The National Bat Conference is the biggest event in the bat calendar and booking is now open! A weekend of exciting talks, workshops and a conference dinner (with ceilidh!) on the Saturday evening. The conference is an opportunity to learn about the new discoveries in the world of bat conservation, catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Stay updated with news online by following #NatBatConf
Save the date!
National Bat Conference 2019 will take place 6-8 September 2019!
Venue: University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, Nottingham NG8 1BB
Previous National Bat Conference
The National Bat Conference 2018 took place on 7-9 September, at the University of Nottingham Jubilee Campus, bringing together bat enthusiasts from across the country to discuss cutting-edge research, share best practice and develop their skills and knowledge. Many thanks to all the speakers and workshop leaders who helped make it such an engaging and useful event.
Programme
Conference programme 2018
Workshops
There was a wide variety of workshops to choose from each day.
Saturday:
- Sound Analysis for the Perplexed
- Bat Handling for Beginners
- Autumn Swarming - Next Steps
- Conflict and Stress in Bat Consultancy - How to minimise, manage and survive
- Bat Social Calls by Sight & Sound (Definitely Sound!)
- Understanding Safeguarding for Bat Groups
- Surveying trees
- Best Practice for Surveying Bridges and Viaducts
- An Overiview of Titley Scientific Products
- Kaleidoscope Pro 5 - Advanced Analysis and Tools
- Visualising and Presenting all that Bat Data; the World Beyond the Spreadsheet
- Developing and Organising a Bat Group, and Engaging Members
- Introduction to QGIS for Bat Groups
- Approaching Media Engagement with Confidence
- Consultant's Forum
- Thermal Imaging for Bat Surveys
- Introduction to Sonobat 4
Sunday:
- Bat Handling for Beginners
- Bearing Witness for Wildlife - Recognising, Recording and Reporting Wildlife Crime
- Advanced Trapping Techniques
- Emergency Bat Care for the Non-Bat Carer
- Infection Control for High Risk Bats
- Batty Crafts
- An Introduction to Anabat Insight Software
- An Introduction to Kaleidoscope Viewer (free version) Sound Analysis Software
- Introduction to Sound Analysis
- Data Protection - What it Means and Why You Should Care
- Surveying Buildings for Bats
- Bats in Art and Culture
- Batlogger and BatExplorer
- Consultant's Forum
- Thermal Imaging for Bat Surveys
- Introduction to Sonobat 4
There was also lots of time to catch up with old friends and make new batty acquaintances, enjoy the exhibition and meet the event sponsors.
Additional Events
The BCT AGM also took place on Saturday 8 September at the University of Nottingham and the Bat Worker's Forum took place on Friday 7 September.
The Consultant's Forum took place each day during the workshop sessions - an opportunity for consultant ecologists to come together to hear updates and discuss issues with their peers and BCT.
Awards
During the conference programme we also presented two awards:
- The Vincent Weir Scientific Award - This is awarded annually to a student at a UK-based institution who has made a significant contribution to research on the conservation biology of bats.
- The Pete Guest Award - This award goes to an individual who has made an outstanding practical contribution to bat conservation
We also heard from the Winner of the Kate Barlow Award which aims to encourage postgraduate students to conduct a substantive bat research project and to honour the late Dr Kate Barlow's contribution to bat conservation.
Any queries about the conference, please email nwebster@bats.org.uk
Bursaries
For details of the National Bat Conference Bursaries, please contact Lisa Worledge by emailing lworledge@bats.org.uk