & Microbial Biotechnology | |
| 2009 | University College Cork | Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Ed. | Teaching and Learning in Higher Education | |
| 2010 | University College Cork | Postgraduate Diploma Teaching & Learning in Higher Education | Teaching and Learning in Higher Education | |
| 2014 | University College Cork | PhD | Plant 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. Run the Communicate Science blog which has been nominated for two Eircom Spiders and in the Irish Blog Awards and Irish Web Awards. |
Teaching Activities
Teaching Interests
UndergraduateBL1002 Cells, Biomolecules, Genetics and Evolution
PS2001 Introduction to Plant Biotechnology
PS3003 Plant Science Literature Review
AE4015 Biology and Management of Alien Species
BL4001 Research ProjectPS4006 Genetic Manipulation of Plants
PS4021 Environmentally Protective Management of Plant Pests and Pathogens
DENVSP Diploma in Environmental Science and Social Policy (Evening)
Postgraduate
PS1801 Food Production and the Environment (Diploma in Specialty Food Production)
Current Postgraduate Students
| Student | Degree Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Barrett Dylan Edward | Masters Degree by Research |
Modules Taught
| Term (ID)) | Title | Link | Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Introduction to Plant Biotechnology | PS2001 | Introduction to Plant Biotechnology | |
| 2020 | Food Production and the Environment | PS1801 | Food Production and the Environment | |
| 2020 | Sustainable Plant Pest and Disease Management | PS4021 | Sustainable Plant Pest and Disease Management |