Online events for young people under 30 in Scotland
The SOC and BTO Scotland are delighted to bring you another programme of online talks for 2024. Delivered on Zoom, attendees will enjoy a diverse programme of interactive online workshops and talks from some of Scotland’s top ornithologists, naturalists and creatives. Programme contributors have kindly donated their time and expertise to help inspire the next generation of birdwatchers, recorders and conservationists, for which we are most grateful.
All sessions start at 7pm and will last approximately 1.5 hours. The sessions are held on the last Wednesday of each month, from January to May. There will also be a programme of autumn and winter talks, so please check back later in the year for these! For child protection reasons, we are unable to record these sessions.
The joining links for each event will be sent out in advance to everyone on our youth mailing list. If you have signed up in previous years then you will automatically receive the 2024 communications. Not yet signed up? Please subscribe below.
31 January 2024, 7pm - Getting Started in Scottish Birding
Join us for an introduction to birding in Scotland. Find out how our panel got started in birding, learn about some of the best birding resources out there, and how to get involved in some citizen science projects.
Find out about the work of BTO Scotland, the SOC, and other conservation organisations across the country.
Your panel: Steve Willis (BTO Scotland’s Development and Engagement Officer), David Raffle (SOC Birding and Science Officer) and some of our 2023 BTO Scotland / SOC Bird Camp participants.
28 February, 7pm - Birds, Climate Change and Low Carbon Birding
Join us for a discussion around the impacts of climate change on birds in Scotland (and globally), and the importance of data to identify population trends. We’ll then chat about low carbon birding, and some of the best sites in Scotland that can be reached by public transport.
Your panel: Dr Blaise Martay (BTO Research Ecologist), Sorrell Lyall (BTO Ripple Project Officer and contributor to the book Low Carbon Birding), Chris Pendlebury (Upper Forth Bird Recorder).
27 March, 7pm - Rewilding Scotland – Bringing Species Back
Our planet has been heavily de-natured through time thanks to human activity. Join us for an inspiring evening to look at how our experts have been involved in reversing that trend in Scotland, undertaking habitat restoration and bringing back some of our iconic species.
Your panel: Dr Cat Barlow (South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project), Tom Bowser (Argaty Red Kites), Andrea Hudspeth (British Dragonfly Society).
24 April, 7pm - Creative Nature
Join us for an evening celebrating the nature of Scotland, and its impact on the creative arts. Find out how our experts celebrate and protect birds through their photographs, filmmaking and art.
Your panel: Espen Helland (Nature Photographer), Stuart Spray (Filmmaker, Journalist and Activist), Alicia Hayden (Wildlife Artist, Filmmaker, Writer, Animator).
29 May, 7pm - Careers Workshop
Are you interested in a career related to wildlife, conservation or ecological consultancy? Join us for this event to find out how to pursue your ideal job. Our expert panel will be on hand to tell you about their experiences and give examples of the type of exciting job opportunities open to you.
Your panel: Brian Biggs (Singer, Stornoway), Ewan Miles (Owner and Naturalist, Nature Scotland - Isle of Mull Wildlife Tours), Eilidh McNab ACIEEM (Partner and Principal Ecologist, Aetos Research; SOC Development Officer).
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