Global extinction explored at BU event

A UK leading ecology expert will deliver his Professorial Inaugural Lecture at BU on Wednesday 25 March.

Professor Adrian Newton, a leading ecology expert based at BU’s School of Conservation Sciences, will deliver his Professorial Inaugural Lecture on BU’s Talbot Campus on Wednesday 25 March.

During the lecture, entitled ‘The Global Extinction Crisis – Red List or Red Herring?’, Professor Newton will challenge the popular belief that human activities are responsible for the mass extinction of species currently taking place.

He will use examples of recent Red List assessments to illustrate the sources of uncertainty that hinder the accurate assessment of extinction risk, raising questions about the current extent of the global extinction crisis.

Professor Newton, Director of BU’s Centre for Conservation Ecology and Environmental Change, said: “There is widespread concern that human beings are currently causing the greatest mass extinction of species since the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

“On the other hand, the number of recent extinctions that have actually been documented is very low,” he continued. “This presentation will explore this anomaly, drawing on recent research into the impacts of human activities on species and habitats.”

Professor Newton has over 22 years of experience researching environmental conservation and management. He is currently Vice-Chair of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) specialist group responsible for Red Listing the world's tree species.

The lecture will be delivered in the Shelley Lecture on BU’s Talbot Campus at 6pm. Pre-lecture refreshments (from 5.15pm) and admission to the lecture are both free of charge.

Where: Shelley Lecture Theatre, Talbot Campus, Bournemouth University. Refreshments will be available in The Atrium, Poole House
When: Wednesday 25 March 2009, 5.15pm (refreshments), 6.00pm (lecture).
Further information and bookings: Please telephone (01202) 965458 or email the BU Lecture booking service.

BU Professorial Inaugural Lecture Series