Bournemouth University

News and Events

Content only version

Understanding our environment – by numbers

Blue Butterfly (c/o David Simcock) One of the country’s leading environmental statisticians will deliver his Professorial Inaugural Lecture in March at BU.

Professor Ralph Clarke will deliver his lecture “Experiences from a variable Life of Environmental Statistics” on Wednesday 3 March at 6.00pm in the Allsebrook Lecture Theatre on BU’s Talbot Campus.

Professor Clarke will draw on his 30 years of experience to explain how we can better understand our environment and our impact on it by looking at statistical variability and inter-relationships.

The talk will use examples from his collaborative research, ranging from national survey monitoring of land use changes and assessing the biological condition of UK rivers to butterfly species population modeling and the potential impact of housing developments and recreational visitors on nearby heaths and their protected bird species.

Professor Clarke has provided statistical, mathematical, population simulation modelling and associated advice to a wide range of research scientists and students in both terrestrial and aquatic ecology.

This has often led to long-term collaborations and initiatives with research teams and the novel application and development of biometrical techniques.

In 2009, he co-authored a major paper on the successful reintroduction of the Large Blue butterfly into the British countryside. The paper, Successful Conservation of a Threatened Maculinea Butterfly (or Large Blue butterfly), was published in Science, one of the world's highest rated journals for scientific research.

A Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and a Member of the International Biometrics Society, Professor Clarke is the joint author of over 120 refereed scientific journal papers and over 100 externally-commissioned research reports.

He joined BU’s Centre for Conservation Ecology & Environmental Change, based in the School of Conservation Sciences, in September 2007.

Where: Talbot Campus, Bournemouth University BH12 5BB - Allsebrook Lecture Theatre, Poole House
When: Wednesday 3 March 2010; 5.15pm (refreshments), 6pm (lecture),post-lecture buffet reception
Further information: To reserve your place please contact the BU Lectures team by email: bulectures@bournemouth.ac.uk or tel: +44 (0)1202 961033

Please indicate whether you intend to stay for the lecture and cold buffet, or attend the lecture only.

Related Links: Related Articles:

Return to news archive page

Return to news menu page