The British Phycological Society

BPS Funding Schemes - Student Bursaries Application Deadline
2021-02-01, 2020-11-01, 2020-05-01
Enquiries concerning any of the BPS Funding Schemes should be directed to the Chair of the BPS Awards and Training Committee awards@brphycsoc.org
Applications for funding must be made using the official form for the funding scheme available from the BPS website https://brphycsoc.org/awards_training/ Applications should be left in Microsoft Word format and not converted to PDF. Submit by email to awards@brphycsoc.org before midnight on the day of the application deadline. Late applications will not be considered.
For further information on student bursaries please see the updated version of the BPS Funding Guidelines – download here.

BPS Winter Meeting 2021 - Nottingham (Online)
2021-01-04 - 2021-01-08
The 69th Annual Meeting of the British Phycological Society with Protistology UK

Registration opens 1 September 2020

4th to 8th January 2021 (Online) University of Nottingham

Visit the meeting website, here.

Virtual Early Career European Microscopy Congress 2020
2020-11-24 - 2020-11-26
The Virtual Early Career European Microscopy Congress 2020 starts 24th November, with the opening ceremony at 08:45 GMT. But the beauty of a virtual event is that you can choose to attend at the last minute and still catch all the talks you are interested in! Registration will remain open throughout the event and Early Career Researchers and students can register to attend for FREE. EMS Members can register at a discounted rate. Find out more about registration

The full conference programme is available to view on the emc2020 website and will be online for several weeks after the event, so if you don’t get the chance to attend virtually you will still be able to read the abstracts. View the conference programme

Algal Biotechnology Online Course Nov 2020
2020-11-19 - 2020-11-20
We are pleased to announce that REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for our Algal Biotechnology Online Course Nov 2020! This year the 2-day course is all online, but we still have a great line up of speakers, tours of algal facilities and network sessions from our groups based in UK, Iceland and Germany.
Details below and please click here to see the registration instructions.
The aim of this 2020 online professional development course is to provide introductory training and theory in algal biology, culturing, growth and biotechnology under laboratory and small scale pilot facilities. The workshop will run for two days hosted virtually by the University of Cambridge Algal Innovation Centre (AIC) UK, Fraunhofer IGB, Germany and Matís Iceland.
Thursday 19th and Friday 20th November 2020
Course fee: 50 euros.
We are pleased to present this popular course for the third year. The format is similar to the 2018 and 2019 courses but due to Covid-19 restrictions we have redesigned the course so it is all once over a two-day course. We have carefully planned an exciting and engaging online course which includes a daily programme of lecture/seminars introducing the theory of techniques, SOPs best practice and live demonstration of equipment and facilities. The course will also offer insights and examples from an industrial and entrepreneurial perspective, that can help the participants to found or improve their own algal-based business.
The content will be delivered from our academic and industrial partners in the UK, Iceland and Germany throughout the two days online.
Learners will receive an optional workshop pack in the post that contains products, flyers and information related to the algal industry. The programme will provide an unrivalled opportunity for postgraduate, postdoctorate and industry researchers to be trained in algal biotechnology research and to network with others in the sector in our breakout and networking sessions.
The course will be all via Zoom links with a mix of live and pre-recorded talks, quizzes, breakout room discussions and network sessions.
We look forward to seeing you all online for Algal Biotech 2020!

Euglena International Network (EIN) Inaugural Meeting - Virtual
2020-11-09 15:00 - 2020-11-10 18:00 (Europe/London)
The Euglena International Network (EIN) is a new initiative advancing research into Euglenoid algae. These fascinating organisms are very diverse and include heterotrophs, photosynthetic and predatory species. Recent advances in Euglena will be discussed and we will be proposing new research directions and what the “Grand Challenges” for Euglena research are. So, whether you are interested in Euglena ecology, genomics or biotechnology, we would welcome your interest in EIN.
Meeting type: Virtual
Date: 9-10 November 2020 (day 1 and day 2)
Time: 3-6 pm (GMT) each day
Sign up information: Contact to sign up https://euglenanetwork.wordpress.com/contact/
Further information: Visit https://euglenanetwork.wordpress.com

BPS Funding Schemes - Early Career Researcher Bursaries for the BPS Annual Meeting Application Deadline
2020-11-01
BPS Council introduced this award, for up to £500 towards attendance at the BPS Annual meeting, with a view to supporting the careers of young phycologists.

