Next-generation Monitoring of Human-nature Interactions

This event has a unique format. Attendees will be split into teams and tasked with developing a short and fast-paced research project to improve our understanding of human-nature interactions, especially in relation to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). This format resembles a ‘hackathon’ but with a twist, as teams will cut across disciplines (e.g. ecologists, social scientists, psychologists, computer scientists) and methods (quantitative and qualitative) creating an exciting interdisciplinary and innovative atmosphere.

Potential projects could review how human-nature interactions fit into the GBF, develop novel online interaction indicators, validate existing approaches, or consider how to leverage behavioral change to promote biodiversity recovery.

Speakers

The event will be launched by two exciting plenary speakers working in the human-nature interaction research space.

Dr. Laura Thomas-Walters (she/her) – Environmental activism: choosing effective tactics and mobilizing new activists Yale University, US.

I am Deputy Director of Experimental Research for the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and research lead in XR UK’s Data Analysis & Insights Circle. Mobilising a diverse range of activists is essential for creating much-needed political action on climate change and biodiversity. From talks to walks, from bums in seats to feet on the streets, I’ll discuss the lessons I’ve drawn from multiple experiments, surveys, focus groups, and historical examples of social movements.

Dr. Oscar Morton (he/him) – Ensuring sustainability can keep pace with a growing wildlife trade University of Cambridge, UK.

I am a conservation researcher at the University of Cambridge, leading research on ensuring sustainable wildlife trade. Balancing the many benefits of sustainable use with the scale and threat of poorly managed exploitation poses a growing challenge. Many global regulatory processes are designed with specific taxa in mind and few are likely to keep pace with the growing, global phenomenon that is modern wildlife trade. I’ll draw on my research on the drivers and impacts of exploitation and contrast this with the current state of play for trade management across a range of scales to highlight emerging gaps in the current policy landscape and what this could mean for ecosystems.

 

Format

The event will finish with each team (4-5 people) presenting progress on their project, as well as making some suggestions on how their work could be progressed for a publication or grant. This means the event not only has potential to expand your research network, but also propels each team towards a research output.

The event will take place at Anomalous London, beginning at 9:30 and ending at 16:30, each day. Coffee/tea will be provided, as well food for lunch. Please let us know about dietary requirements when registering. Note that with the exception of any further specific requirements, all food will be vegan.

 

Application

To ensure we bring together researchers across diverse disciplines and career stages, we will be asking all attendees to submit an application registering their interest and specifying what they hope to gain from attending, before tickets are released. Conference organisers will review these applications before enabling selected attendees to purchase a ticket.

To apply please follow the link below to our MSForm, and complete as appropriate. Applications for this event will close on 18 July 2024.

Apply Here

We have strived to improve event inclusivity by keeping ticket prices as low as possible. The Wiley-BES journal People and Nature have also agreed to sponsor the event and cover the cost of three early-career tickets for people from underrepresented communities, including people of colour. If you would like to be considered for one of these tickets please indicate when you apply.

 

Registration

BES members receive discounted tickets. Membership starts from £25, or you can get 12-months free membership if you are an undergraduate, masters, or first year PhD student. 

BES student fee: £50

BES member fee: £120

Non-member student fee: £115

Non-member fee: £200

Those who are accepted for this event will be sent a link to book their tickets. Registration will be open from 1 August 2024.

 

Code of Conduct

The BES code of conduct we will follow can be found here

Code of Conduct

 

For any queries, please email joseph.millard@nhm.ac.uk.