Biography

Dr John Conway joined the academic staff at the RAU in 1983 as Principal Lecturer in Soil and Earth Systems Sciences.  He is now a member of Senior Management Group, International Advisory Group and Academic Board. John is also Programme Director for the very successful MSc in International Rural Development, which has been running for since 1999 and the MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security. 

John created the Disability Service in 1999 and has been Disability Officer since then, dealing with all issues around organizing support and adjustments for dyslexic and disabled students; as such he is an ex officio member of the Learning Teaching Enhancement Committee, and the Equality and Diversity Committee.

Having completed a PhD in soil science, Dr Conway's research and consultancy interests cover a wide range of environmental and soil management topics, including major studies on nitrogen losses (an eight-year project on the University's conventionally managed farm at Coates, and a six-year project on the less intensive farming experiment at Harnhill), P & K sources for organic farming and innumerable Agricultural Land Classification and Soil surveys. giving him wide experience of soil conditions across the southern half of Britain.

John originally trained in earth systems and is currently focused on research into climate change and its impacts on agriculture and land management. As such he represents the agriculture sector on the South West Climate Change Impacts Partnership, a regional body under the auspices of UKCIP and has organized conferences on Transition Agriculture.

His passion remains in geology and he is a Director of Geomon, the Anglesey Geopark which recently won UNESCO status, and has presented invited papers at several international conferences on geoconservation. He has written a field guide to Soils in North Wales and has a new book on the coastal geology of Anglesey. John is currently a partner in the bid to achieve Geopark status for the Cotswold Hills.

John is well known through the world of disability support in Higher Education with several external posts. including Chairman of the STEM Disability Committee [managed by the Royal Society]  Director of the National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP) and is a member of the National Executive of the Association of Dyslexia Specialists in Higher Education (ADSHE). 

University Positions

• Member, Senior Management Group
• Member, International Advisory Group
• Member, Academic Board
• Member, Ethics Committee
• Member, Research Committee
• Member, Learning and Teaching Enhancement Committee
• Disability Officer
• Member, Inclusion, Equality and Diversity Committe

External Involvements

• Director, National Association of Disability Practitioners [NADP]
• Member, National Executive of Association of Dyslexia Specialists in HE [ADSHE]
• Director, GeoMon - Anglesey Geopark
• Member, Global Geopark Coordination Committee 
• Partner, Cotswold Hills Geopark planning group
• Member, UK-Eire Limestone Pavement Group
• Ex-chair, Association Welsh RIGS groups

Research

Research interests

• Soils Research
• Weather Station
• Climate Change
• Renewable energy and sustainable development
• Coates Farm Study
• Online textbook, Soils of Wales

Teaching

Teaching Responsibilities

• Programme Manager: MSc International Rural Development
• Programme Manager MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security
• Level 4: 1007 Soil and Environmental Science; 1132 Landscape Physical and Biological.
• Level 6: 3064 Soil Analysis and Interpretation; 3013 Sustainable Soil and Water Management; 3202 Natural Resource Appraisal; 3203 Natural Resource Management; 3085 Climate Change; 
• Level 7: 4040 Sustainable Soil and Water Management; 4082 Natural Resource Management; 4083 Climate Change; 4109 Natural Resource Appraisal. 

Publications

Publications

Peer reviewed publications

• Alice Hamilton-Webb, Louise Manning, Rhiannon Naylor & John S Conway 2017.  The relationship between risk experience and risk response: a study of farmers and climate change Journal of Risk Research, vol 20, issue 11, p 1379-1393 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2016.1153506

• Alo, Adeola Opeoluwa, Richard Baines, John S Conway, and Nicola Cannon. 2017. "The Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Oyo State, Nigeria." The International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts and Responses 9 (2): 1-21. doi:10.18848/1835-7156/CGP/v09i02/1-21 https://cgscholar.com/bookstore/works/the-impacts-of-climate-change-on-agriculture-in-developing-countries-a-case-study-of-oyo-state-nigeria?category_id=common-ground-publishing

• Jellason, Nugun Patrick., Baines, Richard N. & Conway, JS. 2017. A Delphi Approach to the Selection of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) for Resilience Enhancement for Dry Land Farmers in North-Western Nigeria.   Journal of Food Science and Engineering [in print]

• Newman, Ivan & Conway, John.  2017.  "Delivering Specialist Study Skills Tutorials via Remote Working Tools (RWTs). An Investigation of Specialist Study Skills Tutors’ Views"  Journal of Neurodiversity in Higher Education vol 3, p34-58
  http://adshe.org.uk/journal-of-neurodiversity-in-higher-education/ -

• Newman, I., & Conway, JS. 2017.  Busting the Barriers to Inclusive Learning Environments.¹ Journal of Inclusive Practice in FE & HE. Volume 8, pp. 30-35.