The applicant will be expected to attend the whole meeting and should plan to present an oral presentation.
Applications for funding must be made using the official form for the funding scheme available from the BPS website https://brphycsoc.org/awards_training/.
For further information on the funding scheme please download the BPS Funding Guidelines here.

Introduction to Phytoplankton (Beginner)
2020-09-28 - 2020-09-29
This course is perfect for those who have a strong interest in algae but little experience within the field.
Disclaimer:
Due to government guidelines relating to social distancing in response to COVID-19, we will only be running courses at a capacity of 8 students per course. The safety of our staff and course attendees is our highest priority and as such all participants will be expected to observe a 2m distance while in the FBA building, including the laboratory, as well as wear a mask for any indoor tuition.
Skill Level:
Beginner
Description:
This two day course will provide methods of collection, examination and identification of the common freshwater phytoplankton. The Lake District contains a great diversity of fresh waters and a wide range of material will be available for study. A field trip will be included and the lectures will cover both practical and theoretical aspects of phytoplankton ecology. Allan Pentecost, an Honorary Research Fellow at the FBA has been studying algae for 50 years and is currently involved in a number of research projects on the English Lakes. Bill Brierley is CEO for the FBA, and a professionally qualified freshwater ecologist, with extensive knowledge of ecology, eutrophication and water resource management, as well as a sound background in algology. Lunch is provided for the duration of the course.
Location:
FBA @ Ferry Landing
Tutor:
Allan Pentecost & Bill Brierley
Price:
FBA Members Price: £288
Regular Price: £320

London Freshwater Algal Identification Course
2020-09-14 - 2020-09-18 | Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, London, SW75BD, United Kingdom
We are pleased to offer a five-day course to train staff of environmental and other agencies, utility companies, consultancies, museums, universities and research students in the identification of the major groups of ecologically-important freshwater algae. Special consideration will be given to harmful and nuisance algae, recognition of algae responsible for ‘incidents’ and the use of freshwater algae for ecological assessment. It is designed to be an introduction for those with limited experience of freshwater algae but, nonetheless, every effort will be made to cater for those who wish to enhance their existing taxonomic expertise and identification skills.
Tutors: Prof. David John (NHM), Dr Martyn Kelly (Bowburn Consultancy, co-organiser), Prof. Brian Whitton (Durham), Dr David Williams (NHM, guest lecturer).
Where: The course will be held at The Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity in the Darwin Centre of the Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, with some lectures in the Sir Neil Chalmers seminar room.
Programme: The daily programme of lectures and practicals begins at 1230 on Monday 14th September and at 0900 on all other days. The programme runs each day to 1730 except on Friday 18th September when the course finishes after lunch at 1400.
Cost: The course fee of £450 (excl. VAT) covers all tuition and loan of all material including the 2011 edition of The Freshwater Algal Flora of the British Isles. All those attending receive a folder, a manual and a data pen with supporting materials. Students who have been members of the British Phycological Society for at least three months may apply directly to the Society for some financial support. Details are posted on the BPS website, with the next closing date for applications 1st May.
Participants will need to make their own arrangements for accommodation. A list of accommodation in the London area will be sent to registrants well in advance of the course.
How to apply: Reservations for one of the 12 available places on the course should be made to Martyn Kelly (see below). A full refund will be made to anyone paying in advance if cancelling before 31st July, while 50% refund will be made to anyone cancelling between then and 1st September. All fees will be refunded in full in the unlikely event of cancellation due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) epidemic. We are, however, unable to refund travel and accommodation costs and therefore recommend participants take out travel insurance.
Course Flyer: Download the Flyer here
FURTHER INFORMATION
Martyn G. Kelly, Bowburn Consultancy, 11 Monteigne Drive, Bowburn Durham DH6 5QB, UK MGKelly@bowburn-consultancy.co.uk mobile 07711419495
David M John d.john@nhm.ac.uk or d_m_john@ntlworld.com phone +44(0)208-4646367 or mobile 07920124825 or Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK

emc2020 Copenhagen
2020-08-23 - 2020-08-29
The European Microscopy Congress 2020 in Copenhagen is being held from 23-28 August 2020.
CANCELLED – SEE ORGANIZER WEBSITE

