Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/Y003918/1
Taxonomic Principles and Tools in Botanical Research
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Dr S Pressel, The Natural History Museum, Life Sciences
- Grant held at:
- The Natural History Museum, Life Sciences
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Conservation Ecology
- Systematics & Taxonomy
- Plant reproductive biology
- Plant reproductive biology
- Plant responses to environment
- Abstract:
- This training initiative directly addresses the present shortfall in specialist taxonomic expertise with its unique breadth of taxon-coverage, including plants (vascular plants and bryophytes), lichens and algae. Taxonomy underpins all biological and environmental sciences research and, as such, it is highly relevant to the NERC science remit. This short course will equip participants with the skills necessary to address a wide range of environmental science questions by providing key training in taxonomy and systematics, using world class resources at the Natural History Museum. Participants will acquire an understanding of fundamental taxonomic principles and contemporary issues in the subject and will learn practical identification skills from international experts engaged in active research, using both fresh material collected from the field during the course and herbarium specimens held in the NHM collections. Participants will also have the opportunity to bring their own specimens for identification and further studies. Thus, the proposed training will benefit a wide range of postgraduate students, early career environmental sciences researchers and applied users who lack the taxonomic expertise needed to optimally produce/access/use taxonomic information as well as to interpret effectively data generated by many other techniques. Emphasis is given to taxon-based training. By utilising our breadth of taxonomic expertise, the course is highly responsive to training needs and offers training in identification skills tailored to the requirements of the participants. Applicants will be offered four choices of specialist training, including three cryptogam groups (bryophytes, lichens and marine macroalgae) and vascular plants. Each group will consist of a maximum of six students so that training will be truly tailored to the specific needs of each participant. Once applicants have expressed their choice of group in the application form, our staff with the expertise in that taxonomic group will liaise with them and discuss individualized training objectives and outcomes. The course will comprise one day of lectures and demonstrations complemented by four days of extensive hands-on practical sessions. These will include one day in the field and three days of herbarium/laboratory based work. The uniqueness of this training initiative lies in 1) the NHM's unsurpassed combination of in-house taxonomic expertise engaged in active research and spanning both cryptogams and vascular plants, one of the world's most comprehensive and best curated herbaria, libraries and state-of-the-art research facilities all under one roof; 2) delivering truly individualized training by world authorities through offering four choices and keeping each group to a maximum of six students. Advertisement, candidate selection and course structure are all designed to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion. By the end of this course participants will: - Understand key principles and techniques of taxonomy - Know best how to access and use taxonomic resources (herbaria, libraries, floras, web-based) - Have a good understanding of the key features and terminology used in identifying organisms in the taxonomic group of choice - Work confidently with keys for identification - Appreciate the critical role of specimens in scientific research - Have a firm grasp of best practices in collecting (including legal frameworks), preparing and preserving specimens (herbarium vouchers) for research - Know how to optimise herbarium-use for research - Acquire field skills: species identification/collection of specimens and recording protocols for taxonomic research - Gain knowledge of representative taxa (in chosen group) through collection, preparation and preservation of specimens
- NERC Reference:
- NE/Y003918/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Doctoral Training
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Advanced Training
This training grant award has a total value of £48,950
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Other Costs |
|---|
| £48,950 |
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