The Research Institute works to strengthen the island’s capacity for high-quality research that addresses local and global knowledge gaps. We support collaborations and partnerships that deliver impactful science in priority areas, including biodiversity, sustainability, health, education, and cultural heritage.
Research in St Helena is guided by the Environmental Protection Ordinance, 2016, and other relevant government law and policy.
We welcome research that benefits St Helena’s society, economy, and natural, historic, and cultural environment. We also recognise the value of academic, theoretical, and exploratory research that contributes to broader scientific understanding
The Research Institute plays a coordinating role in reviewing proposals, facilitating licences, and supporting researchers throughout the process. Learn about our application process on our Apply page.
In addition to supporting visiting researchers, the Research Institute actively leads the development of networks and partnerships that initiate research, strengthen local capacity, and respond to St Helena’s critical knowledge needs — with a strong emphasis on education, skills development, and lifelong learning.
If you are interested in carrying out research on St Helena, we’d love to hear from you.
Research in Action
We are proud to support the work of postgraduate researchers contributing to St Helena’s knowledge base
Bryophyte-microbe interactions and soil microbiota on the remote oceanic island of St Helena
Imperial College London; Natural History Museum; St Helena Research Institute
Tsvet is studying the microbes associated with bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) and soils in the cloud forest, drawing comparisons to other ecosystems on the island in an effort to understand how these lesser-known organisms contribute to ecosystem functions and services.
Supervisors: Dr Silvia Pressel, Dr Prof Martin I. Bidartondo, Dr Anne D. Jungblut, Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks
University of Birmingham Institute of Forestry Research, CABI, St Helena Research Institute
Amy is exploring the microbiome of the peaks to identify: disease-causing agents, untapped beneficial microbes and abiotic complications which will provide new insight and aid the preservation of this endemic forest.
Supervisors: Dr Megan C McDonald, Dr Mojgan Rabiey, Dr Norbert Maczey, Dr Robert Reeder, Dr Robert W Jackson, Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks.
Approved Research
The following research projects have been approved, or recommended for approval to the Chief Environmental Officer, by the St Helena Research Council and are currently active or recently completed:
Title of research
Population genetics of tropical seabirds: a multi-species comparison.
Summary of research
This project will analyse seabird samples from sooty terns, brown noddies, red-billed tropicbirds and storm petrels to investigate the population genetics of breeding populations and the degree of genetic distinctiveness of St Helena seabirds, contextualising the results with findings from other populations across Atlantic and Indo-Pacific.
Reference
R07/2023
Lead researcher
Dr Frank Hailer
Organisation
University of Cardif
Period of study
2024 – 2026
Title of research
Scientific Monitoring Programme – Bigeye Tuna.
Summary of research
The aim of the bigeye tuna scientific monitoring programme is to establish the status of the bigeye tuna resources within St Helena’s EEZ/MPA and provide advice on their sustainable management, including establishing parameters, where possible, such as the seasonal pattern of changes in biomass, a balanced long-term average yield and minimum landing sizes (MLS), if appropriate.
Reference
R09/2020R
Lead researcher
Jake Letori
Organisation
Marine and Fisheries Conservation Section, St Helena Governmen
Period of study
2024 – 2026
Title of research
Acoustic telemetry study assessing habitat connectivity of semi-pelagic species of the Caranx and Pseudocaranx families.
Summary of research
The aim of the project is to collect distribution, movement and habitat data on a number of semi-pelagic species; amber jack, rainbow runner and cavelley jack to assess their use of inshore pinnacles. The project will work alongside the MFCS BRUVS project which is running until 2025 and will complement the literature study done by Centre of Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science – CR185.
Reference
R12/2023
Lead researcher
Marine and Fisheries Conservation Section
Organisation
St Helena Government
Period of study
2023-2026
Title of research
Project extension: Managing the pathogens threatening St Helena’s biodiversity and food security
Summary of research
The work is an extension of the current DPLUS157 “Managing the pathogens threatening St Helena’s biodiversity and food security” project (Research ref R07/2021). It is being carried out alongside it and addresses the necessity to conduct pathogenicity testing of microorganisms previously identified and isolated from the roots of symptomatic endemic trees The inoculation and subsequent causation of disease of any putative pathogen is an essential part of proving pathogenicity often referred to as “Koch’s postulates”. Thereafter, to conduct an expanded and systematic survey of the proven pathogens to identify where they are (and are not) and with which plants they are associated.