DETERMINATION COURSE OF FRESHWATER AND TERRESTRIAL CYANOBACTERIA
2020-07-27 - 2020-08-01 | University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, Na Zlaté stoce 1, České Budějovice, CZ-37005, Czech Republic
27th – 31st July 2020, at the Faculty of Science of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (České Budějovice, Czech Republic).
The five day course is focused on determination of freshwater and terrestrial Cyanobacteria in context with modern taxonomical approaches. It consists of theoretical lectures of systematic classification, ecology and taxonomic criteria of Cyanobacteria, and of microscopic sessions with practical identification.
For further details please visit http://www.phycology.cz/DCC

DETERMINATION COURSE OF EUGLENOIDS
2020-07-20 - 2020-07-25 | University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, Na Zlaté stoce 1, České Budějovice, CZ-37005, Czech Republic
20th – 24th July 2020, at the Faculty of Science of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (České Budějovice, Czech Republic).
Five-days course focused on determination of freshwater representatives of photosynthetic and colourless euglenoids especially from the European region together with common ubiquitous species. The course will consist of theoretical lectures focused on modern taxonomy based on molecular-morphological data (polyphasic approach) together with ecological and biomonitoring connotations, theory will be complemented by practical microscopic sessions.
For more information about the course and its content please see brief information in the attached leaflet here

BPS Summer Council Meeting
2020-07-09 11:00 - 17:00 | Linnean Society of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly, Londond, W1J 0BF, United Kingdom
BPS Summer Council Meeting – Thursday 9th July
10:00 to 16:00
Linnean Society of London
Burlington House
Piccadilly
London
W1J 0BF
A committee room has been booked together with a sandwich lunch.

EUMETSAT Copernicus Marine Data Stream (CMDS) Training Workshop
2020-06-15 - 2020-06-19
EUMETSAT Copernicus Marine Data Stream (CMDS) Training Workshop – Using Copernicus satellite data for ocean application.

The course will be held in Tallinn, Estonia from 15th – 19th June 2020 with a two week online phase prior to the classroom phase. Applications are open until 27thMarch 2020
The purpose of this training workshop is to share knowledge, skills, resources and code so attendees are able to independently access and process Sentinel-3 data for their marine work-flows and applications.
Click here for further information on the course.

Identification of Challenging Seaweeds
2020-05-05 - 2020-05-08 | Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill,, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2PB, United Kingdom
This course is designed for those who want to look at seaweeds in more detail and get to grips with the more difficult groups (e.g. slimy green and brown seaweeds and red seaweeds that can only be identified reliably under high powered microscopes or by sectioning). Attention will be given to recognising non-native species, of which several are known in Plymouth Sound. Seagrass beds are a topical subject due to both their ecological importance and the diversity of species found within. Collections will be made from local seagrass (Zostera marina) beds to examine the epiphytes living on them.

Numbers will be limited to enable the tutors to cater for individual needs of interested amateurs, professional biologists requiring further training or refreshers, students (undergraduate and postgraduate), artists, foragers, and those working with the Water Framework Directive.

For more details, see the MarineSeen website.

BPS Funding Schemes - Project Awards Application Deadline
2020-05-01
This scheme is intended to support hypothesis-driven projects that promote and further phycology, its applications and dissemination. These awards are not intended to fund PhD research but there are no further restrictions on the nature of the project, provided it is consistent with the aims of the BPS. Projects may include, for example, feasibility exercises, pump-priming projects, field, laboratory and database research, publications (floras, guides) and outreach (public dissemination and educational activities).

Applications for funding must be made using the official form for the funding scheme available from the BPS website https://brphycsoc.org/awards_training/.
For further information and eligibility on the funding scheme please download the BPS Funding Guidelines here.

BPS 68th Annual Meeting - Plymouth, England
2020-01-06 - 2020-01-09 | Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
Our next meeting is being held in Plymouth within the beautiful setting of South West England (between 6-9th January 2020). There will be an evening registration and reception at the MBA on the 6 Jan 2020. The steering committee is Clare Widdicombe, Mike Allen, Mahasweta Saha from PML, Colin Brownlee, Clare Ostle, Dan Smale, Gerald Boalch from the MBA and Murray Brown, Lina Rasmusson and Jason Hall-Spencer from Plymouth University. Gregory Beaugrand has agreed to give a keynote: “Responses of phytoplankton to climate in the North Atlantic Ocean: past, present and future”.

