News and events
NBN Conference 2018 – review and social media
Over 160 delegates attended the 2018 NBN Conference, which was held in Nottingham for the first time in its history. A cross section of organisations were represented and included delegates from wildlife NGOs, academia, local environmental records centres, recording schemes, consultancies and students and individuals all concerned with biodiversity data and biological recording.
There were two keynote addresses, the annual Sir John Burnett Memorial lecture, 18 presentations and an afternoon of Network Knowledge Exchange sessions and so we hope we offered something for everyone.
With social media buzzing for the two days, the snippets below provide a flavour of the discussions that took place.
We also streamed 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 good idea of how it went!
PDFs of all of the presentations and a selection of photographs can also be found on the NBN Conference 2018 Presentations and Photographs page.
We streamed three presentations via Facebook Live. These can be viewed on the NBN Facebook page, the NBN YouTube channel or by clicking the links below.
Professor Adam Hart
Deborah Boobyer
Professor Jane Memmott
Here we share a selection of Tweets which summarise the presentations and accolades from Wednesday and Thursday:
I’m heading to Nottingham for #NBNConf18 the National Biodiversity Network conference. Looking forward to hearing all about data and citizen science! Program looks great, and more manageable than my previous experiences with big confs like BES!
— Simon Rolph (@simon_rolph) November 21, 2018
Great venue for #NBNConf18, @AdamHartScience kicking off on how to harness people power for science #citizenscience pic.twitter.com/4xW2gDlKxC
— Dr Amy-Jane Beer (@AmyJaneBeer) November 21, 2018
One of the things that made flying ants a great mass participation citizen science topic is that they occur in media “silly season” – until a distracting royal baby was born! But the study was v successful & revealed new info about ant behaviour @adamhartscience #NBNConf18 pic.twitter.com/oyvSHNEOnx
— Teresa Frost (@ZarFrost) November 21, 2018
Exploring he limitations and opportunities for gathering more valuable datasets from #bioblitz events @jago_mo #NBNConf18 pic.twitter.com/lpaeKf1YNw
— National BioBlitz Network (@BioBlitzUK) November 21, 2018
@JaniceAnsine @iSpotnature importance of expert support. Build learning and growing engagement #NBNConf18 pic.twitter.com/sgKruG5soz
— Wilma Harper (@WilmaCGH) November 21, 2018
@EPCCed explains to #NBNConf18 how the #OpenData initiative is helping to reclaim the Web for science (not just cat videos…). All @_Seasearch data on @NBNAtlas is CC-BY! @DanLear @DASSH pic.twitter.com/dHZl2o5MXb
— SeasearchMCS (@_Seasearch) November 21, 2018
Rob Baxter from @EPPCed is giving us a peek behind the NBN Atlas and how it all works. He’s also talking about their work on an automated data (layer) harvester for the Atlas #nbnconf18
— GiGL (@iGiGL) November 21, 2018
Really interested in the functionalityof the @ScotSquirrels community hub. Great for engaging volunteers, gathering data and capturing data on actions taken. Possible wider #INNS applications? #NBNConf18
— SEWBReC (@SEWBReC) November 21, 2018
@CuratorLaura @manxheritage wildlife week May 2019. One to look out for #NBNConf18 pic.twitter.com/ZZA0eHih45
— Wilma Harper (@WilmaCGH) November 21, 2018
Great talk from @ArachNotts Sara Goodacre on the use of spiders as tools to engage diverse audiences and challenge public perceptions.#NBNconf18 #spiders #citizenscience pic.twitter.com/FQab4yYeFB
— Daniele D’Agostino (@DanDagostino_) November 21, 2018
The journey to the 25 year environment plan @DefraGovUK #nbnconf18 @NBNTrust pic.twitter.com/GzDLA6TFXu
— Wilma Harper (@WilmaCGH) November 22, 2018
