Centre for Biological Diversity

There are 2 CBD seminars this week. Please note venues!

Tuesday 15 May

1:00 - 2:00

Lecture Theatre D, Bute Building

Dr Nick Gotelli, University of Vermont

'An Experimental Approach To Studying The Ecological And Evolutionary Consequences Of Global Climate Change'

Thursday 16 May

1:00 - 2:00

Dyers Brae Seminar Room

Dr Phil Harrison, CREEM

"Identifying and exploring hotspots of biodiversity change over space and time."

All welcome!

SOI Seminar

Friday 1 June

1:00 -2:00pm

SOI Lecture Theatre

Dr Phil Williamson, School of Environmental Science, University of East Anglia

"Climate geoengineering and ocean acidification: what's the link?"

Research Profile

Phil is currently the UEA-based Science Coordinator for several programmes funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council:

• UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme (http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/programmes/oceanacidification/)
• UK Surface Ocean – Lower Atmosphere Study (UK SOLAS www.nerc.ac.uk/research/programmes/solas )
• Oceans 2025, the strategic research programme involving seven NERC-funded marine centres ( www.oceans2025.org ).

Phil has also  been the coordinator or manager for six other NERC multi-laboratory programmes, including those on marine biogeochemistry (Biogeochemical Ocean Flux Study, BOFS; the main UK contribution to JGOFS); marine biofouling; marine and freshwater microbial biodiversity; and marine productivity (UK GLOBEC)..

After a Natural Sciences (zoology) degree at Cambridge, Phil did a mix of terrestrial and marine research at Durham, Portsmouth, Naples and Robin Hoods’ Bay. However, he quickly became involved in science management  including research administration, programme planning, and knowledge transfer at NERC Swindon Office,  Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) Stockholm, as Deputy Executive Director. In addition to reports, PR material, grey literature, and a research papers, he has also produced a DVD “Out of the Blue”, on the ecological, evolutionary and economic importance of marine microbes.

Scientific Publishing from the Inside Out

When Sacha Vignieri, an Associate Editor for Science visited recently, Iain Matthews interviewed her about the process of publishing in Science, and about her own scientific background.

From the outside, publication in high-impact general-science journals can seem like a mysterious process. A general understanding of the procedures and practices at Science can help unravel the mystery a bit, and contribute to an understanding of what makes a good (or even great) paper a high-impact-journal paper.

You can see the interview now Biology Stories section of the Biology website.

Research bioInternal has been created to provide information about all things research. It currently includes details about school and university research policies, equipment, facilities (updating in progress), grant application guides, examples of funded grants, and the research committee minutes. Also included is a section for research-specific announcements, and a calendar for important research dates, which will include upcoming REF and research council deadlines. The site is intended to be both informative and interactive, so if you have documents, announcements or dates you would like to see included, please send them to biodor@st-andrews.ac.uk or to Donna dp61@st-andrews.ac.uk.

To get to the site, click the above link, or go to the biology web site home page, click on bioInternal and sign in using your university username and password. From the menu on the left-hand side of the page, select ‘Research’ under the ‘Sites’ category. If you have problems logging in, let Donna know.

And don’t forget, details about current research funding opportunities can still be found on the school research web site at  http://biology.st-andrews.ac.uk/research/funding.aspx

Biology Week 2012 Plan an event and submit a Life in the Lab video!

The Society of Biology is launching the first ever Biology Week on the 13^th-19^th October 2012. The aim of Biology Week is to raise the profile of the life sciences for the benefits of all and give everyone the opportunity to learn about biology in the 21^st Century. Planned events include a launch in the Houses of Parliament, a world record attempt , a public debate, as well as the presentation of our science communication and photography awards. Many of our 90+ Member Organisations will also be organising events, as well as our 15 regional branches  - we want as many people to take part as possible and here are some ways that you can get involved: 

• Submit a “Life in the Lab” video – we want to see, in film, how biology research is conducted and we invite submissions of videos up to 3 minutes long. More details…
• Organise a biology event – we are inviting anyone with a passion for biology to hold an event during Biology Week.  Whether you are putting on a lecture, debate, field-trip or hands-on demonstration, we can offer you support. More details…
• Enter our amateur Photography Competition –win up to £1000 by entering snapshots from your lab, field-trip, back garden or holiday destination that show “How Biology Can Save the World” -winners will be announced during Biology Week. More details and enter…

To get more involved with the Society of Biology and boost your CV, remember that student membership is only £15! More details and join today…

If you have any questions about any of our activities then please get in touch. 

Dr Nathan Bailey has a technician starting this summer with plans of continuing on as a PhD student.

His name is Peter Moran and he is looking for accommodation. if anyone is looking for a flatmate or if you have a spare room could you please contact him directly at p.moran321@gmail.com with the details.  Alternatively you can contact Dr Bailey nwb3@st-and.ac.uk

Thank you

School Manager Drop-in

This coming week’s biology drop-in surgery, Wednesday 16 May, will be in the BMS coffee room from 9.00am to 12.00pm.

All are welcome to stop by.

Donna Pierz-Fennell