Freshwater Algal Identification Course 2019
2019-07-07 - 2019-07-14 | Durham University, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
This course aims to train staff from Environment Agency, SEPA, water PLCs, consultancies, museums, research students and overseas visitors in the identification of the more widespread and environmentally important freshwater algae. Topics include monitoring, field sampling, preservation, harmful and nuisance algae.
Further details: Durham Freshwater Algae Course Flyer

Collecting and Identifying Seaweeds 2019
2019-03-18 - 2019-03-22 | Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill,, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2PB, United Kingdom
The British Phycological Society in association with the Marine Biological Association of the UK
Introduction: 18th to 19th March & Advanced: 20th to 22nd March
Based at the Marine Biological Association, Plymouth
Run by Professor Christine Maggs (JNCC, Peterborough) & Francis Bunker (MarineSeen, Pembrokeshire)
Advanced course includes guest teachers and speakers including: Professor Ignacio Bárbara (University of A Coruña), Professor Juliet Brodie (Natural History Museum) and Anne Bunker (Natural Resources Wales)
This course now offers two modules, an introduction to seaweeds (aimed at beginners or those who feel that they need a refresher in the basics); and an advanced module for those who want to look at seaweeds in more detail and get to grips with the more difficult groups (e.g. slimy green and brown seaweeds and red seaweeds that can only be identified reliably under high powered microscopes or by sectioning). Attend the whole 5-day course for total immersion in the world of seaweeds.
Numbers will be limited to enable the tutors to cater for individual needs of interested amateurs, professional biologists requiring further training or refreshers, students (graduate and post graduate), artists, and those working with the Water Framework Directive.
Outline of module – An introduction to seaweeds
Start: Monday 18th March 09:00. End: Tuesday 19th March 17:00:
(Sites chosen for field visits may vary depending on weather conditions etc.)
Day 1 (Monday, 18th March) – A guided tour of a rocky shore to find the different seaweeds characterising each zone. Seaweeds will be collected to take back to the laboratory for identification. There will be introductory lectures on the topics of seaweed and seaweed identification.
Day 2 (Tuesday, 19th March) – Field trip to a contrasting habitat followed by laboratory identification and short talks on a variety of topics.
Outline of module – Advanced seaweed identification
Start: Wednesday 20th March 09:15. End: Friday 22nd March 17:00:
(Sites chosen for field visits may vary depending on weather conditions etc.)
Day 3 (Wednesday, 20th March) – A field trip to collect seaweeds from one of the species rich shores in Plymouth Sound, followed by intensive laboratory sessions on identification. Skills in the use of keys based on microscopic characters, sectioning and staining will be taught and practiced.
Day 4 – (Thursday, 21st March) – A second field trip to a local marina in Plymouth Sound with identification concentrating on filamentous algae and non-native species.
Day 5 – (Friday, 22nd March) – This will concentrate on laboratory time and practice / consolidation of techniques learned. The topic of molecular taxonomy will be introduced and together with a summary of techniques involved. There will be an opportunity for further field collections if requested.
Costs and applications
18th to 22nd March: Whole Course – A whole week immersion in the world of seaweeds. Cost of course £400. Food at the MBA 5 lunches, four dinners, tea and coffee £190.00
18th to 19th March: Introduction – Cost of course £170.Food at the MBA: Two lunches, one dinner, tea and coffee £55 or Two lunches, two dinners, tea and coffee £90.
20th to 22nd March: Advanced – Cost of course £250. Food at the MBA: Three lunches, two dinners, tea and coffee £100.00
Application forms are available from the course administrator, Sally Archer-Thomson, please contact: archerthomson@btinternet.com
Fees are payable in advance (before January 30th 2019) to MarineSeen.
Send cheques and completed application forms to: Honey Hook Cottage, Lower Freystrop, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom. SA62 4ET
Credit card payments are not accepted. Payment via Paypal on request.

