Laura MacKenzie

🌍 In the spotlight of Nature Climate Change: Our paper on freshwater wetland restoration has been highlighted in the April issue of the journal ‘Nature Climate Change’.  This global meta-analysis, led by Blue Carbon Lab scientist Dr Lukas Schuster, explores the timescales required to transform degraded freshwater wetlands into cooling carbon sinks, revealing the real role of restoration as a natural climate solution.  The paper showed that degraded freshwater wetlands can become net #carbonsinks within just 5 years post-restoration. However, this can take between 141-525 years to have a net cooling effect on the climate. 💡 What does this mean for climate action? In light of meeting short-term climate goals by 2100 (Paris Agreement timeframe), the protection of natural freshwater wetlands emerges as the most effective short-term strategy to ensure their climate cooling effects. Nature highlight - https://lnkd.in/gaFTjU_N Research paper - https://lnkd.in/gvvCnwne  #ClimateChange #WetlandRestoration #ClimateAction #ParisAgreement Peter Macreadie I Pierre Taillardat I Martino E. Malerba I Science of the Total Environment (STOTEN) I Nature Portfolio I Springer Nature Group I Deakin Research I Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre 

60

If you missed our annual event in March-24, you can catch up with the recordings. Our Guest Speaker Elizabeth Gibney spoke about How UK science is failing Black researchers. Watch here 👉 : https://lnkd.in/eX-VSSPi Less than 1% of UK professors are Black, despite people of Black heritage making up 4% of the UK working age population. This talk is data-driven dive into when and where the UK academic system loses scientists from all marginalized ethnicities, with some ideas on what can be done about it. This is based on data collected for Nature Portfolio’s 2022 news feature How UK science is failing Black researchers — in nine stark charts. Read the news feature: https://lnkd.in/eyTpnghF "Relatively few students from lower socio-economic backgrounds know that PhDs exist and that they are often funded" #BlackInSTEM #DiversityInSTEM #EquityInSTEM #InclusionInSTEM

3

"Science communication gave me perspective, made me happier, and a better scientist" We interview Prof. Giles Yeo on how he started with and continues to do science communication. We talk about ⭐ How to balance doing research with science communication ⭐ The benefits of doing science communication ⭐ What its like to work with the BBC ⭐ Publishing a popular science book ⭐ and tips on how to get started with science communication This episode is packed full of fun and insightful moments you won't want to miss. Watch here👀 https://lnkd.in/e9UfXWr4

1

The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) have released the 2022/23 Waterbirds in the UK report - showing fewer ducks, geese, swans, and wader species are travelling to the UK as milder winter conditions keep them in northern Europe. Discover the findings in the full report here: https://bit.ly/3WxpKrF The Heart of England Forest and its devoted volunteers have recently started undergoing national WeBS (Wetland Bird Surveys) that will contribute to next year's report. However, we'd like to give you an brief insight and share that on one of our winter surveys we recorded 108 teal and 28 mallard on one of our smaller wetland areas in the Forest in one session! ''It's great that in our first winter of doing the WeBS we've found a variety of wetland bird species are using the ponds in the Forest. These surveys are also important outside of the Forest, with the data shared with the BTO helping to inform how wetland birds are doing locally and nationally" - Biodiversity Data and Survey Officer, Sam Macvie If you'd like to find out more about becoming a volunteer for bird surveying in the Forest, please get in touch with our volunteer team: [email protected] Photo description Two teal ducks on the calm surface of a pond. #Birds #WaterBirds #WetlandBirds #Ducks #Sawns #Survey #SurveySeason #CitizenScience #BirdSurvey #BirdWatching #ClimateChange #UKBirds #WinterBirds RSPB

3

Conservation: what's the big deal? We could go on and on about why we're so passionate about this subject, but this blog sums it up nicely: https://lnkd.in/en-KkE_j #WeekendRead #Conservation #NatureConservation

4

1 Comment

In our latest article, Chris Magee explains the importance of informed policy-making surrounding the use of animals in research and discusses what is at risk if animal research is banned outright. Until politicians are fully informed on the full context and reality of the subject, research policies are at risk of influence from extremist activists and misinformation. Why does science still rely on animal models in biomedical and veterinary research if there are non-animal models are becoming available? "The various methods that are used in scientific experiments are like the map on your phone," Magee explains. "Animal research is the standard 2D map that shows you a plan from above, somewhat simplified, lacking in certain revealing details but a powerful navigation tool nonetheless, while newly-developing non-animal methodologies can be thought of as being like a 3D streetview, potentially affording new insights through a different perspective and suggesting alternative ways to engage and interpret. The two modes support and reinforce each other. They are complementary and not mutually exclusive. Yet, in the minds of many activists or politicians, a choice must be made, one tool must be permanently discarded in preference to the other. Why, they claim, would you use the old, outdated 2D map when such detail is available in 3D? It is instead possible to welcome new perspectives without thinking it's a good idea to plan a drive from London to Aberdeen entirely in streetview." While animal models remain an indispensable tool in biomedical research for both animals and humans, the use of animals in research continues to decrease and the regulations become stricter as new information becomes available. "The trend towards less reliance on animals and better, more humane models is real and is happening in large part because of the efforts and ingenuity of UK-based researchers and UK government funding," Magee explains. "If the abolitionists have their way, this important contribution will come to an end and that will affect laboratory animal welfare across the globe. There will not be a revolution, but we can give the evolution towards new approaches a power boost, if we don’t tie the hands of our scientists." https://ow.ly/p0Xm50Rh3Y3 #AnimalResearch #AnimalResearchPolicy #ResearchPolicy #BiomedicalResearch

36

2 Comments