BES Facebook pageBES Annual Meeting 2011
12 - 14 September
University of Sheffield, UK
Other Events
We understand the importance of making the most of your time at the Annual Meeting, which is why we actively promote a range of events outside our range of scientific sessions. The list is still evolving, so make sure you pop back for confirmed details.
The events will take place in and around the campus; for location details, please check the printed programme you will receive upon registering.
SUNDAY 11 SEPTEMBER
19.30 - 21.30
Welcome Mixer with drinks and live music, part sponsored by Wiley-Blackwell
MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER
13:00 - 14:30
Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analysis made easy: Part One
13.15 - 14.30
Author workshop: From Research Paper to Press Release
13.15 - 14.55
Q&A with Tropical Ecologists
13.20 - 14.30
Environmental Metabolomics - tour and workshop (Plant Environmental Physiology Group)
16.00 - 17.15
Poster Session and Cake (Poster Group 1)
18.00 - 19.00
Sheffield Botanic Garden - tour (Plant Environmental Physiology Group)
19.45 - 21.00
Parasites and Pathogens Special Interest Group social drinks
20.00 - 20.45
Unlocking Your Potential - keys to a successful career in ecology
21.00 - 23.30
Ceilidh with Warblefly (dancing with live music)
TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER
11.15 - 15.00
Where next for the UK National Ecosystem Assessment and IPBES?
13:00 - 14:30
Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analysis made easy: Part Two
13.15 - 14.50
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Sustainability: a discussion of agenda and opportunities with Dave Raffaelli
13.15 - 14.55
Forest Ecology Special Interest Group and REDD panel discussion
13.30 - 14.50
Publishing Science in the Online Age
16.45 - 18.45
Poster Session and Wine Trail (Poster Group 2)
18.45 - 23.30
Aquatic Ecology social event
20.00 - 21.30
Pub Quiz hosted by Sir David Read, FRS
Any time during the evening
Self-guided Ale and Curry Walk
WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER
13.00 - 16.30
Peatland ecosystem restoration: Carbon, water & biodiversity, Peak District National Park - fieldtrip
MONDAY 12 SEPTEMBER
13:00 - 14:30
Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analysis made easy: Part One
Drew Purves
Likelihood-based statistics (this includes ‘maximum likelihood’ and ‘Bayesian’ approaches) are everywhere in ecology nowadays, and for good reason – these methods allow us to match up relatively complex hypotheses, ideas and models, with relatively complex, heterogeneous data sets, in a way that is hard to do with traditional ‘canned’ statistics. But most ecologists seem to think that likelihood-based stats are hard, and wouldn’t know how to get started with them in their own work. In this short course will try to my little bit to set this right!
First, I’ll explain the small number of very simple concepts that underlie these methods, and work through some examples in Excel. Hopefully this will leave you thinking ‘what, is that all there is to it after all?’. Then, after the 90 mins is up, I’ll do a second 90 mins on using ‘Filzbach’, a free library for doing fast, robust Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian parameter estimation in C++ and C#, which I have put together recently. This second half is open to anyone, but will be especially useful to those who already program in C, C++ or C# (in which case, for hands on experience with Filzbach you’ll need to install the free Microsoft program ‘Visual C++ 2010 Express’ : http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/products/2010-editions/visual-cpp-express ) -- but if not, do feel free to come along and watch.
13.15 - 14.30
Author workshop: from research paper to press release
Please collect your lunch bags at 13.00 ready to start the session promptly at 13.15
Rarely is a press release written based on information only available in a research paper. The starting point is often a well-formulated lay summary submitted with the final manuscript. However, writing a lay summary is not easy.
This lunchtime workshop is a must for all authors who want some practical advice on how to get their published work noticed by the press. Hear first-hand from colleagues who have personally experienced working with press officers and journalists. Speakers have either been successful in having their papers featured in newspapers or have been interviewed on the radio about their work. They will provide you with insight on best practice for working with the press office in your own institution and with journalists in general.
The session starts with an overview by a journal Editor looking at what makes a paper a candidate for a press release from a journal perspective. We then hear from the BES press officer, Becky Allen, looking at what information she needs to write a successful press release. The final speaker is an author who has had experience in dealing with press officers and the press. At the end of the session there will be plenty of time for an open discussion and questions. The session is open to everyone and all are welcome.
