Launched in 2008, the Natural History Museum student conference is an exciting two-day event, offering PhD and Master’s students associated with the museum the opportunity to showcase their work through talks and poster presentations.
The inaugural conference featured 25 talks, 15 posters, four workshops, and Sir David Attenborough giving the 1st Thackray lecture, entitled 'Unnatural history; the controversy in wildlife films.'
Since then, the conference has become an annual highlight of the student community, presenting the opportunity to meet fellow students based away from the museum, network with senior researchers, and learn more about organisations and companies who provide resources and sponsorship to make the conference happen.
The conference is organised by the NHM Student Committee: a group of PhD students who seek sponsorship, design the programme, and invite exciting keynote speakers.
Keynote speakers
This year, the conference features two keynote speeches from outstanding scientists with a strong presence in outreach communication:
Professor Kate Jones
Kate is a UCL-based researcher who investigates the impact of global land use and climate change on ecological and human systems, with a particular focus on emerging infectious diseases from animals (like Ebola, SARS, and Covid-19).
Guy Shrubsole
A writer and environmental campaigner who has worked for various environmental organisations and has written several books, including Who Owns England?, an instant Sunday Times bestseller, and is now campaigning for Government action to protect and restore Britain’s temperate rainforest through the Lost Rainforests of Britain campaign.