Now an insight into what @esmeefairbairn looks for when funding projects. Anyone writing a bid should remember that EF fund a breadth of sectors and aren’t biodiversity specialists so effective communication of project aims is key! #NBNConf18 pic.twitter.com/fBgu70wJb6
— Teresa Frost (@ZarFrost) November 22, 2018
Great to hear from @esmeefairbairn about their funding priorities. My @Natural_Talent trainee position was funded by them and was extremely useful! So glad they stand up for invertebrates and other lesser known organisms 🐞🐝🐜🐛🐌 #NBNConf18
— Ryan Clark (@RyanClarkNature) November 22, 2018
Rich @burkmarr from @FSCBioLinks upped the ante from yesterday’s warnings of spider pic slides with a ?spreadsheet of ?harvestmen info 😱 but this underpins the marvellously user-friendly multi-access key https://t.co/fyxKEZr7T3 #NBNConf18 pic.twitter.com/9TM5HbChrn
— Teresa Frost (@ZarFrost) November 22, 2018
Thanks Rachel Tierney. Fab overview of the history of the exciting new SBIF Review @SB_Info_Forum @RachelAStroud #NBNConf18 Great visionary document with an ambitious plan. Take a look https://t.co/TRqjT3X83r
— Sue Townsend (@SueTownsend3) November 22, 2018
Passionate talk from @LinesMartin at #NBNConf18 Making data work for farmers @NFFNUK We all need to act now and work together with farmers to deliver a better countryside
— NBN Trust (@NBNTrust) November 22, 2018
“How can we get recorders on to farms?” asks @LinesMartin – discussing this is one of the aims of our May conference, on “recording outside the honeypot” – hope we can continue the conversation @NFFNUK #NBNConf18 pic.twitter.com/0vP3nycx4Q
— NFBR (@_NFBR) November 22, 2018
Utterly inspiring talk from Martin Lines on farming and biodiversity. Can we clone him to run more farms please? #NBNConf18
— Sarah Whild (@SarahWhild) November 22, 2018
Paula describes her post doc research with @NE_Northumbria looking at recreational activities in MPAs – using data for directed management (and mentions the impressive organ too!) #NBNConf18 @NCLDoveMarine https://t.co/GJCJ8hlEWa
— SeasearchMCS (@_Seasearch) November 22, 2018
Great to see how our data is being used by @AnglianWater @chrisgerrard #NBNConf18 https://t.co/i2A2A7lSPx
— EWT Records Centre (@EssexWTrecords) November 22, 2018
Highways England are managing several great biodiversity conservation initiatives in SW England. In London @TfL have done some great work on habitat enhancement through their own Biodiversity Action Plan: https://t.co/BvEuczJDoa #NBNConf18
— GiGL (@iGiGL) November 22, 2018
Now we have Highways England on the value of road verges and best management at #NBNConf18. including lots to examples from the SW and Buglife’s bee study done in Devon and Cornwall to assess value for pollinators – @Buzz_dont_tweet @AndWhitehouse @Beth_Roberts13 pic.twitter.com/MkF8L6KypG
— Tom Thomson. (@Envirotech_RND) November 22, 2018
Jane Memmott gave a brilliant overview of ecological networks and interactions at #NBNConf18, and stressed the benefits of combining theory and field experiments, modelled here by @mjopocock and @DarrenMarkEvans pic.twitter.com/WIvXL6fduG
— Martin Harvey (@kitenet) November 22, 2018
A “network of networks” food webs on a grand scale of interactions on a single farm (norwood) with prof Jane Memmott of the university of Bristol. What an amazing image! At #NBNConf18 pic.twitter.com/i9F5a7eL4U
— Tom Thomson. (@Envirotech_RND) November 22, 2018
@ArcadisUK “…we are not the best at sharing data…” Actually, if you share any data at all, you will be one of the best consultancies. #NBNConf18
— ALERC NC (@ALERC_NC) November 22, 2018
Thank you to @NBNTrust for providing us the opportunity to feature @PocketPalsApp at the #NBNConf18 and speak about the use of digital solutions to engage children with nature. pic.twitter.com/GIPGXPe0Gi
— Pocket Pals (@PocketPalsApp) November 22, 2018
