Annual Scientific Meeting 2009

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The Annual Scientific Meeting 2009

Evening Reception held in the Museum © C. Duigan

The FBA Annual Scientific Meeting was held on 7-9 July 2009 in association with the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and Bangor University, College of Natural Sciences. Our host was the recently formed Environment Centre Wales (ECW) - a partnership venture between the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and Bangor University.
This was the first scientific meeting that the FBA has held in Wales in its 80 year history. It attracted around 80 delegates from all over the UK and from five other countries. It was an opportunity for Welsh organisations such as the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor University and Aberystwyth University to showcase their activities to a wider audience and to make links with each other and with potential collaborators from elsewhere in the UK and beyond.

Tour 1: Electric mountain, Llanberis, © M. Dobson, FBA

Tour 2: Anglesey, Valley wetlands © T. Hatton-Ellis

The optional tours to sites of scientific interest were a great success. Delegates on Tour 3 visited the Ogwen River Restoration Project in the majestic Nant Ffrancon Valley and Llyn Idwal, a classic Welsh oligotrophic mountain lake. This tour prompted the following feedback from one participant: “Excellent! Highlight of the conference for me, and a great chance to socialise and network around a fascinating study area.”

Minister Jane Davidson with Sir Martin Holdgate, FBA President © L. Miles, FBA

We were honoured to have as Keynote Speaker, Minister Jane Davidson AM, whose portfolio in the Welsh Assembly Government covers Environment, Sustainability and Housing. Her speech entitled “Freshwater science into policy” is available to download (see below).

Speech transcript produced by Countryside Council for Wales.

» Download a transcription version of speech – PDF-File, 177.2 KB

» Download an audio version of speech – MP3-File, 21.6 MB