NFBR and BRC conference: National Recording Schemes and Societies – celebrating the past, looking to the future
The National Forum for Biological Recording and the Biological Records Centre are holding a conference on the theme of National Recording Schemes and Societies – celebrating the past, looking to the future on the 12th-13th May at Lancaster University.
Booking is now open and further information can be found here.
The conference will consist of presentations, speed talks, a poster exhibition and discussion workshops. There will be a conference dinner on Thursday evening and a field trip to the Forest of Bowland AONB on Saturday 14th May.
The keynote address will be delivered by Stuart Roberts from the Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society on the subject of ‘Biological Recording: The role of volunteers in the conservation panoply’.
The excellent line-up of speakers includes:
- Lucy Babey, European Cetacean Monitoring Coalition
- Pete Boardman, Natural England Field Unit
- Keiron Brown, Earthworm Society of Britain
- Thom Dallimore, Edge Hill University
- Garth Foster, Balfour-Browne Club and the Aquatic Coleoptera Conservation Trust
- Carol Inskipp, Weardale Wildlife Group
- Craig Macadam, National Ephemeroptera Recording Scheme and Buglife
- Damian McFerran, Centre for Environmental Data and Recording
- Darren Mann, Scarabid Recording Scheme and Oxford University Museum of Natural History
- Louise Marsh, Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland
- Chloe Rose, Identification Trainers for the Future
- Chloe Smith, Edge Hill University
- Rachel Stroud, National Biodiversity Network Trust
- Sue Townsend or BioLinks Project Officer, Field Studies Council
- Jon Webb, Natural England
- Ian Winfield, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
The inspiring and long-standing contributions of volunteer-led National Schemes and Societies (NSS) are critical to biological recording in the UK and hugely valued by decision-makers, conservation practitioners and researchers. NSS face challenges, such as turnover of members, competition for resources and increasing demands on their time and expertise, but also new opportunities arising from emerging technology, growing interest in and support for ‘citizen science’ and an increased need for biodiversity surveillance and monitoring. The NSS, in all their guises, show great resourcefulness and innovation in rising to these challenges and seizing opportunities. The conference will celebrate the achievements of NSS and help to build on these achievements in future by:
- Highlighting the crucial and evolving role of volunteer-led NSS in UK biological recording
- Raising awareness of resources and opportunities available to NSS and their volunteer recorders
- Facilitating collaboration between NSS and other partners on local and national scales to achieve common goals
We hope to see you there!
If you would be interested in offering a poster or display for the conference exhibition, please contact Paula Lightfoot