5-minute talk by Stephanie Dickens of @CapturingRCoast outlining the initial findings…. #NBNConf18 pic.twitter.com/AxfYmfvkrG
— NBN Trust (@NBNTrust) November 22, 2018
A real whistlestop tour of data processing and trying to work with diversity and rarity prediction matrices with Prof Bill Kunin, great passion for the subject! –#NBNConf18 pic.twitter.com/tNmYYxNPGz
— Tom Thomson. (@Envirotech_RND) November 22, 2018
#NBNConf18 in the last afternoon. Shifting patterns a talk on monitoring biotic change from Bill Kunin. Ties on so well with @NEFieldUnit and @DefraGovUK targets. pic.twitter.com/QzEcKPmY0B
— Sue Townsend (@SueTownsend3) November 22, 2018
The Welsh Fishermen’s Association has an invasive non-native marine species recording project. Eleven species were chosen and they used the CatchApp to record these species @Welsh_Fishermen #NBNConf18
— GiGL (@iGiGL) November 22, 2018
@Welsh_Fishermen fishermen understand the importance of recording and the public goods they both deliver and benefit from @NBNTrust #NBNConf18 pic.twitter.com/XJJkJ9RC8l
— Wilma Harper (@WilmaCGH) November 22, 2018
At the NBN Trust AGM with all the trustees on stage, including our CEO Mandy #NBNConf18 pic.twitter.com/6FLshgkF7u
— GiGL (@iGiGL) November 21, 2018
Absolutely thrilled to see @SueTownsend3 and @SarahWhild receive the NBN Trust Honorary Membership. A brilliant recognition of their contribution to biological recording and environmental education #NBNConf18 @MMUBioRecs @FieldStudiesC pic.twitter.com/IGPAJFCo8h
— FSC BioLinks (@FSCBioLinks) November 22, 2018
Acknowledging the contribution of @HassellMichael to @NBNTrust Thank you for you leadership #NBNConf18 pic.twitter.com/vDlQDCNIj5
— Wilma Harper (@WilmaCGH) November 22, 2018
Today @_BTO and @_ALERC_ have agreed to unlock 150 million records, mostly birds, for local environmental decision making, as contributed to @NBNAtlas on behalf of our amazing volunteers & partners.@JNCC_UK @Natures_Voice @WWTworldwide @ScottishBirding @birdsinwales @BirdWatchIE pic.twitter.com/daYjgk6mMa
— BTO (@_BTO) November 21, 2018
Network Knowledge Exchange Sessions
Talking about Darwin Core and how the @NBNAtlas uses it keeps throwing up interesting tangents of the data management quirks we all live with. The ideal is that we’ll all use the same standards eventually, but until then… #NBNConf18
— GiGL (@iGiGL) November 21, 2018
Huzzah we have Coreo data-collection apps built and on phones in just over 2hours!! 📲 🎉 Thanks to all for making it a great session #nbnconf18 #CitizenScience #CitSci @NBNTrust @Coreo_io pic.twitter.com/eA8NhG1CTS
— Natural Apptitude (@natapp_uk) November 21, 2018
#NBNConf18 Knowledge Exchange session on running a BioBlitz and making a short video! Thank you to all our participants! https://t.co/flplyIdUtx
— CEDaR NI (@cedarnmni) November 21, 2018
Who do you want to target with the BioBlitz? A suggestion for the model BioBlitz #NBNConf18 @BioBlitzUK pic.twitter.com/lmHspKyYPD
— GiGL (@iGiGL) November 21, 2018
Thank you to @SueTownsend3 for introducing us to the wonderful world of cornflake taxonomy at the #NBNConf18 yesterday. It even involves pinning! pic.twitter.com/VhB7SeSgL0
— Ryan Clark (@RyanClarkNature) November 22, 2018
An end to a wonderful NBN conference #NBNConf18 with some excellent and inspiring speakers. Well done to the @NBNTrust and all your hard work and thanks for @manxheritage for sending me!
— Laura McCoy (@CuratorLaura) November 22, 2018
Thanks for a great conf. Loving learning about British biodiversity, data networks and community participation. Lots of great work and fun people. #nbnconf18 @NBNTrust
— thaliebel 🐾 (@thaliebel) November 22, 2018
What a great #NBNConf18 thanks to all the speakers & the @NBNTrust for putting on such an important annual event👏 & in the perfect venue👌 #CitizenScience #Biodiversity pic.twitter.com/fEJbauChlw
— Natural Apptitude (@natapp_uk) November 22, 2018