• Newman, I.,& Conway JS.2017.  Sisyphus or Hercules.  Implementing Inclusive Teaching and Learnin

• Rial-Lovera K, Davies WP, Cannon ND, Conway JS. 2016. Influences of tillage systems and nitrogen management on yield, grain protein and N-use efficiency in UK spring wheat. Journal of Agricultural Science. 1-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021859616000058 

• Rial-Lovera K, Davies WP, Cannon ND, Conway JS. 2016. Weed species composition in spring wheat after contrasting soil tillage and nitrogen management. Annals of Applied Biology. 1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aab.1229

• Sara Burbi, R.N. Baines J.S. Conway 2016  Achieving successful farmer engagement on greenhouse gas emission mitigation International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability Vol 14 p466-483 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2016.1152062 

• Hamilton-Webb, Alice Manning Louise, Naylor Rhiannon, Conway John 2016  The relationship between risk experience and risk response: a study of farmers and climate change Journal of Risk Research http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2016.1153506  

• Newman, I. & Conway, J., 2016. The Nature of Inclusive Learning Environments. Journal of Inclusive Practice in Further and Higher Education, Volume 7,100-111

• Conway, JS & Wood, M. 2016. "A Geoheritage case study : GeoMon in Wales"  pp219-232 in Hose, TA [ed].  Geoheritage and Geotourism; A European Perspective. Boydell Press

• Newman, I., & Conway, J. 2016.  An Evaluation of Specialist One-to-One Study Skills Tutorials. Journal of Neurodiversity in Higher Education. Volume 2, pp. 8-22.

• Moyo, H., Davies, W.P., Cannon, N.D. and Conway, J.S. (2015).  Influences of one-year red clover ley management on subsequent cereal crops  Biological Agriculture and Horticulture, 31 (3), 193-204.  doi:10.1080/01448765.2014.1001792
• Moyo, H., Davies, W.P., Cannon, N.D. and Conway, J.S. (2015).  Influences of two-year red clover-grass ley management on nitrogen economy and following wheat performance.  Biological Agriculture and Horticulture,).  doi:10.1080/01448765.2015.1057865
• Vijaya Bhaskar AV, Davies WP, Cannon ND, Conway JS. (2014). Weed manifestation under different tillage and legume undersowing in organic wheat. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture. Volume 30, Issue 4,  Pages 253-263
• Vijaya Bhaskar AV, Davies WP, Cannon ND, Conway JS. 2014. Soil cultivation influences on organic spring wheat performance in contrasting weather. Agronomic decision making in an uncertain climate, Aspects of Applied Biology 125, 11-19.
• Vijaya Bhaskar, A V., Davies, W P., Cannon, N.D. and Conway, J.S. (2013).  Organic wheat performance following conventional and non-inversion tillage systems.  Biological Agriculture and Horticulture. 29 (4), 236-243.
• Vijaya Bhaskar, A.V., Davies, W.P., Cannon N.D. and Conway, J.S. (2013).  Characterisation of soil quality following conventional and non-inversion tillage for organic farming.  Aspects of Applied Biology 121,  Rethinking Agricultural Systems in the UK, 181-185.
• Vijaya Bhaskar, A.V., Davies, W.P., Cannon N.D. and Conway, J.S. (2013).  Tillage and undersowing effects on organic wheat yield components and yield.  Aspects of Applied Biology 121,  Rethinking Agricultural Systems in the UK, 173-180.
• Fortune, J. S. Robinson, C. A. Watson, L. Philipps, J. S. Conway and E. A. Stockdale (2005) Response of organically managed grassland to available P and K in the soil and supplementary P and K fertilisers – field trials using grass-clover leys cut for silage.  Soil Use and Management 21, 370-376.
• K.A. Leach, J.S. Conway, J.P. Morgan, B.F. Pain and D. Munday (2004) Encouraging farmers to utilise nitrogen more efficiently.  p520-522 in Hatch, DJ, DR Chadwick, SC Jarvis & JA Roker, [eds] Controlling nitrogen flows and losses. Wageningen Academic Publishers.
• Leach, K.A., Allingham, K.D., Conway, J.S., Goulding, K.W.T. and Hatch, D.J (2004) Nitrogen management for profitable farming with minimal environmental impact: the challenge for mixed farms in the Cotswold Hills, England  International Journal of Agricultural sustainability 2 21-32
• Leach K.A., Goulding K.W.T., Hatch D.J., Conway JS. & Allingham K. (2004) Nitrogen balances over 7 years on a mixed Farm in the Cotswolds. p39-46 in Hatch, DJ, DR Chadwick, SC Jarvis & JA Roker, [eds] Controlling nitrogen flows and losses. Wageningen Academic Publishers.
• Webster, CP, J  S Conway, A P Crew & K W T Goulding 2003  Nitrogen leaching losses under a  less intensive farming and environment [LIFE] integrated system.  Soil Use and Management 19, 36-44
• Allingham, K.D., Cartwright, R., Donaghy, D., Conway, J. S. Goulding, KWT. and Jarvis, S.C (2002) Nitrate leaching losses and their controls in a mixed farm system in the Cotswold Hills, England. Soil Use & Management 19, 1-7. 

