Introduction

The Isle of Wight is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in recognition of the quality and magnificent diversity of the Island's landscape and habitats - testament to the stewardship of Islanders over millennia.

For just over 100 years, members of the Isle of Wight Natural History & Archaeological Society (IWNHAS) have recorded local wildlife and investigated the geological and archaeological contexts that make this Island so special. While it is important to reflect on the past, the current ‘climate emergency’ has focused our attention on the present and the future.

Though it was not possible to celebrate the Centenary of the Society as planned in 2020 with a special conference , we are now pleased to bring you a series of live webinars featuring an impressive line-up of speakers from the original billing to help us learn, understand and discuss how we can protect the Island's wildlife and landscape in an era of unprecedented environmental change.

Webinar Schedule & Themes

There will be a series of four live evening webinars, taking place twice a week over two weeks via Zoom.

Each webinar will start at 7pm, last approx 1.5 hrs and feature 3 or 4 speakers followed by a plenary session for open discussion associated with each theme as follows:

Climatic Change: Past, Present and Future

(7pm - Monday 29th March 2021)

Species Invasions: History & Horizon Scanning

(7pm - Wednesday 31st March 2021)

Habitats & Species 1

(7pm - Monday 5th April 2021)

Habitats & Species 2

(7pm - Wednesday 7th April 2021)

Speakers

We have invited local speakers and national experts with knowledge of the Island.

Keynote speakers include:

- Prof. Juliet Brodie, (Natural History Museum London, National University of Galway)

- Clive Chatters (Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust)

- Jonathan Cox (Jonathan Cox Associates Ltd.)

- Dr Emilie Hardouin (Bournemouth University)

- Prof. Stephen Hawkins, Southampton University (UK Marine Biological Association)

- Prof. Helen Roy MBE (Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford)

Find out more about the speakers and the provisional full programme here

Speakers’ abstracts are available here