News and events
Review and videos from the NBN Conference
With just over 180 delegates representing biodiversity organisations, local environmental records centres, recording schemes, government bodies, students and individuals all concerned with biodiversity data and biological recording, the 2017 NBN Conference was the best attended to date.
For the first time in its 17 year history, the Conference took place in Wales where it was held at the National Museum Cardiff. With two keynote addresses, the annual Sir John Burnett Memorial lecture, 24 presentations and an afternoon of workshops we hope we offered something for everyone.
With social media buzzing for the two days, we hope the snippets below provide a flavour of the discussions that took place.
You can also click on the links below to view the videos from the NBN Conference. We also gave three Facebook Live broadcasts, so if you were there, you can relive the event and if you weren’t able to join us, you will hopefully get a really good idea of how it went!
PDFs of all of the presentations can also be found on the website.
What a suberb first talk by @EntoProf at #NBNconf17. Great and inspiring start to the day. Twitter does have real science value!
— Tom Thomson. (@Envirotech_RND) November 16, 2017
@EntoProf first talking Social media and it’s importance to bringing science to wider audience! #NBNConf17 check out NBN Facebook it’s live! pic.twitter.com/MJiZqiZsff
— Matthew Esh (@SilphidEsh) November 16, 2017
57% of datasets on the NBN Atlas (https://t.co/wd7o5Lk0k8) have an open data licence, but this is only 12% of the data on the Atlas. Data has been put on GBIF and UK is now second to USA #NBNConf17
— GiGL (@iGiGL) November 16, 2017
Feedback from the #SBIF review showed that #curators were top of the list for wanting their records to be #OpenData – we just need help mobilising it! 🏛🦋 #NBNconf17 pic.twitter.com/87NfBGsFor
— Ashleigh Whiffin (@AshWhiffin) November 16, 2017
Data are critical for making decisions about sustainable management of natural resources – NRW Barnaby Letheren #NBNconf17 pic.twitter.com/2JrY3pPJC2
— Yvonne Buckley (@y_buckley) November 16, 2017
More news from Wales. Great to see so much forward looking use of data and collaborative working to support evidence led conservation & environment decisions #NBNConf17 @SEWBReC pic.twitter.com/eL5UTLPM4M
— Stephanie West (@BatGirlSteph78) November 16, 2017
Very interesting to see how treating Local Environmental Record Centres as strategic partners by the Welsh government has resulted in good things #NBNConf17
— GiGL (@iGiGL) November 16, 2017
It costs money to manage data! This is important too! #nbnconf17 pic.twitter.com/NGfZbtMl32
— BRERC (@BRERC_Official) November 16, 2017
Data discussions are always fun BUT verification, licenses, business models and volunteer capacity are still major issues #NBNConf17.
— Sue Townsend (@SueTownsend3) November 16, 2017
Need to clarify access controls, assign responsibilities for data flow, improve validation checks, #NBNConf17
— Simon Leather (@EntoProf) November 16, 2017
Importance of open data has resonated through #NBNConf17 today – motivating and inspiring day – thank you @NBNTrust
— Helen Roy (@UKLadybirds) November 16, 2017
Trending number 1! #NBNConf17 pic.twitter.com/p0Fw3XuvaU
— Matthew Esh (@SilphidEsh) November 16, 2017
Mark Eaton @RSPBScience thanking the recording community for sharing knowledge through State of Nature #NBNConf17 pic.twitter.com/atZSB6lSeM
— Helen Roy (@UKLadybirds) November 17, 2017
“Recorders = our lifeblood” @Mark_A_Eaton such a vital massage, data is the key and for good data we rely on the amazing dedication of recorders! #NBNConf17 #StateOfNature
— Tom Thomson. (@Envirotech_RND) November 17, 2017
This is a good slide. It shows all the partners in the State of Nature partnership. Great to see the collaboration. #NBNConf17 pic.twitter.com/Bjr3DQCWZG
— GiGL (@iGiGL) November 17, 2017
Matt Postles’ “Rules of Engagement” in full. Excellent stuff. Couldn’t agree more. #NBNConf17 pic.twitter.com/8TJWZEt7uZ
— Charles Roper (@charlesroper) November 17, 2017
Here’s advance notice of an exciting intercity challenge to record (the most) wildlife next spring. Londoners, you will be needed! #NBNconf17 pic.twitter.com/hT5FxI237V
— GiGL (@iGiGL) November 17, 2017
Just been browsing through the #NBNConf17 programme, great to see a really even gender split between male and female speakers! 13 men, 12 women. 👍
— Amy Schwartz is excited for new Jurassic Park 🦖🦕 (@lizardschwartz) November 17, 2017
Recorder 6 is a critical tool for us here at @SxBRC and many other local environmental record centres. If you are a user, please respond to @_ALERC_‘s consultation to help us figure out what to do: https://t.co/juHKlumexo
— Sussex Biodiversity (@SxBRC) November 8, 2017
Bryophyte talk from Welsh recorder extraordinaire Barry Stewart, who contributes huge numbers of records to @SEWBReC #NBNConf17
— Elaine Wright (@Elaineeepoos) November 17, 2017
We need better maps so that we have context for marine data. So it’s not just a dot in a huge extent of blue #NBNConf17
— NBRC (@_Northants_BRC) November 17, 2017
Recorders generally want their records to be open access, but not everyone does. @KeironDBrown discusses this issue on behalf of @earthwormsoc #NBNConf17 pic.twitter.com/GzUsXxuPjK
— Ashleigh Whiffin (@AshWhiffin) November 17, 2017
@earthwormsoc share all their data locally, nationally and globally – brilliant talk on how and why they do this, by @KeironDBrown #NBNConf17 #OpenData pic.twitter.com/uXkO4KSBrB
— FSC Tom.bio (@FSCTomBio) November 17, 2017
#NBNConf17 consultants look like they contribute over a third of @Glos_Records income. Great news that money can be generated from the private sector to support recording.