Conference papers

• Jellason, NP, Baines, RN & Conway, JS. 2016. Farmer knowledge and attitudes towards climate change adaptation in the northern Nigerian drylands. Annual International Conference 2016 “Nexus Thinking”-Royal Geographic Society with Institute of British Geographers. 29th August – 2nd September, 2016 London 
• Jellason, NP, Baines, RN & Conway, JS. 2016. Multidisciplinary approaches to perception and responses to environmental change in northern Nigerian drylands. Annual International Conference 2016 “Nexus Thinking”-Royal Geographic Society with Institute of British Geographers. 29th August – 2nd September, 2016 London 
• Jellason, NP, Baines, RN & Conway, JS. 2016. Integrating farmer knowledge & perceptions of environmental challenges into development strategies: A case study of Nigerian drylands.  Researching in Nigeria Day 2016: Workshop for early career researchers on themes related to Nigeria. 23rd June, 2016-Oxford University.
• Kamalongo, D., Cannon, N.D., Davies, W.P.  and Conway, J.S (2016). Bi-cropping spring field bean (Vicia faba) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) for wholecrop forage in the UK.  ESA14 - European Society of Agronomy Conference 2016. The Association of Applied Biologist.  Edinburgh 5-9th September.
• Alo, A. O., Baines, R. N., and Conway, J.   2016: “The Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Oyo State Nigeria “. The International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts and Responses.
• Alo, A.O., Baines, R. N., Conway, J., and Cannon, N 2016 Smallholder Farmers' Perception of Climate Change and Strategies to Facilitate Climate Smart Farming: A Case Study of Osun State, Nigeria.. 4th International Climate Change Adaptation Conference, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 10-13 May, 2016.
• Alo, A. O. Baines, R. N., and Conway J 2016: Smallholder Farmers' Understanding of Good Agricultural Practices in South West Nigeria: What Does the Future Hold for Smallholder Crop Farmers?. Research in Nigeria Day, June 23^rd 2016: Oxford University.
• Conway, J. 2016 “Understanding government reforms – RAU response” .  Preparing for the changes to the DSA, Westminster Briefing, London, 27^th January.  
• Conway, J. 2016 “Understanding government reforms” .  Preparing for the changes to the DSA, Westminster Briefing, Manchester 4^th February.

• Conway, J.S. (2015).  Developing inclusive learning environments.  Invited keynote.  ADSHE Annual Conference.  June.

• Rial-Lovera, K., Davies, W.P., Conway, J.S. and Cannon, N. (2015).  Advancing soil management in a changing climate: A recent UK experience.  Elsevier.  Global Cleaner Production & Sustainable Consumption Conference.  Barcelona, Spain.  1-4 November.

• Rial-Lovera, K., Davies, W.P., Conway, J.S. and Cannon, N. (2015).  Reflections on soil cultivation influences on wheat performance in a changing climate.  SCI Agriscience Young Researchers Conference.  Syngenta, Jealott’s Hill.  8 July.

• Conway, J.S. (2015). Geotrail, Newborough to Abermenai Point. / Llwybyr Niwbwrch i Drwyn Abermenai.   Swn y Mor 16, 12-13.

• Conway, J.S. (2015).  DSA Changes.  PATOSS Bulletin.  28 (1), 21-24.

• Conway, J.S. (2015).  DSA Changes and university environments for SpLD students.  PATOSS Bulletin.  28 (2), 26-28.

