August 3, 2021
The British Ecological Society (BES) has just opened a new call for applications to its Outreach, Ecologists in Africa, Small Research Projects, Large Research Projects and Travel & Training grants. To find out how to apply visit: https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/funding/research-grants/
DEADLINE: Friday 10 September 2021
November 24, 2020
June 29, 2020
Rahab Kinyanjui
USING PALAEOECOLOGICAL PROXIES TO DETERMINE ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT ON VEGETATION DURING PRE-COLONIAL, COLONIAL AND POST-COLONIAL PERIOD IN KENYA’S HIGHLANDS-CASE STUDY ABERDARE RANGES
By Rahab KINYANJUI (National Museums of Kenya: Nairobi)
In spite of the challenges and uncertainties that the larger scientific community is currently facing, I am delighted and humbled to accept one of the British Ecological Society’s Ecologist in Africa research grant for 2020. The grant will support my historical ecology project whose main goal is to apply palaeoecological and archaeological proxies to investigate the extent of anthropogenic impacts on vegetation structure and composition of one of the Kenyan Central highlands before, during, and after the colonial period.
The Aberdare range forest provide an ideal setting for this study because they have been farmed by local populations since long before colonialism, and they were heavily impacted during colonial times because of their fertile soils. This pilot project aims to reveal the land-use and land-cover dynamics of the Aberdare range forest, and it is hoped that eventually similar studies will be undertaken in other parts of the Kenyan highland forests.
March 18, 2019
We are currently looking for a new representative to join the British Ecological Society (BES) Education and Careers Committee (ECC) of which I am currently the chair. I have been involved with the BES for may years first attending a conference in 2000 (Warwick University), running the Tropical Ecology special interest group (2006-2009), as an ordinary member of council (2010-2014), and chairing the ECC (2014-2020). Throughout my envolvement with the BES I have had positive experiences and enjoyed contributing to a society that can get things done. Since I have been involved with ECC we have launced under-graduate and A-level summer schools, introduced a mentoring scheme for acadmices, and helped to encourage academics to engage the public with science. If you are interested in helping us to develop the activity of the society please consider joining us!
For full details visit the advert on the BES web page by clicking here.
Closing date: 22 March 2019
June 18, 2018
The British Ecological Society is preparing for the launch of a new “Palaeoecology” Special Interest Group (SIG) at the Annual Meeting 2018 in Birmingham.
As part of the launch there will be a Thematic Session at the Birmingham meeting entitled “Advancing our understanding of long-term ecology: combining ecological and palaeoecology approaches and metrics”and organised by Althea Davies and Ambroise Baker.
To find out how to get involved and join the SIG contact the organizers Althea Davies and/or Jane Bunting.
March 9, 2017
See what it was like at the British Ecological Society (BES) annual meeting 2016:
See the winning act from the Science Slam:
Find out more about the BES:
For more videos by the society check out the BES YouTube channel by clicking here.
December 15, 2016
The British Ecological Society (BES) annual meeting for 2016 has come to an end. It has seemed like a long week (and it is only Thursday) because it has been so action packed. For me it commenced on Sunday when I helped out with the introduction session for early career researchers (MSc, PhD and post-docs), and the marathon council meeting. I think the length, and intensity, of the council meeting highlighted the need for the structural review that our president, Sue Hartley, has just initiated. The main program commenced on Monday and has been mainly a mix of workshops, posters and talks, with a side order of special interest group meetings, carol singers, and a gala dinner.
I would like to highlight two of the scientific talks that stuck in my head in particular:
An excellent and exciting meeting was capped for me by my PhD student Nick Loughlin for being awarded the BES Public Engagement award! Well done Nick (@PalaeoNick).
REFERENCES
Sylvester, S.P., Sylvester, M.D.P.V. & Kessler, M. (2014) Inaccessible ledges as refuges for the natural vegetation of the high Andes. Journal of Vegetation Science 25, 1225-1234. DOI: 10.1111/jvs.12176
August 22, 2016
Enhancing Fieldwork Learning
Showcase 2016
University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus
12-13th September 2016
Sign up to attend this years showcase which will include:
Supported by the British Ecological Society.
Nocturnal camera trapping
Click here to sign up.
August 18, 2016
Early Career Researchers’ Grant Writing Workshop
July 20, 2016
9th Early Career Researcher Meeting Integrating Tropical Ecology Across Biomes and Continents 21st – 23rd September 2016 Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University Join us at Lancaster Envi…
Source: Events
Ecology of the past 