Ecology Academy Podcast

Welcome back to the Ecology Academy Podcast, where host Richard Dodd offers an insightful deep dive into the current hot topic - the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. In this compelling episode, joined by Craig Llewellyn from AtkinsRealis, the discussion shifts from biodiversity net gain to the intricacies of the new bill, highlighting its implications for nature conservation and ecological planni...

Welcome to another insightful episode of the Ecology Academy podcast, hosted by Richard Dodd. Join us as we delve into the world of ecology with special guest Craig Llewellyn, Associate Ecologist and Biodiversity Policy Specialist at Atkins Realis. In this first part of a two-part series, we focus on the concept of 'Net Benefit for Biodiversity' within Wales' Planning Policy. Discover how this pol...

Join host Richard Dodd in this enlightening episode of the Ecology Academy podcast as he converses with Adam Rowe, the CEO of the South East Wales Biodiversity Centre (SEWBReC). Discover the significant role Local Environmental Record Centres (LERCs) play in the gathering, management, and dissemination of biodiversity data. Adam shares his journey from a geography graduate to leading a key hub in...

Welcome to the Ecology Academy podcast, where host Richard Dodd interviews Richard Crompton from Ecology On Demand. Dive into a fascinating discussion as Richard shares insights from his 26-year career in bat and ecology work, focusing on his unique consulting service dedicated to supporting fellow ecologists. Discover the intricacies of ecological licenses, the significance of staying updated wit...

Happy New Year!   Join Richard Dodd in this episode of the Ecology Academy podcast as he sits down with Mark Roper, an experienced ecologist and consultant from New Zealand, who shares his fascinating journey in the world of ecology. With over 15 years in ecological consulting, Mark discusses his transition from freshwater fish surveys to a deep passion for bat conservation, both in New Zealand an...

Join Richard Dodd and repeat guest Julia Baker on the final Ecology Academy podcast of 2024 as they delve into the significant legal changes surrounding biodiversity net gain in 2024. This episode explores the roles of ecologists, developers, and local authorities in implementing these new practices, focusing on both small and large-scale projects. Discover what practitioners have learned over the...

Join Richard Dodd in this episode of the Ecology Academy podcast as he delves into the intersection of ecology and artificial intelligence with Tim Cook, the founder of AI Confident. Tim shares insights about his company, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering organizations to make informed decisions about AI adoption, particularly those new to the technology. The conversation explores how AI...

Join host Richard Dodd in this insightful episode of the Ecology Academy podcast as he delves into the topic of imposter syndrome and its impact on ecologists. After a summer hiatus, Richard returns to explore the challenges faced by professionals in the ecological field, particularly those striving for career advancement and leadership roles. Richard shares his personal journey with imposter synd...

Welcome to the Ecology Academy podcast, hosted by Richard Dodd. In this episode, we delve into the role and responsibilities of an Ecological Clerk of Works. With summer in full swing, ecologists are busy with surveys and monitoring projects across the UK and beyond. Whether you’re in the UK or elsewhere, this episode is packed with valuable insights for aspiring and seasoned ecologists alike. We...

In this insightful episode of the Ecology Academy podcast, we explore the fascinating world of district licensing in ecological conservation with Sarah Garratt and Andy Buxton from NatureSpace. We delve into Sarah's contribution to NatureSpace's strategic licensing approach and Andy's role in the conceptualization of district licensing. Additionally, we discuss the importance of data in ecological...

Welcome to an enthralling episode of the Ecology Academy Podcast, where host Richard Dodd is joined by special guest Nikki Glover, a Senior Ecologist at Wessex Water renowned for her innovative newt detection techniques. Our dynamic conversation delves into Nikki's essential contributions to large-scale development infrastructure projects, her diverse career path, and her unique use of detection d...

Welcome to the Ecology Academy podcast hosted by Richard Dodd. In this episode, we delve into the transformative journey of Jon Cranfield, a herpetofauna specialist and director of Herpetologic Limited. Starting from his childhood passion for ecology, we journey through his extensive experience dealing with protected species and examine his commitment to ecological conservation through his role wi...

