CEH Multimedia and Podcast Links
CEH scientists are featured in the following podcasts and videos:
Alien invaders - Planet Earth online - 19 Oct 2009
Two of CEH's invasive species experts Dr Helen Roy and Dr Mark Hill talk to Sue Nelson from Planet Earth online and discuss how Britain is being invaded by aliens.
No, we're talking plants, animals and insects. You've probably heard of a lot of them. Grey squirrels, harlequin ladybirds, buddleia, Japanese knotweed - the list goes on. But it turns out that some of these aliens, or invasive species to give them their scientific name, aren't all bad. Take buddleia as an example. Although it spreads like wildfire, it's also very good at attracting butterflies.
Mark and Helen explain the problems and tell us what might happen as global warming changes the climate. Which ones will we see more of and which are going to give us real problems?
The podcast is also available on iTunes.
Listen to the podcast on Planet Earth online
Additional Information
Recent CEH news stories on Alien invaders
- Mobile phones at the ready for autumn ladybird invasion - 16 October 2009
- Invasive harlequin ladybird could threaten over 1000 native species - 30 June 2009
- Alien Invader research on the BBC - 15 October 2008
External links
UK Ladybird Survey website
Climate modelling - Planet Earth online - 5 Oct 2009
CEH's Dr Eleanor Blyth reveals some of the details behind land surface modelling in a new Planet Earth online podcast, such as why leaf size and shape, and soil moisture are so important for climate models.
You might wonder where on Earth she starts. Dr Blyth explains how she uses complex mathematical equations in a computer simulation called the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) to help her.
The podcast is also available on iTunes.
Listen to the podcast on Planet Earth online
Additional Information
Dr Eleanor Blyth's staff page
JULES
BBC World Service - The Forum - Sept 2009
CEH radioecologist Dr Brenda Howard has featured on the BBC World Service programme The Forum, presented by Bridget Kendall. In the first of the available podcasts, Dr Howard gives a 60 Second Idea to Change the World. In the second, she explains why there’s an urgent need for new standards to measure the ecological impact of radioactive contaminants...not on humans, but on animals and plants. The podcasts are also available on iTunes.
The Forum Part One: 60 Second Idea to Change the World
The Forum Part Two: Long-term effects of radiation
Additional Information
Dr Brenda Howard's staff page
PROTECT project
CEH hosts international symposium
CEH has hosted a two-day international symposium on global land-surface evaporation and climate. The event was held under the aegis of the Global Energy and Water-cycle Experiment (GEWEX) and WATCH, the EU project part-coordinated by CEH.
Understanding evaporation is critical for improving predictions of climate, weather, and water resources. To gain a better understanding, scientists united to discuss improved modelling of evaporation processes. The symposium was tightly focused and small, involving around 30 invited experts from among the relevant international community. Presentations are available on film by following the link below to the WATCH website.
Presentations from Global Land-surface Evaporation and Climate.
Additional information
GroDome facility opens - Planet Earth online - 11 Aug 2009
The new GroDome facility at CEH's Wallingford site is the subject of the latest Planet Earth Online podcast featuring CEH science.
Air Conditioning for Plants
CEH scientists will soon be able to replicate habitats from around the world and carry out important research under tightly controlled conditions in a new structure similar to a huge polytunnel.
CEH's Dr Tracey Timms-Wilson takes science writer and broadcaster Sue Nelson on a tour of the facility, while university student Paul Arnold explains why the controlled conditions are so important for his research on soil bacteria.
Listen to the podcast on Planet Earth Online.
With or Without You - Planet Earth online
Ozone gas is like Jekyll and Hyde: it's both good and bad. Too much is poisonous but without it, life on Earth wouldn't be possible.
Dr Gina Mills, based at CEH's Bangor site, is looking in detail at the effects of different ozone concentrations on different plants, like buttercups and grasses, and on trees such as birch, alder and beech. Science writer and broadcaster Richard Hollingham visited Gina and CEH colleague Felicity Hayes at some geodesic domes near Bangor to find out more.
Listen to the podcast on Planet Earth Online.
Predicting the risk of flood - Planet Earth online
Abingdon, a market town in Oxfordshire, was particularly badly hit by the summer floods of 2007. Science writer and broadcaster Sue Nelson recently visited some of the victims of the flood two years on, and spoke to Dr Nick Reynard, head of CEH's risk analysis and modelling group to find out more about the science behind predicting flood risk.
In the podcast, Nick explains why the floods were so bad and describes some of the methods his team use to predict the likelihood of future flooding. His team's science is set to feed into legislation that will help improve how Britain deals with floods in future.
Listen to the podcast on Planet Earth Online.
Additional information
Details of CEH's Ground level ozone research
Understanding Floods - CEH Information Leaflet
The Summer Floods 2007 in England and Wales: A hydrological appraisal [PDF download, 11.63mb]
