# Ben (@deedbn.eurosky.social)

Profile: https://sifa.id/p/deedbn.eurosky.social
Headline: Naturalist in Lancashire

## About

Naturalist and biological recorder with a particular interest in small and less 'charismatic' wildlife, soil and earth sciences and biodiversity data. Especially spatial analysis.

## Career

- **Senior Ecologist - Biological Heritage Sites Partnership at Lancashire County Council** (Feb 2023 - Present)
  Full-time · Hybrid
  Ecologist for the Biological Heritage Sites (BHS) partnership and supporting the Lancashire Environmental Records Network (LERN).
  
  Maintains an interest in Natural History, particularly Bryophytes and Soil Mesofauna, Biological Recording and data and technology related to improving our understanding off the natural environment. Partticularly data capture, community science and spatial/data analysis and visualisation.
- **Merseyside BioBank Manager at Merseyside Biobank** (Jun 2010 - Feb 2023)
- **Online Tutor at Field Studies Council** (Mar 2020 - Aug 2022)
  Adapted and delivered QGIS courses remotely during COVID.
- **Assistant Ecologist at Ecology Services UK** (Jun 2010 - Sep 2011)
  Occasional assistant bat worker and gcn surveys with phase 1.
- **Support Services Assistant at Bolton Council** (Jun 2009 - Jun 2010)
- **Overnight Stocker at Marks and Spencer** (Nov 2009 - Jan 2010)
  Overnight retail stocking.
- **Cafe Worker at ABode Hotels** (Jan 2009 - Dec 2009)
- **Assistant Manager at Pitcher & Piano** (Jan 2008 - Dec 2009)
- **Bartender at Joop** (Mar 2006 - Nov 2007)
- **Shift Supervisor at Subway UK & Ireland** (Jul 2006 - Jul 2007)
- **Bartender at The Neptune** (Jul 2005 - Aug 2005)

## Skills

### Technical
- Data Management
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Word
- Python (Programming Language)
- RStudio
- Web Development
### Business
- Business Strategy
- Customer Service
- E-Learning
- Project Planning
- Volunteer Management
### Interpersonal
- Communication
### Community
- Community Engagement
### Other
- ArcGIS Pro
- Asset Management
- Bartending
- Big Data
- Big Data Analytics
- Biodiversity
- Bioinformatics
- Biological Recording
- Cafe
- Citizen Science
- Climate Change
- Climate Change Impacts
- Climate Change Science
- Climate Modeling
- Computer Programming
- Connectivity Modelling
- Conservation Science
- Customer Satisfaction
- Data Ethics
- Digital Design
- Digital Education
- Earth Observation
- Earth Science
- Ecology
- Entomology
- Environmental Awareness
- Environmental Conservation
- Field Survey
- Food and Beverage Operations
- Food Safety
- Grassland Fungi
- Habitat Association
- Hospitality Industry
- Hospitality Service
- MapInfo 8.5
- MapInfo Professional
- Natural Environment
- Natural History
- Nature Conservation
- Office Administration
- Online Teaching
- Online Tutoring
- Open Data
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
- Protected Species Survey
- Quantum GIS
- Renovation
- Report Writing
- Retail
- Retail Replenishment
- Service Work
- Spatial Analysis
- Species Data
- Species Distribution Modelling
- Species Ecology
- Species Identification
- Supervisory Skills
- Trend Analysis
- UKHab
- Volunteer Coordination
- Volunteer Recruiting
- Volunteer Training

## Projects

- **Lancashire Waxcap Project** (Aug 2024 - Mar 2026)
  Natural England funded project to collate and generate grassland fungi data for Lancashire. Improve protections through the BHS system and develop spatial models and other tools to spatially identify potential locations for good grassland fungi sites in Lancashire.
  
  Links to the community science project on iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/lancashire-waxcaps
- **Lancashire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)** (Nov 2023 - Jan 2026)
  Providing a supporting role in the development of Lancashire's LNRS. Focused on aspects of ecology, data and data methods.
- **Grassland Connectivity Project** (Nov 2023 - Mar 2024)
  Undertaking Natural England funded project to test and compare methods for modelling connectivity of grassland habitat for different species in the context of Lancashire.
- **Species Indicator Database** (Mar 2023 - Mar 2024)
  Developing a database of species from multiple taxonomic groups to investigate a multi-taxa approach to habitat/environmental association on large scale. A desk review collating existing available information. Draft and ongoing.
- **State of Nature Report  for the  Liverpool City Region** (Jan 2021 - Oct 2021)
  Supporting the development of a State of Nature Report for the Liverpool City Region with a focus on using statistical analysis of species data to derive temporal trends while also working with experts and specialists within the local naturalist and biological recording community to check outputs or provide their own trends and analysis.
- **Northwest Brown Hare Project** (Jan 2012 - Dec 2013)
  A collaboration between Greater Manchester, Lancashire and North Merseyside to work with wildlife recorders to improve information on the abundance and distribution of Brown Hare's in those areas and create resources for ongoing monitoring.

## Credentials

- Ecology and Conservation — University of Leeds (Apr 2024) https://www.futurelearn.com/certificates/04ae0cm
- Causes of Climate Change — University of Bergen (UiB) (Feb 2024) https://www.futurelearn.com/certificates/5rx1d6w
- Programming for Everybody: Getting Started with Python — University of Michigan (Oct 2022) https://www.futurelearn.com/certificates/macxcde
- Citizen Science Projects: How to make a Difference — University of Dundee (Sep 2022) https://www.futurelearn.com/certificates/0zq0v5o
- Transforming Digital Learning: Learning Design Meets Service Design — Deakin University (Aug 2022) https://www.futurelearn.com/certificates/l41q7mf
- Environmental Challenges: Human Impact in the Natural Environment — University of Leeds (Dec 2019) https://www.futurelearn.com/certificates/u5vs8gj
- Using Open Data for Digital Business — Royal Holloway, University of London (Nov 2019) https://www.futurelearn.com/certificates/lme8axv
- Big Data: From Data to Decisions — QUT (Queensland University of Technology) (Aug 2017) https://www.futurelearn.com/certificates/i4bq0w7

## Education

- **Manchester Metropolitan University** — Master of Science - MSc, Biological Recording (Jun 2013 - Aug 2016)
- **Bangor University** — Bachelor of Science with honours - BSc (hons), Environmental Conservation (Jun 2003 - Aug 2007)

## Involvement

### Volunteering
- Merseyside & West Lancashire Bat Group (Jun 2012 - Feb 2024)
  Committee Member
  Supporting the group with web resources, membership and treasury.
- Lancashire Wildlife Trust (Jun 2011 - Sep 2019)
  Volunteer
  In various capacities taking part in practical conservation on mosslands and ecological surveys for projects.
- Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (Mar 2011 - Jul 2013)
  NARRS Surveyor
  Undertaking GCN and general amphibian surveys for ARC and ARGSL.
- Katelios Group (Jun 2004 - Aug 2004)
  Monitoring Volunteer
  Monitoring of sea turtle nesting beaches on the remote island of Kefalonia through summer.

## Links

- linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deedbn