• Vijaya Bhaskar, A.V., Davies, W.P., Cannon, N.D. and Conway, J.S. (2014).  Cultivation technique influences on crop performance, weeds and economics for organic spring wheat production.  Challenges for Crop Production & Quality: Annals of Applied Biology Centenary conference.  Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK.  9-10 December.

• Conway, J.S. (2014).  Universities and the DSA Changes, what will the future be for SpLD students?  PATOSS Bulletin.  27 (2) 31-33.

• Conway, J.S. (2014).  Barriers to disabled students entering STEM subjects.  STEM Disability Transition Group conference.  Greenwich, July.

• Conway, J.S. (2014).  The HEI perspective on changes to the DSA 2015/6.  Westminster Conference.  London, September.

• Conway, J.S. (2014).  Royal Society Policy Lab ‘Collaborative innovation - involving disabled people in user-led innovation’.  Carlton House, London, June.

• Conway, J.S. (2014).  “Geotrail:Penmon / Geolwybr o Penmon.”  Swn y Mor. 15,
  16-17.

• Axe, M.S., Grange, I.D., Baines, R.N. and Conway, J.S. (2013).  Carbon sequestration by agricultural hedgerows - Evidence to date and improving predictions.  BSSS Post Graduate Conference.  York.

• Axe, M.S., Grange, I.D., Baines, R.N. and Conway, J.S. (2013). ‘Rethinking Agricultural Systems in the UK’.  Association of Applied Biologists.  St. Catherine's College, Oxford.  18-19 December.

• Burbi, S., Baines, R.N. and Conway, J.S. (2013).  Small-scale farmers and climate change: Opportunities and barriers to community engagement.  ‘Rethinking Agricultural Systems in the UK’.  Association of Applied Biologists.  St. Catherine's College, Oxford.  18-19 December.

• Hamilton-Webb, A., Fisher, R. and Conway, J.S. (2013).  Farmers’ experiences of flooding and attitudes and response towards climate change – a study in the county of Gloucestershire.  RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2013: New Geographical Frontiers.  28 August.
• Moyo, H., Davies, W.P., Cannon, N.D. and Conway, J.S. (2013).  Influences of red clover/grass management on wheat performance.  Aspects of Applied Biology, 121 Rethinking agricultural systems in the UK, 143-148.
• Moyo, H., Davies, W.P., Cannon, N.D., Conway, J.S. and Lane, G.P.F. (2013).  Influences of red clover/grass management on soil N mineralisation and crop performance.  In, Crop Resource-Use Efficiency and Field Phenotyping.  Association of Applied Biologists, Grantham.
• Moyo, H., Davies, W.P., Cannon, N.D., Conway, J.S. and Lane, G.P.F. (2013).  Management effects of red clover leys on winter wheat yields and soil nitrogen mineralisation potential. In Proceedings, Delivering the Good: for the Consumer and Society: Organic Producers' Conference.  Birmingham.  January.
• Rial Lovera, K., Cannon, N.D., Davies, W.P. and Conway, J.S. (2013b).  Development of a low-input farming system in the South West of England.  5th CREST Research Symposium, GuildHE, London, England.
• Axe M, Grange I, Baines RN, Conway, JS (2012) Annual production and destination of shoots from a flailed hedge. International Symposium on Hedgerows: Hedgerow Futures.
• Axe M, Grange I, Baines RN, Conway, JS (2012) Carbon sequestration by an agricultural hedgerows – methods and rationale. International Symposium on Hedgerows: Hedgerow Futures.
• Axe M, Grange I, Baines RN, Conway, JS (2012)  Carbon Sequestration by Agricultural Hedgerows.  British Society for Soil Science Conference
• Conway, J. 2012 “North Wales Soil Trails – Soils RIGS in action.”  Invited talk at “Soils, Geodiversity and Soils Educational site networks” SW England Soils Discussion Group meeting, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke 20th March.
•  Conway, JS. 2012  “Soils in public view… what do we want them to see?”  invited talk at Welsh Soils Discussion Group, IBERS.
• Vijaya Bhaskar AV, Davies WP, Cannon ND, Conway JS. 2012. Influence of cultivation techniques and undersown legumes on organic wheat establishment and performance – An interim report to John Oldacre Foundation.
• Burbi, S., Conway, J.S. and Baines, R.N. (2011).  Improving livestock farmer practices and attitudes in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the farm level.  In Proceedings of the British Grassland Society, 10th Research Conference. 
• Cannon, N.D. and Conway, J.S. (2011).  Food Security and Reduction of Carbon Footprint on Co-op Farms.  Consultancy Report.