Annual Scientific Meeting 2026
FBA’s ASM is on Thursday 11 June at Edinburgh Napier University.
We are delighted to announce that the 2026 ASM, in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, will be shining a light on ‘Emerging approaches for freshwater science’.
This year’s theme will cover a range of new approaches being used for freshwater science, including bio/hydro acoustics, eDNA, citizen science, drones and the emerging role of machine learning for pattern recognition.
This conference-style event will include keynotes from Jennifer Dodd (Edinburgh Napier University), Bernd Hänfling (UHI Inverness), Jess Lister (PhD student, Edinburgh Napier University) and Brian Hayden (Atomic Ecology).
The ASM will additionally showcase the research and practice of other FBA members including staff, scientists and fellows.
The FBA Annual Scientific Meeting is an in-person only event at Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart campus on Thursday 11 June 2026.
“I am delighted that FBA will be hosting this important knowledge exchange event. This year’s ASM will bring together some of the finest researchers and managers in the freshwater science sector. Innovation in freshwater ecology is moving at a fast pace and this meeting will showcase some of the very best developments in monitoring and research projects, to help better understand and protect fragile freshwater ecosystems.”
– Simon Johnson, FBA Executive Director
ASM 2026 Registration
The ASM is priced to cover the costs of the meeting and includes hot and cold drinks and snacks during the reception and afternoon break, and a buffet lunch.
FBA members rate £65
FBA student /early career member rate £32.50
Non-member rate £120
Non-member (student) rate £55
Interested in becoming a Member of the FBA?
Become a Member of the FBA today and benefit from discounted registration to the ASM 2026!
Travelling to Craiglockhart Campus
The address for Craiglockhart Campus is 219 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH14 1DJ.
Craiglockhart campus is well-served by public transport to and from the city centre. There are also a number of cycle paths in the area and bike storage facilities on site.
All you need to know about travelling to Craiglockhart
You can plan ahead by visiting the Traveline Scotland website for updates and alerts.
For more information, please contact environment@napier.ac.uk.
Water of Leith social meet-up
On Wednesday 10 June, the day before the ASM, we have arranged a social meet-up for us to have a very informal networking opportunity.
We will go for a walk along the Water of Leith (the main river system that flows through the centre of Edinburgh, part of the Forth River catchment).
This is an opportunity to meet people from the network and we are especially keen for early or new career freshwater ecologists to come and meet more established members of the network. In short, we hope this will be an excellent opportunity to make some new freshwater friends and build camaraderie to help facilitate fun discussions at the ASM. Please find details below.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Dean Village nestled on the Water of Leith in Edinburgh, photo by Imran Perwez on Unsplash.
Details of Water of Leith social meet-up on Wednesday 10 June
Date: Wednesday 10 June
Time: 1pm - into early evening
Meeting spot: The access road next to 2 Wester Coates Gardens, Edinburgh, EH12 5LT - Google map link
Join Johnny a ranger from the Water of Leith Conservation Trust for a guided walk from Bell's Meadow to Stockbridge. Hearing how the Trust has been working for the past 38 years to conserve and enhance the river.
Once the industrial heartland that fed and clothed Edinburgh, it is now one of the most important wildlife corridors threading its way from the Pentlands hills down to Leith. Providing a home to three resident otters, kingfishers, herons badgers, roe deer, bats and hundreds of different types of aquatic invertebrates, plants, wildflowers and trees. Each year the Trust delivers around 10,000 hours of practical volunteering covering a wide range of activities including keeping it clean, removing invasive species, scything wildflower meadows, path maintenance and more.
We will take a walk along the banks of the Water of Leith in the middle of the city and hear from Johnny about the work of the Trust and if there is a chance a guddle in the river. We can then make our way to a nice spot for some evening refreshments.
Richard Chadd Bursaries & Posters
FBA is also pleased to announce the availability of six £250 ‘Richard Chadd Bursaries’ to support early career researcher and practitioner attendance at the FBA Annual Scientific Meeting in June 2026.
If you would like to apply, please send an expression of interest (no more than 500 words) and CV to FBA Executive Director, Simon Johnson sjohnson@fba.org.uk.
Poster Pitch at the ASM 2026
Posters from early career researchers are welcome and will feature in a ‘Poster Pitch’ session in the afternoon, over lunch. If you are planning on bringing a poster to the ASM, please contact llavictoire@fba.org.uk to let us know the authors and title of the poster so we can allocate space on the poster boards.
Introducing the Keynote Speakers at our ASM 2026
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“We are at the dawn of the fourth industrial revolution. Advances in robotics, biotechnology, remote sensing and the internet of things, and AI has meant the amount and quality of information available is expanding exponentially. Navigating this against the backdrop of human bias is challenging, but presents exciting opportunities to uncover patterns and novel avenues of exploration.”