— ALERC NC (@ALERC_NC) November 17, 2017
Enjoying the varied & insightful programme of presentations @NBNTrust #NBNConf17 pic.twitter.com/ho6pVuoIEn
— Capturing Our Coast (@CapturingRCoast) November 17, 2017
Breadth and depth of engagement as new young recorders showcase their enthusiasm and talent. Great stuff @NHM_ID @NBNTrust #NBNconf17 pic.twitter.com/jJauAyKF1z
— National BioBlitz (@BioBlitzUK) November 17, 2017
A superb, inspirational talk from @StephSkipp talking about her traineeship. New favourite talk from #NBNConf17 pic.twitter.com/8yev6aoLMm
— NBRC (@_Northants_BRC) November 17, 2017
Inspirational talk by @anna_moulin1 on the work of student-led EcoSoc in Falmouth. Incredible effort to engage local communities with recording #NBNConf17 pic.twitter.com/doxfd1L7mW
— FSC Tom.bio (@FSCTomBio) November 17, 2017
EcoSoc @UniofExeter engaging people in biodiversity monitoring – impressive range of ways to get involved #NBNConf17 pic.twitter.com/aWiRzNEv5X
— Helen Roy (@UKLadybirds) November 17, 2017
Thanks for making it possible for early career biological recorders and science students looking to get into the field to come and take part in #NBNConf17 @TEP_Ltd
— Tom Thomson. (@Envirotech_RND) November 17, 2017
Lots of praise for the service, products and data received from “the vast majority of LERCs” by ecological consultancy @TEP_Ltd #NBNConf17
— Teresa Frost (@ZarFrost) November 17, 2017
Totally well-deserved award to @UKLadybirds at #NBNConf17 for all her amazing online recording work & contribution to public awareness of biological recording
— GCER (@Glos_Records) November 17, 2017
@BBSbryology CONGRTULATIONS to Mark Hill. Another well deserved NBN award with over 150,000 bryology records on The Atlas. Advocate of open data. Love it!! #NBNConf17
— Sue Townsend (@SueTownsend3) November 17, 2017
#NBNconf17 tweets have motivated me to get some record entry done! @iRecordWildlife Entering moth trap records from March now… pic.twitter.com/fdg3QOz24d
— Bex (@Bex_Cartwright) November 16, 2017
@y_buckley showing yet more awesome collaborations across the world in the 2017 Sir John Burnett Memorial Lecture at #NBNConf17 #BigData #Consavation pic.twitter.com/fCG5T8Wfxs
— Tom Thomson. (@Envirotech_RND) November 17, 2017
Lost words from the @JuniorOED! Utterly horrifying! Completely agree with @iGiGL, we must refind our lost treasure. #NBNConf17 pic.twitter.com/3WK6Lpt2jk
— Stephanie West (@BatGirlSteph78) November 17, 2017
Getting towards 1Billion records in @GBIF UK is 2nd biggest contributor with almost 75Million #NBNConf17 pic.twitter.com/ITuJLlE51x
— Yvonne Buckley (@y_buckley) November 17, 2017
Most cited NBN-contributed dataset on gbif is from an LERC, @SuffolkBIS – one of my local LERCs contributing to global research #NBNConf17 pic.twitter.com/1P7GUdkvAn
— Teresa Frost (@ZarFrost) November 17, 2017
.@ProjectSplatter talk at #NBNConf17 not long enough! Fascinating stats on the impact of roads on UK wildlife. Get involved https://t.co/i3QVFS8wnT
— Sussex Biodiversity (@SxBRC) November 17, 2017
and quickfire onto @cranston_p on colonist species and human influenced dispersal (including more lovely invertebrates) #NBNConf17 #invasivespecies #monitoring pic.twitter.com/Fh5hai5z6z
— Tom Thomson. (@Envirotech_RND) November 17, 2017
#NBNConf17 Great to see how many of Graham Smith’s data recommendations are fulfilled by @BumblebeeTrust Beewalk data pic.twitter.com/DPAs7JeFTJ
— Richard Comont (@RichardComont) November 17, 2017
#NBNCONF17 @SueTownsend3 pointing out the need for more species experts, not just new recruits. Great but often overlooked need
— Richard Comont (@RichardComont) November 17, 2017
What did I learn at #NBNConf17 ? Loads, but particularly thankful for the insight into Welsh LETCs from @SEWBReC . Really informative talk!
— Keiron Derek Brown (@KeironDBrown) November 17, 2017
Got that post-conference information hangover. Lots to think about, lots to do. But excited about being part of a better and more joined up community – we’ve just got to make it happen! #NBNConf17
— Lois (@basicallylois) November 17, 2017
Videos
Thursday 16th November
Friday 17th November