Other SFG Development Opportunities
Our SFG membership is our greatest asset and we want to help it flourish. SFG meetings provide the ideal place for everyone to grow from experience. Many of us have started out this way and developed through time. The SFG has had a positive influence on careers and enriched lives across our membership.
We enjoy practising our skills (eg presenting, chairing, networking, etc.) and helping others develop. The SFG caters for students eager to communicate their work in a welcoming and supportive environment. We also offer a plethora of development opportunities for interested SFG members. Here's a flavour of them – please contact the SFG Team if you would like to get more involved or seek mentoring.
SFG Guest Coordinator Roles & Session Chairing
The SFG is a fantastic incubator of people talent and capabilities at any career stage. It can be an intellectually stimulating and personally challenging environment for everyone.
It is now possible to put yourself forward for a chance to guest coordinate SFG meetings – from inspiring the agenda, to enhancing our professional network and having a go at session chairing. Regardless of whether it’s your first or thousandth time. Prior know-how is not essential. We provide leadership and tailored support for all SFG roles, as required.
Several SFG members have led by example and delivered quality events. We’re always looking for people with a desire to shape future SFG meetings and learn with others. Does this seem like the kind of opportunity you (or someone else) would thrive on or could use to improve a CV? If so, please express interest with the SFG Team.
- SFG 101 – Jennifer Dodd (Edinburgh Napier University)
- SFG 102 – Charlie Perfect (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)
- SFG 103 – Faye Jackson (Marine Scotland Science)
SFG Bio-blitz Activities
The first ever SFG community ‘Bio-blitz’ took place in spring 2016 at SCENE. We are preparing a manuscript for publishing our findings in a scientific journal. Further communication will follow.
We plan more field visits to help our SFG membership combine expertise and get to know each other better. Please let us know your suggestions about freshwater sites for future Bio-blitz activities.
SFG Social Side
The SFG is an informal and inclusive community. People with passionate connections to the freshwater environment lie at its heart.
We always like to see lifelong friends, our collaborators and welcome newcomers. We offer small gestures (eg badges) to help put faces to names and encourage mixing at SFG meetings.
There is an option for all SFG members to keep conversations going in a social setting. We usually do this by catching up at The Meadowpark, situated on the edge of campus, after SFG meetings.
It is also characteristic for our SFG members to stay in touch (eg ATs, research projects, day jobs, social media, etc.) between SFG events. You can find us enjoying the freshwater environment – whether for work or wellbeing!