Skip to content

Impressions on the SCCS in Cambridge

By on May 14, 2010 in EDGE Fellows, Focal species, Long-eared jerboa, Uncategorized

Firstly, I’d like to tell Big Hello to dear blog readers.

Today I want to interest you my impression in Cambridge. I was very glad for participating in the international Student Conference on Conservation Science (SCCS) in Cambridge, which is best known as the home of the University of Cambridge, one of the world’s premier universities.

When look at from outside, almost all building was being looked at very old, with fantastic architecture. But as soon as go to inside, the interior design was very modern with high technology. There is everything that you need to learn very well.

The Conference was organized by department of zoology in St Catherine’s college. St Catharine’s College was founded in 1473 by Robert Woodlark and is situated in the centre of Cambridge. In the sixteenth century undergraduates were admitted. It was largely rebuilt in the 17th century but in 1965 there was further major rebuilding.

There are lot of bikes in all streets. Some bike looks like stayed long time and didn’t use. In my opinion bikes is very important effort for avoiding air pollution and useful for human health too.

I participated to present poster about impacts of illegal gold mining on gobi desert small mammal in Southern Mongolia. Today everyone knows that we must protect wild nature and is very important for our Earth. But circumstance is very different in real life.

About 15 years ago everyone in south part of Mongolia didn’t know about gold mining and doesn’t want to dig on surface. If they dig, they thought the sky (Mongolian god) will be angry. From 90’s Mongolian political system changed from socialistic rule to free market economic. Hence, those social economic rapid changes began to influence on Mongolian wildlife negatively.  Those changes didn’t pass Gobi desert wildlife, which is a large desert region in Asia. One of the most serious impacts in Gobi desert is illegal gold mining. Hence, I decided to participate about illegal gold mining in Conference. Many people were interested my poster, especially in the feral species effects and the long eared jerboa.

During conference, I liked the hall that was equipped very well, such as projector, computer, speakers and etc. There are few such hall in Mongolia.

By participating this conference, I increased my knowledge about deforestation, CBD, conservation acts and knew about some organization, such as UNEP WCMC, ARCADIA, Cambridge Conservation Initiative and so on.

Also I obtained good knowledge and newish idea about climate change, presentation slide design and modern conservation approach. Presentations was very great and useful.

During conference I made many friends who work and study in famous institute, project and university around the world. That friendship will help me through sharing knowledge and information. Also we shared culture and tradition of each other’s country.

The student conference didn’t organized only posters and presentations. There were nine workshops, such as Practical Conservation Genetics, Planning a conservation research programme, Use of evidence-based conservation, Raising funds for your conservation project , An introduction to systematic conservation planning, How to write a scientific paper, or How to avoid Snoopy’s problem…, Communicating your science: beyond peer-reviewed papers and Making conservation relevant: communicating with policy makers.

Everyone had to select 2 workshops. I selected Raising funds for your conservation project and How to write a scientific paper, or How to avoid Snoopy’s problem…. Dr, Rosie Trevelyan, Tropical Biology Association, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, taught us about how to write a grant proposal efficiently and successfully. She said that “Getting money for your project need be a matter of being in the right place at the right time”.

Also Dr Martin Fisher, Editor of Oryx, Fauna & Flora International, taught us about writing a scientific paper. He said: “Would you like this to be you? Are you determined that your first scientific paper will be rejected (so many are!)? Attend this workshop to find out how to ensure that this happens… or perhaps even how to avoid it. Common pitfalls, glaringly obvious errors, verbosity – all these and more easy strategies to ensure that you receive your first rejection slip will be covered in painful detail…It’s the final year of your PhD, you’ve finally gathered some data, and you are going to be famous… well, at least you plan to write your first scientific paper… Do yourself a favour, do the Editor a favour, attend this workshop!”

Also staffs of zoological museum received us with wine in museum. There are many wonderful collections in museum.

And we had little party which was organized every student conference. It was very funny and happy.

Finally, I am thankful to SCCS for participating me. I gratefully acknowledge not only the support of the EDGE programme, but also the help and advice of SFP and NUM teachers. Thanks again.