Successful DNA Working Group conference

There was a fantastic turn out for the UK DNA Working Group conference which was held at UHI House last month. The two-day conference hosted by the Institute for Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation, gathered over 120 delegates from the research and stakeholder communities engaged in DNA-based biodiversity monitoring and assessment.

The conference delegates were welcomed by Chris O’Neil (UHI Inverness Principal and Chief Executive) and presentations ranged from keynote speakers, regular talks, speed presentations and three parallel workshops.

Topics included innovative applications for monitoring anthropogenic impact and conservation/restoration efforts, work related to capability enhancement (e.g. bioinformatics and technology development), the analysis of DNA-derived data and the development of specific metrics and tools, as well as stakeholder experiences in the operation and application of DNA tools.

Keynote speakers:

Rob Odgen: eCSI – the use of non-human DNA evidence in forensic science

Rosemary Gillespie: Biodiversity dynamics inferred from eDNA and metabarcoding along island gradients

Pete Hollingsworth: Developing a Scottish DNA hub

More information about the DNA Working Group.

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