Leila Battison – Curriculum Vitae (Sort of out of date, contact me if you want an up-to date one!)
D.O.B.: 23-07-1986; Nationality: British; email: leila.battison@earth.ox.ac.ukMy research interests lie primarily in the enigmatic micropalaeontology of the Precambrian period of Earth’s history. However, having received formal training in all aspects of palaeontology, including the philosophical implications of early life studies and of evolutionary theory, I cannot fail to be fascinated by these topics as well. Fundamentally, I am attracted to large scale unsolved problems within the field of science, and explore these as my knowledge base and training allows. I am always looking to expand my horizons, and the relatively young science of Astrobiology, combined with questions on the origins of early life in Earth, hold particular appeal for me at this stage of my career. Within the scope of my DPhil I am able to explore such questions as the timing and process of the evolution of eukaryotes, the transition from unicellular to multicellular forms, and the changing nature of the fossil record through Earth’s history.
I believe that by maintaining a view of the large scale question or problem at hand, whilst focusing down on the more specific research themes, a better understanding of the field can be obtained.
Palaeontology is an old science, but one which has recently benefited from developments in computational imaging and analysis. I believe that these new technologies can offer the modern palaeontologist valuable insight into many of the currently unsolved issues in the subject. I hope to be able to utilise computational techniques in the study of Precambrian life and beyond.
Communication of Science to a wider public audience is critical, and a central motivation to my life as a scientist. In my day-to-day life as a researcher, I strive to make my own work accessible to the layperson (both interested and uninterested), and in my spare time, I hope to make a difference in making the work of other academics similarly understandable. Good practice in science communication is key, as well as searching for new ways to engage the public with the fascinating and important work being done by academics worldwide.
EDUCATION
2008 – Present Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford Studying for a research D.Phil in Palaeobiology.
End 2007 Oxford University Museum of Natural History Palaeontological Internship.
2004 – 2008 Hertford College, University of Oxford MESci in Earth Sciences, first class.
2002 – 2004 King Edward VI Sixth Form College, Stourbridge Six A-Levels at grade A.
1997 – 2002 Summerhill School, Kingswinford Thirteen GCSEs all at grade A-A*
FIELD EXPERIENCE
Summer 2009 Fieldwork in Ontario, Canada D.Phil research
Summer 2008 Trip to Indian Himalaya Demonstrator for A-level field trip
Summer 2008 Fieldwork in Newfoundland D.Phil research
Summer 2007 and Summer 2008 and Summer 2010 Fieldwork in NW Scotland Masters and D.Phil research
Summer 2006 Independent mapping project in SW Sardinia Part of Undergraduate Course
Summer 2005 Expedition to Madagascar Research Assistant
Summer 2003 Expedition to Greenland Research Assistant
2000 – 2004 Duke of Edinburgh Award To Gold Award Level
TEACHING
2010 – Present Oxford Summer Academy Evolution and Earth Sciences Tutor
2008 – Present Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford Tutoring in Palaeobiology and Sedimentology
2008 – Present Department of Earth Sciences, Univeristy of Oxford Practical Demonstration in Palaeobiology, Sedimentology and Mapping
2007 – 2009 Oxford Science Studies Biology and Geography tutor
THEATRE
August 2010 Now is the Winter with Alarum Theatre at the Vault (Venue 29), Edinburgh Fringe Festival Stage Manager, Lighting and Sound Technician, Publicity
Summer 2010 Isobel’s War and The Mary Rose with Alarum Theatre at Tooleys Boatyard Theatre, Banbury Stage Manager and Lighting Technician
Spring 2010 Antigone at Oxford Playhouse with Oxford Theatre Guild Technical Stage Manager, Props and Programme Co-ordinator
Autumn 2009 Alice’s Adventures Underground at Old Fire Sation, Oxford, with Oxford Theatre Guild Stage Manager
ARTISTIC
Spring 2010 – Present Bang! Oxford Science Magazine Creative Director
Summer 2009 SEF, Oxford Earth Sciences Student Magazine Artist
Spring 2005 Hertford College Paris Ball Creative Director
POPULAR SCIENCE
Astrobiology article ‘Intelligent Life: Apply Elsewhere” Bang Science Magazine, Issue 5, Summer 2010
Review of “Exploring the Origin, Extent and Future of Life” ed. Constance Berkta. Cambridge University Press.
PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS
Battison, L. and Antcliffe, J. B. – The Use of Automontage Techniques for Studying ‘Large’ Microscopic Organisms in LaFlamme, M. (ed.) Quantifying the Evolution of Early Life: Numerical Approaches to the Evaluation of Fossils and Ancient Ecosystems (in Press)
Battison, L. – Before the Birds and the Bees: The Origin of Sex in the Fossil Record. Poster presentation at Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Birmingham (2009)
Battison, L. and Brasier, M. D. – Exceptional Preservation of Early Terrestrial Communities in Lacustrine Phosphate One Billion Years Ago in Smith, M. R., O’Brien L. J., Caron, J-B. International Conference on the Cambrian Explosion (Walcott 2009) Abstract Volume. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: The Burgess Shale Consortium. (31st July 2009)
Battison, L., Brasier, M. D., and Ancliffe, J. B. – The Earliest Fossil Evidence for Life on Land and the Freshwater Origin of Algae? Oral presentation at Progressive Palaeontology, Birmingham (2009)
Battison, L., Brasier, M. D., and Antcliffe, J. B. – The Earliest Fossil Evidence for Life on Land and the Freshwater Origin of Algae? Oral presentation at EGU General Assembly, Vienna (2009)
Brasier, M. D., Battison, L., Callow, R.H., Antcliffe, J. B. – Towards a solution for Darwin’s Dilemma: remarkable preservation in one-billion-year-old lake ecosystems in NW Scotland. Poster presentation at Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Glasgow (2008)
