The annual conference is a key date in the ALERC calendar.  As well as providing an interesting and topical programme of speakers it gives all LERC staff the opportunity to meet up with colleagues from across the country to discuss all the latest developments within the LERC sector and beyond.

Conference 2023: Citizen & Community Science: Benefits & Challenges for LERCs

Thursday 19th October
10:00am to 3:00pm.  Online.

Citizen and Community Science is increasing the number of people recording wildlife and generating the information we need to understand our environment.  To make the most of it we should think differently in the way we work with people and the data.

Bioblitzes are a great way to get local people involved in collecting data. (copyright: P Barrington, GMERC)

Programme

10:00      Welcome
10:05      Involving The Public In National Projects

•      Peter Crow - Forest Research - Observatree
•      Judith Garforth - Nature’s Calendar

10:55    Break 

•      Dr Lawrence Ball – Bugs Matter Splat Data
•      Prof Seirian Sumner – The Big Wasp Survey

12:00    ALERC AGM
12:30    Lunch
13:00    LERCs’ Community And Citizen Science Projects

•      ERICNE – Ancient Woods And Modern Citizens 
•      CBDC – Forgotten Lands Of The North Pennines 
•      RECORD – Chester’s First City Nature Challenge
•      WWBIC – The Big Meadow Search Project
•      DBRC – Monitoring Local Wildlife Sites

13:50    Break
14:00    An In-Depth Look At Engaging The Public And The Data They Collect (Breakouts)

•      Citizen Science The Nurturing Nature Way. – Jon Isherwood, WSBRC
•      Urban Wildlife Project – Becky Clover, Natural History Museum
•      NBN Atlas Update & iNaturalist, - Giselle Sterry & Sophia Ratcliffe, NBN
•      The Challenges Of Citizen Science And AI Tools – Leon Debell, ALERC

14:45   Plenary
15:00   Goodbye

​
Downloads:
ALERC Conference 2023:  Programme (pdf)
ALERC Conference 2023:  Information about the speakers and their presentations (pdf)