Welcome to a special series of the Ecology Academy podcast, dedicated entirely to understanding the fascinating world of great crested newts. As spring arrives, we delve into in-depth discussions with leading experts to shed light on this unique species. Over the upcoming weeks, we'll be presenting interviews with established authorities in the field. We start our series with John Cranfield from H...

Join us in this informative episode of the Ecology Academy podcast, hosted by Richard Dodd, as we explore the complexities of the rapidly changing world of ecology. We delve deep into recent ecological developments, updated guidelines, new regulations, and the impact of technological advancements on the field. This episode aims to inspire listeners, whether students, professionals, or nature enthu...

***HAPPY NEW YEAR*** In the first episode of 2024 Richard talks about how to maximise getting the hire  process right and how to avoid or minimise biases. In the podcast Richard outlines the following key stages:   1. Identifying the Need for a New Role 2. Creating a Detailed Job Description 3. Advertising the Role 4. Screening and Shortlisting Candidates 5. Conducting Interviews and Assessments 6...

In this episode Richard interviews Jim Mullholland and talks about veteran trees, bats, training, virtual Preliminary Roost Assessments (PRA's), research into veterinisation of trees and can we do better in looking for bats, plus so much more! Jim observes that since the commencement of the Bat Tree Habitat Key project, our knowledge of tree roosting bats has increased dramatically. Despite this,...

Richard interviews Neil Middleton from BatAbility Courses and Tuition. Together they talk about bats, business and some life tips on how to deliver presentations and overcoming the fear of other people's opinions.   Bio Neil has substantial experience in business management, consultancy, people development, training & the associated skills associated with running SME businesses. As well as bei...

In this episode Richard talks with Peter Wharton of Wharton Natural Infrastructure Consultants Ltd. on the joys and challenges of leading and managing a small consultancy business.  Pete openly talks about his journey, including his education, career and mental health. The conversation discusses the importance of values, resilience and fortitude, dispelling the myth that business owners know what...

A very short episode this month as we all take a well deserved rest after a busy survey season. Richard reflects back and thanks all our wonderful guests for spending time talking about their work and life. Season 3 will commence in October and we are looking for guests and co-hosts for the show. If either of those interest you, then email richard@ecologyacademy.co.uk and let's start a conversatio...

How to Build Skills and Confidence for Life: Coaching and Mentoring   In this episode, our host, Richard Dodd, delves into the world of coaching and mentoring, exploring their definitions, roles, applications, and how to choose between the two. We also share success stories and discuss potential challenges in these relationships. Finally, we provide tips on how to find a suitable coach or mentor. ...

The Role of an In-house Ecologist In this interview Richard talks with Rosie about her role as an in-house ecologist. Together they discuss the differences between the role of working as a 'clean' consultant ecologist and those of the in-house 'expert' within a company or organisation. The challenges of working in a creative and visual way, as opposed to the more text-based reporting.    Rosie Pop...

Richard talks on today's show with Jeremy Smith on why we should take data seriously. On the show Jez tells us why we need to think and ask more questions to help solve real life problems such as biodiversity loss.   Jez Smith Jez is a research ecologist for the British Trust for Ornithology using data analysis to help understand the trends in bird demography.  He is also one of the directors at E...

In this episode Richard interviews the highly engaging and enigmatic Suzi Cross, Managing Director for Ecosulis.   About Suzi Suzi Cross has been Managing Director of Ecosulis Ltd for the last few years, having first joined the company in 2004 as a Senior Administrator. She specialises in Quality, Health and Safety, Employee Engagement and Wellbeing and has a passion for the outdoors. Running a va...

In this episode, Richard 'talks' to ChatGPT. He talks about what he's been using ChatGPT for and what it could be used for. What is ChatGPT ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence language model developed by OpenAI. It is designed to process natural language input and generate responses in natural language. It has been trained on a vast corpus of text data, which allows it to understand a wide range...

On today's podcast Richard discusses the opportunities and challenges of a dual-discipline career with his colleague, Misho Baxendale. Misho is a dual-qualified environmental consultant, working across both ecology and arboricultural disciplines working at Wildwood Ecology , based in Stroud. Misho openly discusses the skills needed in both disciplines including complimentary and crossover skills (...