Current Projects
Support - The committee & faculty is providing project funds, project management & IT provision in order to support a conservation project in Asia. The inspiration and drive for this project comes from post doctoral researcher Dr David Edwards.
David explains how Bioenterprise helped him develop his research idea (provided courtesy of the Researcher magazine - March 08)
“A key tool for scientists and conservationists studying Asian birds is recognising the songs of different bird species. However, recordings of Asia bird sounds are difficult to obtain and expensive, which makes using this tool very difficult. Consequently, I decided to create the Asian Bird Sound Library; an online database of bird songs, which will allow users to download sounds for free and to upload their recordings. The site will make bird songs easily and cheaply available across Asia. It will start out with about 1,500 recordings that I have made during fieldwork and that have been offered by eminent Asian ornithologists. The aim is that the site will eventually provide recordings of all of the 3,200 Asian bird species at the click of a button.
The Bioenterprise website and team have provided invaluable support in developing my initial idea and in providing the start up funding that the Sound Library requires.”
Apply for funding or Post an Idea to the site if you have a project you would like to propose.
Public Enquiry
Picture 1. Prof. Altringham made a recent appearance on Autumn Watch.
John Altringham has recently been appointed as an expert witness to a public inquiry, advising on the consequences to wildlife of development in a sensitive landscape…..
"The faculty’s EKT agenda seemed to neglect the kind of external work I was involved in, so I pursued my work with conservation agencies, charities and the BBC, which I’d already been doing for many years, unaided. Then I was approached by Paul Grimshaw who wanted to talk to me about my work with the outside world to see how we could build on it. Paul asked me to feed this into the Bioenterprise website to help others who might be interested in this type of activity.
At about the same time I was asked to act as an expert witness for a public inquiry. Although I had taken on small conservation contracts, and regularly advise on conservation issues, I had no experience as an expert witness and probably would have declined the offer. It is potentially controversial work that I could not afford to get wrong in public. However, with Paul’s enthusiasm, and guidance from Ian Wolstenhome at ULCL I was persuaded to give it a go. Ian handles the contract and takes away some irksome tasks, leaving me to concentrate on the science. I also get the backing of the University in terms of public liability insurance and Paul and Ian are helping to organise expert witness training. Writing a report is perhaps not a big issue, but a court appearance with cross-examination by a barrister needs preparation.
This is an opportunity to bring evidence-based conservation into an area (mitigation) where it is sometimes lacking. Given the need for an objective and scientific approach in this multi-million pound ‘industry’ that can have such an impact on wildlife, the input of experienced scientists should be encouraged, so I hope I can do a good job."
Apply for funding or Post an Idea to the site if you have a project you would like to propose.
DNA & Law
Support -The committee and faculty are supporting Drs McCartney & Salter to create a new CPD course for the Law Profession. Providing help in gaining access to existing expertise and providing funding and resource to carry out essential market research.
In increasing numbers of criminal prosecutions, a DNA match between a crime scene sample and a suspect is presented as irrefutable evidence of guilt. In many, if not most instances, the defence will not challenge this interpretation. However, there can often be alternative explanations for the evidence and its significance. Drs’ Mike Salter & Carole McCartney are combining legal and biological expertise to create a CPD course for the legal profession to address such issues. The faculty is providing help in market research, marketing & access to the existing CPD network at Leeds.
Apply for funding or Post an Idea to the site if you have a project you would like to propose.