You can see a complete version of this infographic in the booklet Celebrating 50 years of the Biological Records Centre, available as a PDF (6.6mb).
Read more about the history of BRC in our blog post, and news of its anniversary symposium in Bath.
“The atlas (of the British Flora) aimed to record, and map, each species of vascular plant in the 10km squares of the Ordnance Survey National Grid. Perhaps the most critical aspect of the project was the adoption of data processing equipment using punched cards. This enabled 1.5 million records to be sorted and mapped mechanically and the use of information technology became integral to biological recording.”An international impact on biological recording
“The BRC has been central to much of UK conservation practice and research. The work on climate change impacts on distribution patterns is especially well known. The detailed distribution information means the BRC is central to much of the routine conservation practice in determining priorities and assessing possible threats. The BRC has also been fundamental to the National Biodiversity Network Gateway, an ambitious plan to bring together the main sources of UK biodiversity information.”
“This year's Discovery Day at Loch Leven was a big hit with the local kids, who enjoyed scooping freshwater life at the CEH stall and looking at them under the microscope. CEH staff (Linda May, Alanna Moore, Iain Gunn and Laurence Carvalho), who were on hand to help the freshwater ecologists of the future, were kept extremely busy by almost 700 visitors.
Although this event celebrated the 50th anniversary of Loch Leven's designation as a National Nature Reserve, our younger visitors were more interested in the wee beasties that we had caught in the loch. 'Trending' on the day was (1) examining the 'bitey bits' of caddis fly larvae, (2) working out what eats what, (3) waiting for the stickleback to attack the tadpoles (no tadpoles were harmed!!) and (4) trying to catch waterboatmen with a pipette.
Discovery Day is an annual event organised by Scottish Natural Heritage to entertain and educate the local community about the biodiversity living in and around Loch Leven.
An addition to the CEH contribution this year was a survey of visitors’ perceptions of the value of Loch Leven. Data collected will feed into various projects that are attempting to quantify the ecosystem services provided by the loch.”
Talking bumblebees with @eamonnholmes @skysarahjane #beediscovery pic.twitter.com/wo4TiLdIld
— Dallas Campbell (@dallascampbell) June 10, 2014
Visitors to the Cheltenham Science Festival had a chance to learn about the Big Bumblebee Discovery. Photo: Val Woods |
Helen and Dallas record a BBC radio interview to explain more about getting involved in the Big Bumblebee Discovery. Photo courtesy EDF Energy Comms |
First #beediscovery #citizenscience results of bees on lavender. @edfenergy @BritSciAssociat http://t.co/yDoc6sfTc0 pic.twitter.com/pZjLuCERVZ
— Michael Pocock (@mjopocock) June 10, 2014
The 'Bee pre-paired' game was a popular attraction at the Big Bumblebee Discovery tent at the Cheltenham Science Festival. Photo: Val Woods |
Whilst at Cheltenham, Dallas Campbell and Helen Roy filmed a new podcast for the Big Bumblebee Discovery. |