BPS 67th Annual Meeting - Oban, Scotland
2019-01-07 - 2019-01-10 | Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA, United Kingdom
The 2019 Annual Meeting of the British Phycological Society is in SAMS Oban Argyll UK PA37 1QA, 2019 Jan 7-10th.
For further information about the meeting, please see the website: https://bps2019.brphycsoc.org

Freshwater Algal Identification Course
2018-07-08 - 2018-07-15 | Durham University, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
This course aims to train staff from governmental and private agencies, water companies, consultancies, museums, research students and overseas visitors in the identification of the widespread and environmentally-important microscopic and macroscopic freshwater algae. Topics introduced include monitoring, field sampling, preservation, harmful and nuisance algae and implications of legislation.
Further details are available here: Durham Flyer

BPS 66th Annual Meeting - Southend, Essex
2018-01-09 - 2018-01-11 | Radisson Park Inn, Southend
BPS 66th Annual Meeting – Southend, Essex
Monday 8th to Thursday 11th January 2018 – Radisson Park Inn, Southend
The registration for BPS 66th conference, and 3rd Microphytobenthic symposium, is now open! The conference will take place 8-11 January 2018 in Southend, Essex.
Registration
Please register using the University of Essex Online Shop
The deadline for registration is November 26th 2017. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send an email to the dedicated email address, bpssouthend2018@gmail.com.
The conference registration gives access to all talks and poster sessions, lunches and coffee/tea breaks Tuesday to Thursday, Taylor & Francis sponsored evening reception on Tuesday 9, and allows for the submission of abstracts. If you have any diet requirement please fill the dedicated box in the registration process.
Conference dinner
The conference dinner will take place on Wednesday 10 evening, and will include entertainment and dancing.
The Dinner menu is:
Smoked haddock and spring onion fishcake, Tomato and basil stuffed chicken, Chocolate cheesecake
Or vegetarian option (please fill the dedicated box on the registration form if you choose this option): Farmhouse style leek, potato and watercress soup, with a chive creme fraiche, Hearty vegetable and mixed bean wellington, with a fresh tomato and thyme sauce, Chocolate cheesecake
Accommodation
We have negotiated lower room price with the Radisson Park Inn hotel which hosts the conference: please use this link (using the promotional code UNIESS) to book your room.
Single room is £50 per person, £60 for a twin or double room, breakfast included. Toggle through the menus for seaview room options.
Abstracts
For submitting an abstract for a talk or a poster, please download the form from this link, fill it and send it back to bpssouthend2018@gmail.com.
PhD students are encourage to participate in the BPS competitions for Manton Prize (presentation), and/or for best poster.
The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 11:59 pm (GMT) November 26th 2017.
The conference organisers will notify delegates offering oral papers if they have been accepted, or accepted as posters as soon as possible in December, once the programme is confirmed.
Funding available
– BPS funding: Student BPS members can apply for funding from BPS to cover for travel and accommodation costs. Please see http://www.brphycsoc.org/funding.lasso for more details.
– FEMS funding: We also received funding from FEMS (Federation of European Microbiology Societies) to help Early Career Scientists presenting a talk or poster at the 3rd Microphytobenthic biofilm symposium (special session 3) to pay for travel and accommodation costs. Grant awardees will be reimbursed after the meeting, receipts for travel and accommodation will be required. The funding is open to members of FEMS, BPS or other FEMS Member Society (https://fems-microbiology.org/member-societies/).
You are eligible for this grant if you are:
– a member of a FEMS Member Society, confirmed by any officer of her/his society
– less than 36 years of age at the closing date of the meeting
– an active microbiologist
– a presenting author of an abstract
If you are eligible, and wish to apply for this grant, fill out this form and send it to bpssouthend2018@gmail.com with your abstract and a copy of your ID.
Further details
The programme (see below or here for a PDF) for the 66th BPS Annual Meeting in Southend, Essex is now taking shape. With arrivals from afternoon on Monday, 8th January and departures after lunchtime on Thursday 11th January, a full programme is planned.
Arrivals of Monday 8th January, with registration and poster set up.
Monday evening: Workshop on the BPS Algal Recording Scheme. Organiser: Prof. Martin Wilkinson, Heriot-Watt University. Over the years BPS members have recorded many species distributions in the British Isles. Why have we bothered? What has it and can it tell us? The Society now has a website to tackle both seaweed and freshwater algal recording in a modern, efficient way – www.bpsalgalrecords.comand this session will demonstrate how to use this website. We will also briefly look at what the results may tell us and experts will be on hand to advise and encourage those of you who find identification daunting or think that it is not for you.
