This event took place on Monday 20 January 2020.
Global environmental and climatic change and human activities are affecting biodiversity on unprecedented levels, requiring widespread interdisciplinary responses to tackle these issues.
In this full-day event, scientists from across the University of Plymouth and further afield come together with practitioners to showcase nationally and globally important research, focused on the understanding and management of natural and human-modified landscapes.
We are pleased to welcome our keynote speakers Harry Barton, CEO of Devon Wildlife Trust, and Corine Dyke, Lead Advisor at Natural England, for their experience and insights on protecting nature, planning for changing coastlines, and sustainable futures.
Researchers from geographical, environmental, biological and social sciences will share their latest work – including previously unpublished findings – on the biodiversity crisis and species responses to global climate change; conservation and making space for nature; deep-time biodiversity trends; and living with nature: the health and wellbeing benefits of green spaces.
There will be plenty of opportunity for discussion to open dialogues across subject areas, and to explore the opportunities available for collaborative working that has greater impact potential. If your work involves land management and decisions that benefit wider society, then there will be scope to learn more about how you could apply the latest research into practice.
We are delighted to have a display of art that focuses on the South West Coast Path from Rosie Sherwood, who is currently taking part in a year-long residency with the University of Plymouth Marine Institute.
Research will also be displayed and discussed during a poster session. If you would like to contribute a poster that relates to the themes of the event, please email jessie.woodbridge@plymouth.ac.uk with a poster title, list of authors, and brief summary of ~150 words. A0 portrait or A1 landscape posters accepted.
Morning programme
08:45 | Introduction by Professor Iain Stewart, Director of the Sustainable Earth Institute09:30 | The biodiversity crisis and species responses to global change – quick-fire talks with Q&A, chaired by Dr Jessie Woodbridge
- 'Vulnerability to global change – lessons from aquatic insect studies' by Professor David Bilton, Professor of Aquatic Biology
- 'Response of tropical forests to global change' by Dr Sophie Fauset, Lecturer in Environmental Science
- 'Responses of Antarctic marine biodiversity to a changing climate' by Professor John Spicer, Professor of Marine Zoology
- 'Evolution of biodiversity and its conservation' by Dr Jon Ellis, Lecturer in Conservation Genetics
11:00 | Conservation and making space for nature – quick-fire talks with Q&A, chaired by Dr Olivia Wilson
- 'Biosecurity and the socio-politics of nature conservation' by Dr Kim Ward, Lecturer in Human Geography
- 'Policy and protection of coasts ' by Dr Sian Rees, Senior Research Fellow in marine conservation, management and policy
- 'Biodiversity in the UK overseas territories: views from Parliament' by Dr Nichola Harmer, Lecturer in Human Geography
- 'An Ever Moving Now' by Rosie Sherwood, artist, independent publisher and scholar, and artist in residence at the University of Plymouth's Marine Institute
12:00 | Long-term biodiversity trends – quick-fire talks with Q&A, chaired by Professor David Bilton
- 'Deep-time perspectives on landscape management and grazing as a driver of change' by Professor Ralph Fyfe, Professor in Geospatial Information
- 'Archaeobotany and plants within heritage: from charred seeds to mighty oak trees' by Dr Ruth Pelling, Senior Archaeobotanist at Historic England
- 'Human land-use and long-term biodiversity change in the British Isles' by Dr Jessie Woodbridge, Research Fellow in Physical Geography
- 'Project Wildscape: Reconstructing the Holocene Palaeoecology of the Humberhead Levels' by Nika Shilobod, PhD student in Physical Geography
13:00 | Lunch and networking with posters
Afternoon programme
14:00 | Keynote: Corine Dyke, Natural England, on 'Planning for a changing coast'
14:30 | Living with nature: the health and well-being benefits of green spaces – quick-fire talks with Q&A, chaired by Professor Ralph Fyfe
- 'Planning, biodiversity and green spaces' by Dr Olivia Wilson, Lecturer in Human Geography
- 'Helping people to interact with nature' by Zoe Sydenham, Natural Infrastructure Officer at Plymouth City Council
- 'The health and wellbeing benefits of green spaces: local case studies' by Dominic Gallagher, Health and Wellbeing Manager at Public Health England
- 'Respiratory health outcomes associated with different grass species in the UK' by Dr Francis Rowney, Research Fellow at the European Centre for Environment and Human Health
- 'Nature and sustainable health' by James Szymankiewicz, GP and Director of Strategy and Partnerships / Chair of Devon Nature Partnerships
15:45 | Summary by Dr Jessie Woodbridge and Dr Olivia Wilson
16:00 | Coffee/tea break and networking with posters
16:15 | Plenary discussion and poster session
Who is this event for?
This event will be of most interest to academics and researchers seeking collaborations in or with biology, marine, sustainability, geography, earth sciences, health and social sciences; those working in land management and planning; charities who take care of natural spaces and wildlife; or any other related field that would benefit from the latest thinking on biodiversity.
