Jake Robinson
Senior Research Fellow in Restoration Genomics
College of Science and Engineering
Dr Jake M. Robinson is a microbial ecologist and One Health researcher with an interdisciplinary skillset. Grounded in innovation and systems thinking, his work explores how ecological, biological and cultural processes interact to shape resilient futures. Jake leads the OH Zone: A One Health Lab and Studio, and is a Senior Research Fellow in Restoration Genomics in the Frontiers of Restoration Ecology lab (College of Science and Engineering). He has pioneered studies in aerobiology and soil ecoacoustics to improve ecosystem health.
His mission is to help protect and restore nature and promote personal and planetary health through collaborative science, innovation, communication, and on-the-ground action.
Jake is an Editor for the journal Restoration Ecology.
Invisible Friends is his first book. It's all about how microbes shape our lives and the world around us - but in beneficial ways! For more information, visit: www.jakemrobinson.com
His second book, TREEWILDING: Our Past, Present and Future Relationship with Forests, was published in August 2024.
His third (One Health) book, The Nature of Pandemics: Why Protecting Biodiversity is Key to Human Survival, was published in November 2025.
His fourth book, The Nature of AI: How Artificial Intelligence is Reshaping Life on Earth, will be published in late 2026.
Jake founded the Aerobiome Innovation and Research Hub (The AIR Hub) - an initiative aiming to research and safeguard the beneficial biological components of air for both human and ecosystem health: www.aerobiome.org
He also contributes to national and international initiatives such as the UNFCCC Resilience Frontiers think tank and the Grounded Minds Consortium, and leads science-driven projects that bridge research, public engagement and imaginative transformation.
Jake also hosts a successful educational YouTube channel (currently with >50,000 subscribers), translating complex science to broad audiences: www.youtube.com/@naturegutbrain
PG.Cert in Applied Neuroscience (High Distinction): King's College London
PhD in Microbial Ecology and Nature-based Health Interventions: The University of Sheffield
MA in Social Research (High Distinction) (The Environment-Microbiome-Health Axis): The University of Sheffield
PG.Cert in Ecosystem Health (High Distinction): The University of Edinburgh
B.Sc (Hons) in Ecology and Conservation (1st Class with Honours): Nottingham Trent University
Completion of the Strategic Innovation Programme (Saïd Business School): University of Oxford
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The Australian Institute of Policy and Science Young Tall Poppy Science Award winner The SA Environment Awards Green Adelaide Pelzer Prize Winner The Australian Academy of Science J.G. Russell Award Winner ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Vice Chancellor's Award for Research Impact & Engagement (Flinders University) Bradshaw Medal (International Society for Ecological Restoration) SA Environment Award Winner - Innovation Award (with A/Prof. Martin Breed) SA Environment Award – the Pelzer Prize Commendation for Ecosystem Restoration Science DVCR’s Early Career Impact Seed Grant Award, Flinders University, Australia SA Environment Award – the Pelzer Prize Commendation for Urban Forest Research College of Science and Engineering Emerging Research Leader Award – Nominated College of Science and Engineering Emerging Research Leader Award – Nominated |
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2023 |
New York Festivals TV and Film Award for the Restoring the Urban Microbiome documentary |
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2020 |
Leading member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Resilience Frontiers team |
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2020 |
Coordinating Editor for the Restoration Ecology journal–the flagship journal for this discipline |
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2019 |
Elected as Early Career Research Fellow on inVIVO Planetary Health’s Board of Directors |
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2019 |
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Overseas Institution Award |
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2018 |
Prestigious ESRC Scholarship for a PhD in Microbial Ecology and Nature-based Interventions |
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2017 |
ESRC White Rose Scholarship for Masters in Social Research, University of Sheffield |
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2014 |
Distinction and the highest grades on the M.Sc.(Ecosystem Health), University of Edinburgh |
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2013 |
Prestigious Rufford Cup for Top Undergraduate Student: B.Sc (1stClass Honours) Ecology. |
Jake specialises in One Health and innovation.
He uses ‘omics approaches (e.g., microbiomics and metagenomics), innovative monitoring technologies (e.g., remote sensing and ecoacoustics), and social research to study the complex interactions between biological kingdoms. His passions lie in studying the ‘unseen’ and ‘unheard’ and applying systems thinking to advance ecosystem restoration and biodiversity-human health research (including the nature-gut-brain axis). He runs the OH Zone: A One Health Lab and Studio.
Grounded in innovation and systems thinking, he leads creative, science-driven projects that bridge academic research, public policy and cultural transformation.
His mission is to help protect and restore nature and promote personal and planetary health through collaborative science, innovation, communication, and on-the-ground action.
Jake also hosts a successful educational YouTube channel (currently with >50,000 subscribers), translating complex science to broad audiences: www.youtube.com/@naturegutbrain
At Flinders University, Jake teaches the BIOL1001 Plant Ecology topic and both teaches and coordinates the BIOL3701 Restoration Ecology topic. He has previously taught the following subjects to undergraduate and postgraduate students at various institutions (e.g., University of Sheffield, UCL, NMBU):
- Microbial Ecology
- Ecology
- GIS and remote sensing
- Landscape Architecture
- Biology and Design
- Restoration Ecology
Jake also hosts a successful educational YouTube channel (currently with >50,000 subscribers), translating complex science to broad audiences: www.youtube.com/@naturegutbrain
Jake is a microbial ecologist with fourteen years of experience working in terrestrial and marine ecology and a unique interdisciplinary skillset. He uses ‘omics approaches (e.g., microbiomics and metagenomics), innovative monitoring technologies (e.g., remote sensing and ecoacoustics), and social research to study the complex interactions between biological kingdoms. His passions lie in studying the ‘unseen’ and ‘unheard’ and applying systems thinking to advance ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation and biodiversity-human health linkages.
Jake enjoys translating complex research into intelligible outputs for broad audiences. For instance, he has written three popular science books:
1. Invisible Friends: How Microbes Shape Our Lives and the World Around Us (Published in March 2023). https://pelagicpublishing.com/products/invisible-friends-microbes-jake-robinson?variant=42190054981803
2. TREEWILDING: Our Past, Present and Future Relationship with Forests (Published in August 2024): https://pelagicpublishing.com/products/treewilding
3. The Nature of Pandemics: Why Protecting Biodiversity is Key to Human Survival (Published in 2025).
4. The Nature of AI: How Artificial Intelligence is Shaping Life on Earth (due to be published in 2026).
Jake has had a leading role in various science documentaries - including Restoring the Urban Microbiome and the CNN (Warner Bros. Discovery) documentary on ecoacoustics,
Jake founded the Aerobiome Innovation and Research Hub (The AIR Hub) - an initiative aiming to research and safeguard the beneficial biological components of the air for both human and ecosystem health.
He is also a core member of the UNFCCC Resilience Frontiers think tank. They aim to identify and support 'Bright Light' ideas from across the globe, which promote climate change resilience. Jake provides biodiversity and human health expertise.
Jake also hosts a successful educational YouTube channel (currently with >50,000 subscribers), translating complex science to broad audiences: www.youtube.com/@naturegutbrain
- Biodiversity
- Ecology
- Microbiology
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Ecoacoustics
- Microbial Ecology
- Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis
- Restoration Ecology
Other project websites:
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