Digital resources can help make the most of expensive and limited field time but support for producing and adapting virtual materials is limited. In response, this residential workshop will provide training in how to combine pedagogical principles and digital skills for more effective field-based learning in the palaeosciences. It is organised by the Palaeoecology Special Interest Group of the British Ecological Society and aims to support those involved in teaching and communicating palaeosciences to learner and other non-specialist audiences. It will combine indoor and field-based activities to consider the ‘why’ (pedagogy) and ‘how’ (techniques) of digitally-supported field learning, including time for attendees to begin producing materials that can be expanded/adapted to support different learning objectives. Training will be delivered by Simon Huthinson (Univ. Salford), Lynda Yorke (Bangor Univ.), Derek McDougall (Univ. Worcester), Liz Hurrell and Naomi Holmes (Univ. York). Liverpool Hope University’s Plas Caerdeon field study centre (North Wales) provides an excellent base for the event, giving access to a range of coastal and upland ecosystems and landforms.
The event will run over three days, from 15-17 July 2025, involving arrival and half day, full day on-site, half day and departure. The registration cost includes full board in single or twin rooms, and coach transport between Liverpool Hope University and Plas Caerdeon (both ways). Rooms will be allocated randomly however if for any accessibility reasons you require a single room please get in touch with us and we will try to accomodate you where we can. The event will include discussion, Q&A and peer-to-peer learning opportunities, use of shared kit (e.g. GoPros) and small group working in the field, with a post-event online catch-up and support session. It is suitable for any career stage and no prior experience of producing field-based video/audio materials is needed. Post-event, materials generated through the workshop will be hosted on Digilego (https://digilego.eu/) for creative commons use.
The deadline for registration is 27 June 2025.
For questions or more information, please contact the Palaeoecology SIG organisers Althea Davies (Univ. St Andrews) and Jennifer Clear (Liverpool Hope Univ.) on palaeo@britishecologicalsociety.org.
Refunds must be requested at least 3 weeks before the event. Please be aware that in requesting a refund you will be reimbursed the event ticket price, subject to our refund policy; we cannot reimburse the Eventbrite fee.
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PalaeoSIG is a special interest group of the British Ecological Society. It provides a forum for improving exchange between palaeoecology and ecology for more integrated use of long-term ecological data