If you have any questions or for more information contact any member of the BES Publications Team at the Registration Desk. Session coordinators: Jenny Guthrie and Liz Baker
16.00 - 17.15
Poster Session and Cake (Poster Group 1)
Join us for one or two tasty cakes whilst perusing the posters in Group One! BES Poster Receptions are an invaluable means of highlighting your research to a large and varied audience, so ensure you are on hand to promote your work. It is an informal opportunity to network with other delegates in a friendly atmosphere.
The reception for Group Two will be held on Tuesday.
19.45 - 21.00
Parasites and Pathogens Special Interest Group social drink
Join Dr Jo Lello for informal drinks to chat about this brand new BES Special Interest Group. Meet at the University Arms pub in their reception rooms
20.00 - 20.45
Unlocking Your Potential - keys to a successful career in ecology
Ever wondered how to forge a successful career in ecology? Ever wanted to approach leaders in the field but found it hard to take that first step? If so, and you are a PhD student or Post Doc, come along to this informal gathering and enjoy a free drink whilst discussing career progression with eminent ecologists, including: Georgina Mace (Imperial College London and BES President Elect), Diana Wall (Colorado State University, USA and Tansley Lecturer), James Bullock (Centre for Ecology and Hydrology) Rob Freckleton (University of Sheffield and Editor of the BES journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution) and Hazel Norman (BES Executive Director). They will each give an informal five minute talk on their career in ecology followed by a question and answer session.
21.00 - 23.30
Ceilidh with Warblefly (dancing with live music)
After the roaring success of their previous appearances, the band is back.
Warblefly believe that traditional music is not about sticking your finger in your ear and reaching note-perfect harmonies, nor
is it about yearning for lost loves or bygone pastimes - it's about forgetting your inhibitions, it's an escape from everyday life, it's losing yourself in sound and rhythm, it's staying young and full of sap, it's about having a great time.
TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER
11.00 - 15.00
Where next for the UK National Ecosystem Assessment and IPBES?
Special Session jointly hosted by the BES and the UK Biodiversity Research Advisory Group
To be followed by lunch (included) to allow informal discussion to continue.
The report giving the findings of the National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA) was launched in June 2011. This Special Session is an opportunity to:
- Discuss how the results can be incorporated into UK policy
- Hear how the NEA is already having an effect on research, policy and practice.
- Explore how the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) will inform research and policy in the UK and internationally.
Plenary speakers are Professor Steve Albon, from the James Hutton Institute, co-chair of the NEA, and Dr. Andrew Stott, the UK representative for Defra on the IPBES. Four short presentations will examine the practical aspects and experiences of incorporating ecosystem services into policy. For full details of the session, use this link.
13:00 - 14:30
Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analysis made easy: Part Two
Drew Purves
Following on from Part One on Monday, Drew will do a second 90 mins on using ‘Filzbach’, a free library for doing fast, robust Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian parameter estimation in C++ and C#, which I have put together recently. This second half is open to anyone, but will be especially useful to those who already program in C, C++ or C# (in which case, for hands on experience with Filzbach you’ll need to install the free Microsoft program ‘Visual C++ 2010 Express’ : http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/products/2010-editions/visual-cpp-express ) -- but if not, do feel free to come along and watch.
13.15 - 14.50
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Sustainability: a discussion of agenda and opportunities with Dave Raffaelli
The recently launched BESS programme at NERC aims to facilitate "Improving understanding of the role of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning and service provision at a landscape-scale." BESS is a planned five year (2011-2015) research programme, which aims to contribute to our understanding of the functional role of biodiversity in key ecosystem
processes. Biodiversity underpins ecosystem goods and services through the functional role it plays within ecosystems. There is increasing concern that the ongoing loss of biodiversity may compromise the provision of ecosystem goods and services in the near future. Prof Raffaelli is overseeing the development of this programme for NERC and will provide and
overview and take questions regarding participation and agenda from the audience.
