Science communication seminar

Description

What does the genre of narrative nature writing have to offer for communicating some of the fundamental principles of ecology and conservation science to a wider audience? In her new book Wild pavements – exploring Britain’s cities with an urban naturalist, Amanda Tuke, an ecologist by training, shares her delight in the overlooked and under-appreciated wildlife in our UK cities, finds the people who care for it, takes groups out to enjoy it, and explores what the current thinking in ecology and conservation means for the future of urban nature.

The author explores London from the city out to the suburbs and visits Liverpool, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Aberdeen and other cities in the British Isles, exploring the diversity of our urban nature and the surprising places you can find it. With at least 85% of the UK population living in towns and cities, Wild pavements encourages us all to experience the urban environment differently, through the eyes of urban naturalists, ecologists, or even wildlife.

Dr Amanda Tuke is a London-based urban naturalist and nature writer. She works as a consultant botanist, leads urban plant and bird walks and teaches botany. Amanda writes a monthly column for Bird Watching Magazine which often features urban birds and her feature writing can be seen on her blog The Urban Naturalist. You can also find her on Instagram at @suburbanwilduk and on Bluesky at @amandatuke.bsky.social. Wild pavements – exploring Britain’s cities with an urban naturalist is her first book.