– Dr Jennifer Dodd, Edinburgh Napier University
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"The current biodiversity crisis requires effective monitoring of biodiversity change, both in respect to anthropogenic pressure as well as resulting from habitat restoration and conservation efforts. Over the last decade or so the use of environmental DNA based methods has emerged as a potential solution to overcoming limitations of some conventional methods. What can these methods tell us about freshwater biodiversity, and what are their limitations? I will explore these questions using case studies from fish, as well as other taxonomic groups."
– Bernd Hänfling, UHI Inverness
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"Human-made acoustic pollution is now ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. While UK directives and policy statements exist to limit the levels of acoustic pollution in marine and terrestrial environments, no protection exists for freshwater environments. There is a pressing need to gather information about the role of this poorly understood and understudied pollutant in freshwaters."
– Jess Lister, PhD student, Edinburgh Napier University
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"From highland loughs to pristine chalk streams, diverse and healthy food webs underpin all aspects of freshwater ecosystem function. Come along to learn how naturally occurring chemical tracers can quantify nutrient dynamics, animal diet and food web structure of all aquatic habitats."
– Brian Hayden, Atomic Ecology
Annual Scientific Meeting 2026: Agenda
9-9.30am Registration
MORNING SESSION: 9.30am-12.30pm
Welcome to the meeting – Simon Johnson (Executive Director at FBA)
9.30-10am
Keynote: Jennifer Dodd (Edinburgh Napier University)
What’s slipping through the net? Identifying gaps in freshwater evidence using Artificial Intelligence.
10-10.20am
Craig Macadam (Buglife)
Recognising Riverflies – applying AI to freshwater invertebrate identification.
10.20-10.40am
Josie Geris (University of Aberdeen)
Integration of Thermal Infrared Imagery With an In Situ Sensor System Reveals Effects of Thermal Discharge Against Natural Background Variations in Water Temperature.
10.40-11.10am Break with hot and cold drinks and more snacks
11.10-11.40am
Keynote: Bernd Hänfling (UHI Inverness)
What can eDNA tell us about freshwater biodiversity?
11.40am-12pm
Dr. Stephanie Terreni Brown and Dr. Philip Schuler (Rhizocore Technologies)
Mycoremediation in Practice: Fungal Filters for Reducing Nutrients from Farm Runoff in Freshwater Catchments.
12-12.20pm
Lori Lawson Handley (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology)
Evidence for a decline in Arctic charr spawning habitat condition and activity in Windermere through a combination of hydroacoustics and eDNA analyses.
12-12.30pm
Lightning talks
(1 minute) from poster presenters.
12.30-1.30pm Buffet lunch with hot and cold drinks, and poster viewing
AFTERNOON SESSION: 1.30-3.10pm
1.30-2pm
ECR Keynote: Jess Lister (PhD student, Edinburgh Napier University)
The Plecoptera’s Paradiddle – Advancing acoustic approaches to uncover stonefly behaviour.
2-2.20pm
Louise Lavictoire (FBA)
Move it like you mean it: Multiple methods for evidence-led conservation translocations.
2.20-2.40pm
Craig Macadam (Buglife), John Murray-Bligh (Environment Agency) and Rachel Stubbington (Nottingham Trent University)
Part-time freshwaters, full-time ecosystems: Advancing knowledge and management of biodiversity in the UK’s temporary streams.
2.40-3.10pm
Keynote: Brian Hayden (Atomic Ecology)
Of Atoms & Ecosystems – Understanding food web processes from local to global scales
3.10-3.40pm Break with hot and cold drinks and more snacks
DISCUSSION SESSION: 3.40-5.30pm
Final ASM discussion: Connecting activists and scientists
Chaired and introduced by Chris Dessent (Founder / Director at Creative Concern, FBA Chair), with case study presentations from Simon Johnson (FBA Executive Director), and Rick Battarbee (Emeritus Professor in Environmental Change at UCL).
Introduction: Chris Dessent
The science of campaigning: Finding the common ground between the Petri dish and the protester. (15 mins)
River Wharfe: Prof. Rick Battarbee
Blurring the boundaries: integration between communities and scientists. (15 mins)
Wensum Riverkin: Simon Johnson
The River Wensum: From ruin towards redemption? (15 mins)
Open discussion chaired by Chris Dessent
Until 5.30pm Close
Many thanks for attending & we look forward to seeing you next year!
The FBA Annual Scientific Meeting is taking place at Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart campus on Thursday 11 June 2026.
We look forward to seeing you there!
