Join us for the next event in our Seeds of Thought Lunchtime Talk series - with Anne Magurran.
Biodiversity is a concept that encapsulates the rich variety of nature. In her talk Anne will consider what we mean by biodiversity and draw on her research to examine the ecological processes that influence the biodiversity of different ecosystems. She will ask how human pressures on the natural world are changing its biodiversity, and impacting the resilience of the ecosystems on which we all depend.
Her talk will also reflect on conservation challenges related to biodiversity. Should we be trying to restore systems to historic baselines, or to protect ecological interactions, or preserve iconic plants and animals, or focus on species expected to thrive in a changing climate? How do we make these choices in a world in which conservation is often not viewed as a priority?
Anne Magurran is Professor of Ecology & Evolution in the Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews. Her research focuses on understanding how biodiversity changes over space and time, and has taken her from Irish oakwoods to the flooded forests of Amazonia with work on many different groups of plants and animals along the way.
About Seeds of Thought
Join us for a series of lunchtime talks with researchers, thinkers, artists, creatives, and like-minded individuals.
Over the coming twelve months, we invite you to a menu of fascinating ideas over lunch. In the first four talks, we’ll explore the rhythms of nature – from seasonal cycles to geological developments and the forces that shape life on our world and beyond. Together, we’ll consider how changes at various scales reflect the broader ecological crisis and explore ways to engage with these shifts, both practically and imaginatively.
We are delighted to be joined by David Farrier, Michelle Bastian, Claire Cousins, and Anne Magurran.
Coffee, tea, and water will be available, with sandwiches for pre-order at the Visitor Centre. Free for St Andrews Botanic Garden Friends Members, £3 for visitors
