Dr Phil Platts is a researcher in the University of York’s Environment Department. He was part of the Mount Lico expedition to Mozambique which was an academic partnership between 13 universities, museums and research institutions on three continents, including the Natural History Museum and National Herbarium in Mozambique. During the expedition soil samples were collected from the forest floor and are being analysed by ARCC project members Dr Colin Courtney Mustaphi (University of Basel) and Dr Rob Marchant as well as other researchers at University of York. The soils contain charcoal and pollen from plants that can be analysed to understand how the forest has changed over the past 7000 years.
Example photographs of charcoal fragments in the Mount Lico soils taken under light microscopy.
Further information:
Story in the Guardian newspaper
Article from University of York
Photos supplied by Dr Phil Platts (University of York, UK)
Dr Phil Platts in Mozambique
The documentary was released as part of Five documentaries inspired by the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Prize, National Geographic Documentary Films and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Orlando von Einsiedel have collaborated on a 5-part short documentary series, celebrating the ongoing impact and influence of Nobel Peace Prize laureates around the world. Watch the films here.