We are delighted to announce that this year’s NBN Conference will be held on Thursday 20 November in Bristol.

For the first time ever we are visiting the south west region and we will be holding our event at SS Great Britain, the pioneering steamship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel which launched in 1843.

NBN Conference programme

As this is the year that the NBN Trust is 25, what better way to celebrate than through the NBN Conference. The theme is therefore “25 years of making data work for nature”.

The draft programme is now available.

We are delighted that the following individuals and organisations will be participating in this year’s NBN Conference. Click on the links for more information:

  • Duncan Allen – Plant pest scientist and risk analyst, Defra (Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) – “From Observation to Action: Using iNaturalist to help Monitor and Elevate Plant Health Awareness in the UK”
  • Dr Carlos Bedson – Quantitative spatial ecologist, Natural England – “Designing a climate change resilient landscape connectivity network from a multi-species perspective”
  • Dr Lauren Cook – Molecular ecologist, the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) – “Translating environmental DNA (eDNA) for monitoring nature”
  • Tim Corner – Manager, Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre – “Kestrel’s fluffy ears”
  • Tom Gray – Head of Nature, BBC – “Engaging the Widest Audience for Nature”
  • Martin Harvey – Coordinator of Zoological Data, UKCEH Biological Records Centre (BRC) – “From field observation to global data: (some of) the many links between recorders, schemes, organisations and portals”
  • Dr Ben Holt – Marine biologist and CEO, The Rockpool Project – “The Big Rock Pool Challenge – A UK wide marine citizen science adventure”
  • Dr Kate Ingenloff – Scientific Officer, GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) – “Advancing Biodiversity Data Sharing in GBIF”
  • Katie-jo Luxton – Executive Director, Global Conservation, The RSPB – Sir John Burnett Memorial Lecture – “Making data work for nature; the value of monitoring and recording to inform State of Nature reporting,  drive recovery action and influence systemic change”
  • Dr Damian McFerran – Records Centre Manager, Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (CEDaR), National Museums NI (NMNI) – “CEDaR, what has it all been about?”
  • Emma Squire and Devmini Bandara – PhD students, University of Exeter (RENEW Biodiversity Programme: Renewing biodiversity through a people-in-nature approach) – “iNaturalistUK User Survey and Observation Records”
  • Christine Tansey – Biodiversity Data Manager (NBN Atlas), NBN Trust
  • Dr Gareth Thomas – Chief Executive Officer, NBN Trust – “Sharing a vision for the future” and “Engaging the Widest Audience for Nature”
  • Dr John Tweddle – Head of Centre for UK Nature and Research Theme Leader, UK Nature Recovery, Angela Marmont Centre – Keynote Address

Programme and timings

The start and end times are due to be as follows:

Registration – from 08:45 – 09:20

Opening address – 09:20

Sir John Burnett Memorial Lecture – 14:00 – 14:30

NBN Awards ceremony – 14:30 – 15:15

End of conference – 16:50

NBN Trust AGM – 17:00 – 17:15

Bookings

Bookings are now open.

If you book by 6 November we can ensure you have a printed name badge and that your dietary requirements are catered for.

Ticket Price
Type of ticket
Member rate £85.00
Non-member rate £115.00
Student £45.00

Travel to the venue

GWR is offering a discount on train fairs if you’re going to a conference in one of a number of cities, including Bristol / London route. This means that standard return travel between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads (central Bristol) is available at the reduced rate of £54.00 on any service, including peak trains, for those who can prove they’re going to a conference. Find out more.

Download a confirmation letter which is required to purchase GWR train tickets.

Displays and demonstrations

There are excellent opportunities for Network participants to showcase their work by having a display stand at the NBN Conference. This needs to be manned during registration, tea / coffee breaks and lunchtime and those manning the stand will need to be registered as delegates.

NBN Trust members will be given priority and space will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please contact us if you would like to have a stand.

Our Conference Partners

We are hugely grateful for the support of the following partners who will be helping us to bring you a fantastic Conference. You can read more about them on our NBN Conference partner’s page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The venue

SS Great Britain is a historic museum ship and former passenger steamship, notable as the world’s first iron-hulled, screw-propelled, ocean-going passenger liner. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it was launched in 1843 and is now anchored in Bristol harbour. It’s about a 30 minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads railway station.

Delegates will be able to board the ship and have a look around during coffee breaks or lunchtime.

More information on the ship can be found on the SS Great Britain website.