Monday evening: Organiser: Paul Cherry, Student BPS Council Representative. All student members are invited to an informal meet-and-greet event on Monday 8th January (location TBC). We hope this student session will provide an opportunity for introductions, discussion, and a social space, upon arrival to the conference.
Tuesday 9th to Thursday 11th January.
There will be three special sessions (see below), and general phycology sessions (all with options for offered oral and poster presentations), presentations from PhD students for the annually awarded BPS Manton Prize, the Presidential Address from the current BPS President, Dr. Gill Malin (University of East Anglia), the BPS AGM and Annual Dinner.
Special sessions:
1. Applied freshwater research. Chair: Dr Rupert Perkins (Cardiff University / DCWW (Welsh Water)).
This session will focus on freshwater algal research driven by stakeholder engagement. Water supply resilience, and the impacts of increasing algal blooms due to climate change, are one of the major challenges affecting society, yet awareness by academia of what the water supply industry needs to prevent algal associated water supply incidents is often lacking. Conversely awareness within industry of what academia can offer regarding an understanding of algae, their productivity, ecology and physiology, and how this information can support evidence based management is also often lacking. This session will combine presentations by both sectors on current and predicted needs as well as current industry driven research, with the aim of inspiring collaborative research on algal ecology, physiology and management.
Invited speaker 1. Dr Thomaz Andrade, Catchments Manager at DCWW. “Integrated catchment management for algal control: a water Industry perspective.”
Invited speaker 2. Prof. Penny Johnes, University of Bristol, title “Catchment drivers of nutrient enrichment: the need for holistic science to underpin effective management and policy.”
2. Mapping, conserving and sustainably exploiting seaweed genetic resources in blue biotechnology. Chair: Dr Claire Gachon (Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban).
Seaweed cultivation is growing rapidly in the UK and across the world. Tying back with the founding mission of the British Phycological Society to record the UK seaweed diversity, this timely session brings an international and interdisciplinary perspective to the challenges and potential benefits associated with the cultivation and biotechnological exploitation of seaweeds. The topics covered will include genetic resources, seaweed genomics, biobanking and taxonomy, conservation, as well as opportunities for socio-economic development.
Invited speaker 1. Dr Elizabeth Cottier-Cook, Scottish Association for Marine Science. Title: “GlobalSeaweedSTAR – Safeguarding the future of the seaweed industry in developing countries”.
Invited speaker 2. Dr Mark Cock, Station Biologique de Roscoff, France. “Genetic and genomic tools for efficient and sustainable seaweed aquaculture”.
3. Third Microphytobenthic Biofilm Symposium. Chairs: Prof. Graham Underwood, Dr Claire Passarelli (University of Essex)
Following successful meetings in Amsterdam (2003) and La Rochelle (2011), this meeting will bring together researchers from Europe and beyond to discuss the advance in research on microphytobenthic biofilms in tidal flats. This meeting will provide an opportunity for professionals and students to be updated on state-of-the art research on these important coastal systems, to continue or initiate collaborations in Europe and define the main research priorities in this field for the next few years. The Symposium will be held over 2 days, with invited lectures from Prof. Peter Kroth, University of Konstanz, and Dr Joanne Oakes, Southern Cross University, New South Wales, Australia. The invited speakers provide a cutting edge perspective on bacteria-algal interactions, including species-species interactions, chemical ecology and isotope tracing approaches to resolving carbon and nitrogen cycles in biofilms from tropical, temperate and high latitude systems, that are revolutionising our understanding of these microbial processes. Topics being covered include microbial physiology, ecology, diversity, microbial interactions, and their relationship to ecosystem functioning.
Invited speaker 1. Prof. Peter Kroth, U. of Konstanz, Germany. “Bacterial – diatom interactions in freshwater biofilms”.
Invited speaker 2. Dr Joanne Oakes, Southern Cross University, Australia. “Processing and fate of carbon and nitrogen in phototrophic biofilms from tropical, temperate and high latitude environments”.
Travel
Southend, Essex, has an airport (mainly Easyjet, Flybe) with Europe links (Amsterdam, Paris, Rennes, Caen, Faro, Barcelona, etc), plus easy access to London (to connect to Stansted, London City, Heathrow, etc).
Two train lines run from London Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria, and from London Fenchurch Street to Southend Central.
Southend is on the north bank of the Thames Estuary. The Thames shore contains mudflats and muddy sandflats, sand and seagrass beds, plus all the traditional seaside activities and the longest pleasure pier in the world (1.34 miles (2.16 km) long).
We hope to see many of you in January 2018 in Essex (one of the sunniest and driest counties of England)!
Graham J C. Underwood, Claire Passarelli, bpssouthend2018@gmail.com