13.15 - 14.55
Forest Ecology Special Interest Group and REDD panel discussion
Organiser: Markus Eichhorn
Speakers include:
Simon Counsell (Executive Director, Rainforest Foundation UK)
Larry Lohmann (The Corner House)
Adrian Newton (Professor in Conservation Ecology, Bournemouth University)
Stephanie O'Donnell (REDD Forests)
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) is a UN-led effort to create a financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands. "REDD+" goes beyond deforestation and forest degradation, and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. Projected financial incentives from REDD+ could reach US$30 billion a year, primarily rewarding reduction of carbon emissions, but potentially also supporting sustainable development, conservation efforts and the securing of ecosystem services. Yet these ideals may not be served by current policy, and there is the potential for perverse
effects if the implications of incentives are not carefully considered. In this meeting, a group of researchers working at the interface between ecology and policy will lead a discussion on the implications of and opportunities offered by the REDD+ program. Please come along if you would like to find out more about REDD+, see how your research could be relevant to the
debate, or relate your own experiences in this area.
13.30 - 14.50
Publishing Science in the online age
Share your experiences and improve your understanding of scientific digital media
Session coordinator: Elizabeth Horne - Journal Coordinator, Methods in Ecology and Evolution
New developments in digital media have the potential to revolutionise the scientific landscape, presenting new and unparalleled opportunities for efficient collaboration, lively discussion, and novel dissemination within the scientific community - and society at large. This informal workshop, combining experienced guest speakers with group discussion and questions, aims to provide an overview of these opportunities, and enable ecologists to take better advantage of this rapidly advancing medium.
Confirmed speakers include science blogger and journalist Ed Yong, open science advocate Ross Mounce, and BES journal editors Marc Cadotte and David Gibson.
Visit the event blog to learn more about how online, digital and social media can change the way we undertake, publish and share research, and track the conversation on Twitter with #BESdigital.
16.45 - 18.45
Poster Session and Wine Trail (Poster Group 2)
Join us for a mystery glass or two of wine and wander through the posters of Group Two.
Think you know your Cabernet Sauvignon from your Pinot Noir? Test your knowledge in the BES Wine Trail. Taste four wines and see if you can identify the correct description - and there's even a prize for the winner! Pick up a scoring sheet from the Registration Desk to take part. Cheers!
The reception for Group One will be held on Monday.
20.00 - 21.30
Pub Quiz
In his own inimitable and risqué style, Prof. Sir David Read FRS will host a pub quiz evening at this year's Annual Meeting, loosely based on the life and times of Charles Darwin - as well as a bit of science. As a contemporary of his, we could find no better expert on the subject in Sir David!
Any time during the evening
Self-guided Ale and Curry Walk
Sheffield is famed for its vast array of excellent traditional pubs and local breweries producing fantastic real ales so we decided that the BES Annual Meeting 2011 was the perfect opportunity to show off these hidden gems. We have developed a self-guided ale trail to the pubs at heart of Sheffield's cultural industries quarter and throughout the city centre.
There is a map contained in the printed programme which will show the routes together with details of the featured pubs. Public transport is available from the Sheffield Supertram University stop with 'Shalesmoor' stop close to pubs 2 - 4 and a number of further stops on the way into the city centre. Most of the venues offer food, but we have included a list of our favourite eateries just in case. If you would like any further details please let us know or ask one of our student helpers who will be available throughout the meeting.
WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER
13.00 - 16.30
Peatland ecosystem restoration: Carbon, water & biodiversity, Peak District National Park - fieldtrip
The fieldtrip will showcase one of the largest peatland restoration projects in the UK in the Peak District National Park.
If you are interested in attending, contact Andrew Beckerman.
The Moors for the Future Partnership is a public-private partnership undertaking restoration of peatlands across the Peak District and South Pennines, particularly on bare peat areas, which have suffered from a legacy of industrial pollution and wildfires.
Novel techniques are being trialled to revegetate peat and introduce Sphagnum. We will visit experimental plots assessing the effects of lime and fertiliser on revegetation, as well as Sphagnum propagation plots. The discussion will centre around restoration for ecosystem services, in particular carbon storage, erosion control, water quality and flow attenuation, as well as biodiversity and the need for long-term trajectories in peatland management. In addition, the discussion will cover the ecosystem approach taken by the partnership, business-practice links and active integration of scientific evidence into practice. Rough walking terrain: boots and outdoor clothing required.
The location of the field trip is Blackhill near Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, in the Peak District National Park, with a big adjacent car park. The fieldtrip will start at 13.10 with a coach transfer from the University of Sheffield and finish at 16.30 with a drop off at Sheffield train station and thereafter at the University of Sheffield. Any luggage can be left securely on the bus. Packed lunch will be provided. The field trip is kindly supported by the Moors for the Future Partnership.
