Rate My Professor Philip Hulme

Philip Hulme is Distinguished Professor of Plant Biosecurity in the Department of Pest-Management and Conservation at Lincoln University, New Zealand. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Pure and Applied Biology from Imperial College London in 1985 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology from the University of London in 1990. His research focuses on predicting the risks posed by plant invasions, including the traits enabling invasive species success, introduction pathways, spread rates, habitat vulnerability, species impacts, and climate change effects on distributions. He examines biological invasions broadly, incorporating human factors such as trade and economic influences on invasion rates and non-market costs of alien species. Employing modelling, experiments, and field surveys, his work spans ecosystems worldwide, from North American forests and East African landscapes to Italian mountains and New Zealand environments. Hulme holds the inaugural Chair in Plant Biosecurity at Lincoln University since 2007 and was promoted to Distinguished Professor in 2018. Previously, he served at Durham University from 1992 to 2001. He directs the Centre for One Biosecurity Research, Analysis and Solutions, advocating integrated biosecurity approaches.

Hulme's contributions have earned international recognition, including designation as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate for ten consecutive years through 2023, Fellowship of the Royal Society Te Apārangi (FRSNZ), the 2024 Lincoln University Global Science Medal, the 2025 Shorland Medal from the New Zealand Association of Scientists, and the 2019 Hutton Medal from Royal Society Te Apārangi. His publications exceed 420, with over 56,000 citations on Google Scholar (h-index 105) and 33,000 on Web of Science (h-index 87). Key works include 'Ecological impacts of invasive alien plants: a meta-analysis of their effects on species, communities and ecosystems' (2011, 3861 citations), 'Trade, transport and trouble: managing invasive species pathways in an era of globalization' (2009, 3591 citations), 'No saturation in the accumulation of alien species worldwide' (2017, 2991 citations), 'Scientists' warning on invasive alien species' (2020, 2539 citations), and 'A global assessment of invasive plant impacts on resident species, communities and ecosystems' (2012, 1875 citations). His research informs biosecurity policy, enhancing protection against invasive species threats to agriculture, health, and biodiversity.