Last week we held the Annual Biosciences PGR conference, where postgraduate students at the Biosciences Department had the opportunity to present their latest research to an audience of fellow students and members of staff.

It was a great day packed with great presentations where we learnt about a diverse array of topics ranging from the harnessing of microbial communities to improve algal growth, to the understanding nutrient fluxes in marine forests, the effect of irrigation on sea turtle nest survival, and use of theoretical ecological models to improve restoration.

   

From the computational ecology lab, PhD students Jiacheng and Jooyoung presented their work on the modelling of restoration efforts in woodlands across Wales and the study of the role of microbial communities in the yield of red body production by Nannochloropsis oceanica algae.

Both students and members of staff in the audience posed great questions to the presenters which facilitated great discussions. These discussions were then taken to the poster session where we had the chance to learn more in detail about the work of some our MRes and PhD students on automated methods for detection of diseases in crabs to the use of engineered tiles to improve grazing by limpets of macroalgae as a biological solution to biofouling.

At the end of the day all conference attendees voted for their favourite talks and posters and the winning students received some amazing prizes arranged by the organisers.

Special thanks go to Jooyoung and Lucia who organised the entire conference, from putting together the programme, to coordinating prizes and coffee breaks, make the whole event possible.