Parasite and Pathogen Ecology and Evolution
Bringing together people interested in parasite and pathogen ecology.
Contact
Chair: Olivier Restif
Social Media: Twitter, Facebook
Background
Always evolving in response to treatment and interventions, parasites and pathogens are a growing concern for public health, conservation and food security. By studying the complex interactions between hosts, pathogens and the ecosystems they inhabit, parasite ecology has an essential role to play in the Anthropocene. Our SIG brings together ecologists, parasitologists, epidemiologists and geneticists working on a wide range of systems. We organise symposia and social events within conferences organised by the British Ecological Society, the British Society for Parasitology and others. Our monthly newsletter features interviews with members of our research community, announcements and recent publications in BES journals.
Join the Committee
Committee Chair
Interested in shaping the future of the Parasite and Pathogen Ecologiy SIG? We are recruiting!
The SIG Committee is looking for an experienced and enthusiastic disease ecologist to become our new chairperson. This voluntary role is open to any established researcher, preferably UK-based, starting from the second half of 2023 for a 3-year term, renewable. The chair’s roles are:
- Plan annual activities of the Special Interest Group for Parasite & Pathogen Ecology & Evolution, with over 300 members and 2000 followers from around the world.
- Chair monthly online meetings of the committee.
- Represent the SIG at BES events, including two online workshops each year and the BES Meeting in December.
- Submit funding applications and reports to the BES once a year for the SIG’s planned events.
- Oversee other tasks allocated to committee members, including: monthly newsletter, organisation of events, public engagement, collaboration with the British society for Parasitology and other scientific organisations, social media communication, etc.
Please send informal enquiries to the current chair, Olivier Restif (or226@cam.ac.uk). Formal applications consisting of a CV and cover email outlining your vision for the SIG can be sent to the Committee (parasites@britishecologicalsociety.org). As well as scientific leadership, we will be looking at evidence of community-supporting role (e.g. mentoring, public engagement, volunteering, international development, EDI leadership) and would particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups.
Aims
- Provide an informal forum for our community through our monthly newsletter.
- Publish reviews and concept notes on topical issues such as the role of land use change in disease emergence.
- Organise symposia and workshops aimed at early career researchers.
Join the mailing list
If you would like to find out more about the group’s latest news and activities, sign up to our mailing list here.
Events and Meetings
We organise symposia, training workshops and social events, mainly as part of larger conferences organised by other organisations, including the British Society for Parasitology, Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID) and the Wildlife Disease Association. Check our social media feeds for regular announcements, and all upcoming BES events can be found on the Events page.
Committee
- Chair – Olivier Restif (University of Cambridge)
- British Society for Parasitology Rep – Jo Cable (Cardiff University)
- ECR and Events Rep – Lucinda Kirkpatrick (University of Antwerp
- ECR and events rep – Amy Sweeny (University of Edinburgh)
- Communications rep – Lucy Henshall (University of Aberdeen)
- Communications rep – Cassandra Raby (University of Leeds)
- European representative – Emmanuel Serrano Ferron (University of Barcelona)
- Newsletter editor – Louise Cheynel (University of Liverpool)
Like what we stand for?
Support our mission and help develop the next generation of ecologists by donating to the British Ecological Society.