11am - Keynote speaker: Professor Steve Ormerod

After a short introduction by the Executive Dean of Science and Technology, Professor Peter Atkinson, our keynote speech will be delivered by Professor Steve Ormerod of Cardiff University's School of Biosciences.

Talk: "Sustaining Rivers: the challenges of protecting and restoring running-water ecosystems"

Rivers are among the world's most threatened ecosystems reflecting the effects of a wide range of pressures on their disproportionately rich biological diversity. The consequences are intrinsically important for river organisms and for the goods and services on which we depend for life support. Against this background and in the context of growing public interest, I will discuss the changing quality of British rivers, illustrating instances where action has brought major gains but also issues of growing concern.

2pm - Keynote speaker: Dr Kate Rawles

Kicking off our second day is writer and environmentalist Dr Kate Rawles, author of 'The Carbon Cycle'.

Talk: 'Adventure in the Andes: The Life Cycle biodiversity bike ride'

In 2017, Kate Rawles cycled the length of South America on a bamboo bike she built herself, exploring biodiversity: what it is, why it matters and whether losing it is as great a threat as climate change. Her largely solo journey took her through an astonishing diversity of ecosystems and landscapes, from the Caribbean coastline to the Atacama desert; from cloud and rainforests to the Bolivian salt flats and the high mountains of the Peruvian Andes. En route she met with activists of all kinds, working to protect biodiversity, land and community, often at significant risk. Join us to hear what Kate learned from them about the most important question of all – how biodiversity loss can be arrested and reversed, and what we can all do to contribute to our current suite of urgent and interconnected environmental challenges.

3pm - Departmental talks: Session 2

Lancaster Environment Centre and the School of Engineering provide talks on the topic of sustainability.

12pm - Departmental talks: Session 3

These talks will be delivered by a number of our departments on the topics of clean energy and modern life and technology.

3pm - Departmental talks: Session 4

A number of our departments present talks on industry, innovation, and infrastructure.