BIRCH: Biodiversity Interdisciplinary Research Community Hub
The Biodiversity Interdisciplinary Research Community Hub (BIRCH) aims to foster interdisciplinary research on biodiversity by identifying opportunities for innovative collaboration. Through student research internships that span multiple disciplines, BIRCH creates new biodiversity knowledge and explores collaborative approaches to addressing the biodiversity crisis. The programme supports the transition to a more sustainable and biodiverse world
BIRCH pairs undergraduate students with project leads from various University Schools, encouraging project-based approaches to deepen understanding of biodiversity loss and promoting actions that support ecosystem recovery. Since its launch in 2023, BIRCH has developed a dozen projects focused on engaging the public with resources that foster a deeper and more effective understanding of biodiversity. All materials are freely available on the BIRCH website.
As well as engaging schools with biodiversity monitoring projects have involved University staff, exploring how their proximity to biodiversity affects attitudes toward conservation and sustainability at St Andrews. BIRCH is currently working on a number of notable projects, such as the Ocean Ambassador Programme and a small-scale fisheries app.
Led by Biology and Earth Sciences undergraduate Rowan Kehrer, this project tackles how primary school students engage with the natural environment. The team developed activities that help students connect with and become more aware of the biodiversity around them. These activities, spanning the primary school curriculum, are freely available on the BIRCH website.
The Ocean Ambassador programme, led by Victoria Lee (Social Anthropology, Sustainable Development), empowers residents and visitors in St Andrews to take pro-environmental action. The programme promotes alternative approaches to interacting with the natural environment, beyond resource extraction. The Ocean Ambassador booklet is available at the Scottish Oceans Institute and online.
Undergraduate Tianchen Wu (Computer Science) created an app to support small-scale fisheries with limited literacy. Small-scale fishing vessels, which make up about 80% of the global fishing fleet, operate with minimal regulation. In collaboration with the Scottish Oceans Institute, the app helps fishers track their catches. This innovative, cost-effective tool aims to contribute data to a global repository, improving understanding of global fishing patterns.
School of Geography and Sustainable Development Environmental Sustainability Policy Working Group
Dr Lydia Cole chairs the Environmental Sustainability Policy Working Group in the School of Geography and Sustainable Development. The group works to reduce the environmental impact of the School’s teaching, research, and daily operations, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions. By trialling interventions within the School, the group helps the broader University advance toward its net-zero goals.
The group develops strategies to encourage behavioural change based on climate justice and inclusivity principles. They collaborate with the School’s Student Environment Team, who run events and partner with Transition on an outreach programme for local schools.
The School also includes their Director of Sustainability, Dr Louise Reid, and a Sustainability Research Group in its whole-school approach to sustainability.