This year’s NBN Conference and NBN Trust AGM took place online on Wednesday 18 November. It was held online for the first time and ran in collaboration with iSpotnature, Faculty of STEM, The Open University.

All of the presentations can be found on the presentations page.

The information below relates to the programme for the day and is retained for information purposes.

Programme

This year’s theme is “The NBN at 20 – Changing times”, which will help mark the 20th anniversary of the NBN Trust.

Confirmed speakers (please click on the names for more information and details of the individual presentations):

  • Sir John Burnett Memorial Lecture 2020 – Sir Charles Burrell, Knepp Castle Estate: “New Habitats for a connected naturescape”
  • Keynote address – Dr Cecilia Medupin, The University of Manchester, Lecturer at the School of Natural Sciences, Convener Women in Environmental Sciences: “Biodiversity of Macroinvertebrates, Public Engagement, Inclusion & Sustainable Development Goals”
  • Janice Ansine and Dr Mike Dodd – The Open University / iSpot, will present a summary of the NBN 2020 Conference BioBlitz results and highlight iSpot opportunities for you to get involved.
  • Clare Blencowe – Association of Local Environmental Record Centres CIC / Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre: “Local Environmental Record Centres in Changing Times”
  • Aletta Bonn – Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ  |  Friedrich Schiller University Jena | German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv): “Biodiversity Networks are People Networks”.
  • Keiron Derek Brown – Field Studies Council: “FSC Eco Skills Framework”.
  • Gina Burlinson – University of Portsmouth/University Centre Sparsholt – “Jack in the Box: use of existing data and the NBN Atlas in a student jack snipe project” 
  • James Cranston – University of Exeter: “Wildlife recorders show positive attitudes towards range-shifting species”.
  • Mark Elliott – Devon Wildlife Trust: “The reintroduction of Eurasian beavers into England”.
  • George Garnett – University of Edinburgh / Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: ‘”Island botany”
  • Jo Judge – NBN Trust, Chief Executive Officer: “NBN Trust Strategy 2021-2025”.
  • Richard Ostler – Rothamsted Research: “Adopting FAIR principles for Rothamsted’s long-term agricultural experiments”.
  • Tom Thomson – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust (Buglife):  “Important Invertebrate Areas – Harnessing Data and Building the Network”.

The event will run using Microsoft Teams, an online conferencing platform. Information on joining the event will be sent out in advance, along with guidance to help you with using the software.  There will also be an “NBN Conference Help Desk” on the day.

There will be an hour for lunch to ensure there is time for everyone to take a break away from their PCs.  However, for those who wish to catch up with colleagues during the lunch break, there will be an area for networking and the NBN Trust AGM will take place. There will also be an “NBN Atlas Information Desk” available during breaks.

Download the confirmed NBN Conference programme 

Mini BioBlitz

As we are working in collaboration with iSpot, we are holding a mini BioBlitz ahead of the Conference to capture a map of this autumn’s wildlife! You can take part until Monday 16 November.  The results will be visualised and presented during the Conference.

Here’s more information on how to take part.

Social media

Join in on the day using #NBNconf20

NBN Awards for Wildlife Recording 2020

As usual we will announce the winners and runners up after the Conference.  This will take place after a short break when the Conference ends, starting at 16:00.

The programme for the Awards ceremony is available.  If you are not already attending the Conference, please book your free place to attend the special online NBN Awards ceremony. (Sorry, bookings are now closed)

Bookings

The costs for attending are:

Students: £20

Members: £30

Non-members: £40

Sponsors

We are once again indebted to Habitat Aid for its sponsorship of the NBN conference and to iSpot and The Open University for co-hosting this years’ event

 

*The Conference was due to be held at The Open University in Milton Keynes on 18 and 19 November. However, as the uncertainty regarding holding face to face meetings continues, we took the decision to change to a one-day, online Conference to ensure that we run an event that is safe for all of our delegates and speakers, as well as our staff.

 

Go to Conference rooms