Reference
R13/2023
Lead researcher
Dr Norbert Maczey
Organisation
CABI
Period of study
2024-2025
Title of research
Investigating the Origin of Recycled Crustal Material in St Helena Intraplate Basalts: Geochemical Analysis of Major and Trace Elements and Isotopic Composition in Bulk Rocks and Olivines to Reveal the HIMU Mantle End Member Source Lithology
Summary of research
The aim of this project is to determine if St Helena and Cook-Austral HIMU lavas originate from different source lithologies. Specifically, we will collect olivine-bearing lavas from various volcanic formations on St Helena to assess mantle source characteristics, depth, temperature of formation, and magma evolution. This study will also fill the current data gap regarding olivine geochemistry from St Helena.
Reference
R03/2024
Lead researcher
Johanna Schenk
Organisation
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Period of study
2024-2027
Title of research
Continuation of aspects of the ‘Cooperative biology and conservation research on Bone (whale) sharks (Rhincodon typus) in St Helena’s waters’ study – with additional novel research including, but not limited to, paired-laser photogrammetry, clamp and SPOT tag tracking, tissue biopsies and eDNA metabarcoding research
Summary of research
This study continues the investigation of the demographics and behaviour of whale sharks in St Helena’s MPA through the identification of undocumented whale sharks; observation; BRUVs deployment; conducting tagging to determine their movement and migration.
Reference
R04/2024
Lead researcher
Kenickie Andrews
Organisation
Saint Helena National Trust
Period of study
2025-2027
Title of research
Satisfaction with a bespoke mental health website (MindingMyMind) for young people living in remote islands.
Summary of research
This project is an extension to the psychological well-being in young people on St Helena: a mixed methods study, furthering and developing the initial study.
Reference
R05/2019R
Lead researcher
Dr Tara Murphy
Organisation
University of Nottingham
Period of study
2025
Title of research
Bryophyte-microbe interactions and soil microbiota on the remote oceanic island of St Helena.
Summary of research
The project addresses major knowledge gaps critical to improving understanding of the impact of climate and anthropogenic change on bryophyte communities and can have important implications for species conservation and habitat restoration. The phenotype, physiology and ecological interactions of plants, both with the soil and with other organisms, are significantly influenced by their associated microbiomes. Despite the importance of these associations, much remains to be learned about them; this is particularly true for bryophytes, which are major contributors to the functioning and biodiversity of many terrestrial ecosystems. For example, how microbiome community composition may vary among bryophyte species and habitat types, the impacts of ecological factors on microbiome structure and function, their influence on bryophyte community composition and the role of bryophyte microbiomes in ecosystem functioning, are still unknown.
Reference
R01/2023R
Lead researcher
Tsvetoslav Georgiev
Organisation
Imperial College London & The Natural History Museum
Period of study
2023- 2026
Title of research
Habitats and biology of high altitude endemic Opogona of St Helena.
Summary of research
This project aims to determine the habitat requirements; distribution and biology for those endemic Opogona species, which are thought to be restricted to or preferring the cloud forest zone and outside the cloud forest zone as a comparator. Additionally to identify so far overlooked Opogona species and to adapt current investigations on endemic moths of the cloud forests based on the results of the St Helena Cloud Forest Project and DPLUS040.
Reference
R05/2024
Lead researcher
Dr Timm Karisch
Organisation
Museum für Naturkunde und Vorgeschichte, Dessau
Period of study
2025
Title of research
Uncovering a lost paradise: the birds of Saint Helena
Summary of research
The project aims to identify new prospections for fossil birds and associated biological material (snails; plant matter), and expand collection at known sites with the purpose of scientifically studying the material through analysis and comparative anatomy, to help identify the bones and the species they represent. Further analysis will include:
- isotopic analyses to better understand the entire trophic chain involving birds and some of their diets;
- ancient DNA investigations to determine the phylogenetic positions of the more enigmatic species
- x-ray microtomography to investigate the internal structures, in relation with the paleo-biology of the taxa
- palynology of the sediments containing the bones
- paleo-botany in general, since plant extinctions have also been extremely high; malacology, to document the original snail fauna, and
- Carbon 14 dating of selected bones will be used to complete the study. The results will provide a better understanding of both the past, native, unique ecosystem of Saint Helena, and the anthropic impacts that caused numerous extinctions.
Reference
R02/2020R
Lead researcher
Dr Antoine Louchart
Organisation
Université Lyon1, Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon
Period of study
2020-2026
Completed research
The research register will be available here soon. In the mean time if you would like to know more about completed projects please contact us.
St Helena Research Institute
Education, Skills & Employment Portfolio
Canarvon Court
Jamestown
St Helena Island
STHL 1ZZ
sarah.iguna@sainthelena.edu.sh
(+290) 22607
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