The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy: Opportunities and Challenges for Science

Joint BES/CIEEM/SBF meeting, 19th – 20th September 2013

Location

Lecture Theatre, RoyalBotanic GardenEdinburgh, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR

Details

This is an exciting joint venture between the British Ecological Society, the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, and the Scottish Biodiversity Forum.

The refreshed Scottish Biodiversity Strategy: 2020 Challenge – updated to incorporate the new CBD 2020 ‘Aichi Targets’ - was launched in June this year:

The challenge for the science community is to engage with the strategy and to help make a difference for nature and people. This meeting provides an important forum for scientists, ecological practitioners, policymakers and managers working on biodiversity issues in Scotland. People can meet to discuss the new challenges and find ways of making science count.

The meeting will:

  • Introduce the new strategy to the science community;
  • Consider the existing and emerging research needs, and the new skills and expertise that we need to draw on;
  • Provide opportunities for the science and practitioner communities to find out about the needs of policy-makers and to consider how knowledge exchange can work more effectively; and
  • Enable people to network and tell us about their work.

This meeting offers a great chance for early-career researchers to begin engaging with the world of policy! We particularly welcome the participation of students, and shall award a prize for the best poster. Poster submissions can be on any topic associated with biodiversity in Scotland.

Thursday 19th September

The event opens on the 19th of September at 7 pm, with an early evening public lecture at 7:30 pm in the RoyalBotanic Garden’s Lecture Theatre, entitled Tactical Science to Build Strategies That Last. This will be delivered by Professor Louise Heathwaite, Chief Scientific Adviser for Rural Affairs and the Environment at Scottish Government. This will be followed by a convivial networkingreception.

*** The evening lecture and reception are free to attend***

***All delegates are very welcome***

Friday 20th September

In the morning we provide an introduction to the refreshed Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, and consider how science continues to underpin the strategy. We look at the additional challenges arising from the 2020 ‘Aichi Targets’.

Lunch includes a poster session/competition and opportunities for networking.

The afternoon’s break-out sessions offer opportunities to hear about new work, to discuss ways of doing more for biodiversity, and to help the research and practitioner communities connect better.

Effective communication is key to making progress. The final session will consider how we can improve knowledge exchange between scientists, policy makers and practitioners to ensure that we do excellent and relevant research, and deploy our findings to best effect.

Registration

  • Please register in advance.
  • For members of the BES and/or CIEEM, registration is £20.
  • Cost for non-members is £30.
  • Further details are available on the SBF, BES and CIEEM websites:

BES:

CIEEM:

SBF:

Poster Session

There will be approximately 20 poster boards available. Submission of poster abstracts should be made via the booking form. Poster topics should be relevant to Scotland’s biodiversity. Please do not start to prepare a poster until we have confirmed it has been accepted, when information on poster production will be circulated. We hope to have some lively poster displays, including from the National Biodiversity Network and the Scottish Biodiversity Information Forum.

Travel Grant (BES Members)

The BES has a small fund available to help members of the BES attend the meeting. Early-career researchers (no more than 10 years post-PhD) can apply to the Society to claim up to £50 towards the cost of their travel. Grants will be paid on the basis of submitted expenses claims once delegates have completed their journeys.

Those wishing to apply for this assistance must contact the BES Policy Manager () prior to the meeting, as grants are awarded on a first-come first-served basis.

PROGRAMME

09.30 / REGISTRATION AND COFFEE
09.50 / WELCOME: Professor Pete Hollingsworth – Director of Science, The RoyalBotanic Garden, Edinburgh
10.00 / INTRODUCTION: The refreshed Scottish Biodiversity Strategy - Professor Des Thompson, Scottish Natural Heritage
Science in action for Biodiversity. Chair: Professor Pete Hollingsworth
10.30 / American mink control – combining science with community action / Professor Xavier Lambin, Aberdeen University
10.45 / Corn bunting conservation and management – close to the brink for arable farmland biodiversity / Professor Jeremy Wilson, RSPB
11.00 / Marine science in action – a step change in profile / Professor Colin Moffat, Marine Scotland
11.15 / TEA AND COFFEE
11.35 / Challenges for the future – science in action / Professor Rob Brooker, James Hutton Institute
11.50 / How do Scottish plant species map onto an ecosystem-based view of future conservation? / Dr Chris Ellis, RoyalBotanic Garden, Edinburgh
12.05 / Q and A – with instructions for break-out groups
12.15 / LUNCH AND POSTER VIEWING (including poster competition)
13-15 – 14.15 / BREAK-OUT GROUPS... SCIENCE CHALLENGES... What can you do for biodiversity? Chair: Professor Des Thompson
We shall have groups considering:
-Research gaps
-New challenges raised by the SBS
-How we can make science more effective
-Hot science and ideas!
14.15 / TEA AND COFFEE (announcement of poster prize winner)
CHALLENGES FOR KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE. Chair: Professor Rob Brooker
14.30 / Getting more from the science and policy relationship - the SPIRAL project / Dr Juliette Young, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
14.45 / Putting research into practice - some examples from studies of gamebirds / Dr Nick Sotherton, GWCT
15.15 / Discussion and Q&A
16.00 / close and DEPART