CENTA CONFERENCE 2018 Welcome! The NERC CENTA Annual Conference brings together students, researchers and external partners interested in research that falls under the natural environment theme. It aims to showcase recent research by both CENTA students and PhD students funded through other DTPs as well as inviting external partners. It is a fantastic opportunity for all CENTA PhD students to showcase their research in a relaxed and supporting environment and interact with industry partners and other members of the environmental sciences community. Non-CENTA PhD students and other early career scientists whose work relates to any of the CENTA research themes are welcome to attend. All current CENTA students will be presenting their research, either with an oral presentation or a poster. At the CENTA Annual Conference there is something for everyone, including talks, posters, workshops, and plenty of networking opportunities. We look forward to welcoming you at the University of Leicester! General information Venue: the CENTA Annual Conference 2018 will be held at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Leicester on the 30th and 31st of August 2018. Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Leicester University Road Leicester LE1 7RH Accommodation: single en-suite rooms including breakfast will be provided for the 30th of August on a first come, first served basis at John Foster Hall. John Foster Hall 15 Manor Road Oadby Leicester LE2 2LG Check-in: Thursday 30th of August from 14.00h. Check-out: Friday 31st of August until 9.30h. Full English breakfast: 08.00h - 08:59h at John Foster Hall Dining Room. More information on: https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/conference/meeting-spaces-1/oadby- conference-centre-1/copy_of_john-foster-hall Transport: a free bus service will be provided from the accommodation to the conference venue on the morning of Friday 31st of August. Conference dinner: venue and time TBC. Wine reception: to close the conference there will be a wine reception, giving delegates another networking opportunity in a more relaxed environment and a unique venue. This will take place in the Dinosaur Gallery at the New Walk Museum on the 31st of August at 17.30h. New Walk Museum 53 New Walk Leicester LE1 7EA Important dates - Registration and abstract submission: 10th August 2018 - Conference: 30th - 31st August 2018 Registration and abstract submission Please, register by the 10th of August 2018 using this form: https://goo.gl/forms/eOLPqKFjDZ7ILOgt2 Keynote speakers Below is the list of confirmed speakers – this will be regularly updated. Watch this space! Dr Andrea Berardi - Senior Lecturer at the Open University Andrea Berardi has more than 20 years’ experience in teaching, researching and building capacity for enabling sustainable communities. After achieving a number of qualifications in ecology (BSc), nature conservation (MSc) and environmental science (PhD), he has taught at the London School of Economics, University College London, Royal Holloway, and The Open University. His work has engaged communities from the Borneo and Amazonian rainforests; the floodplains of the Mekong and the Guianas; the savannas of East Africa and Latin America; and the coastal regions of southern Italy and Wales. His main interests lie in facilitating grass roots approaches to ecological sustainability and social justice using an action learning process. The aim is to enable communities to collaboratively learn from their own practical experiences using local resources (rather than being told what to do from "experts" or relying on external support). Prof. Turi King – Professor of Public Engagement and Reader in Genetics and Archaeology at the University of Leicester Turi read Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge, specialising in Biological Anthropology, before moving into the field of molecular genetics, gaining a distinction in her MSc at the University of Leicester. All of her subsequent work over the years has combined genetics with archaeology, history and geography. Her PhD research in genetics at Leicester on a Wellcome Trust Prize Studentship resulted in an award- winning thesis examined the link between British hereditary surnames and the Y chromosome. Various papers arising from her work came to the attention of the press for its implications in the fields of genetic genealogy and forensics. She has continued her work on the Y chromosome and surnames, and has been leading a project examining the genetic legacy of the Vikings in the north of England. As well as leading the international research team involved in the DNA identification work of the remains of Richard III, she is also leading the project carrying out the whole genome sequencing of Richard III which is funded by the Wellcome Trust, the Leverhulme Trust and Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, the inventor of genetic fingerprinting at the University of Leicester. Turi is passionate about communicating science to the public and has appeared in, or advised on, numerous radio and TV programmes. Prof. Roland Leigh - Technical Director at EarthSense Systems Ltd and Professor of Air Quality at the University of Leicester Roland has worked at the University of Leicester in Air Quality research since 2001, leading a research team focused on new technology developments for environmental research. Key priorities include the application of innovative ideas to critical societal problems and reliance on fundamental scientific testing to prove the value of new techniques. Katie Raymer - Policy Communications Officer at National Physical Laboratory (NPL) Katie has recently completed a PhD in Space Plasma Physics at the University of Leicester. During her PhD Katie was awarded an STFC Policy Fellowship with the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), where she had the opportunity to work in Parliament in the Physical Sciences and ICT section for three months. Programme The programme is yet to be finalised – keep checking for updates! Time Thursday 30th Friday 31st 09:00:00 Registration Registration and welcome coffee 09:30:00 Session 5 10:00:00 Session 1 Poster session Welcome address by CENTA director Student talks 10:30:00 Student talks 11:00:00 Coffee break Coffee break 11:30:00 Session 2 Session 6 12:00:00 Keynote speaker: Prof. Roland Leigh Keynote speaker: Prof. Turi King 12:30:00 Student talks Student talks 13:00:00 Lunch Lunch 13:30:00 14:00:00 Session 7 Session 3 Student talks 14:30:00 Workshops/Q&A with CENTA board Invited speaker: The Brilliant Club 15:00:00 Invited speaker: Jack Richardson 15:30:00 Coffee break Coffee break 16:00:00 Session 4 Session 8 16:30:00 Keynote speakers: Dr Andrea Berardi Keynote speaker: Katie Raymer 17:00:00 and Dr Bibiana Bilbao Final remarks and prize presentations Poster session 17:30:00 18:00:00 Networking Wine reception 18:30:00 19:00:00 19:30:00 20:00:00 Conference dinner 20:30:00 21:00:00 Workshops The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Translatability of Research’. Our 3 planned workshops reflect this: ‘Engaging with the public’ ran by Dr Cas Krammer and Dr Marie Nugent (outreach champions at the University of Leicester) ‘Engaging with the media’ ran by Sarah Gabbott who has extensive experience with the BBC and other media outlets ’Engaging with Industry and Businesses’ (TBC). Q&A session with the CENTA board Whilst the students and other delegates attend the workshops, supervisors and CENTA partners will get the chance to attend a Q&A session with the CENTA board of directors, including the new CENTA2 lead director Dr Gregor Leckerbush. In this session the changes that will come into place in CENTA2 will be discussed and any issues or concerns you may have answered. Organising committee Cristina Ruiz Villena 2nd Year PhD University of Leicester Joseph Watkins 2nd Year PhD University of Leicester Samuel Wharton 2nd Year PhD University of Leicester Boris Berkhout 3rd Year PhD University of Leicester (advisory role) Sponsors .