Barbra Harvie BSc PhD FHEA MIEEM PCUT

I am School Demonstrator for the School of GeoSciences and am also employed as a tutor/lecturer by the Biological Teaching Organisation. My background is in plant ecology with particular interest in the mechanisms and processes of succession, ecological restoration and biodiversity. I am a member of the Centre for the study of Environmental Change and Sustainability (CECS) research group and from 2006-2011 I was the organiser of the CECS Seminar Series of lunch time talks.

For two years (to November 2010) I was additionally employed on an internal project to improve feedback to undergraduate students in the School of GeoSciences. The project ran a series of workshops, focus groups and questionnaires to develop a set of resources documenting examples of feedback good practice gathered from both internal and external sources.

My primary remit within the School of GeoSciences is teaching and teaching support on courses for undergraduate ecology students and I am course organiser for Field Ecology and Conservation Management.

Although I am employed in a teaching only capacity I have also been able to continue research.

Successional processes

My main research (from 2002) is on the colonisation and successional development of vegetation on post-industrial waste (using the oil-shale bings of West Lothian as my main study sites); from the initial entrapment of seeds on a sterile substrate to the structure of the resulting plant communities. Experimentation, investigation, enquiry and analysis of new data collected from the study of vegetation on the bings are being used to determine the processes driving vegetation dynamics and the development of plant communities. Oil-shale bings are industrial spoil heaps that are unique to the county of West Lothian, within Britain and western Europe.

I am currently collaborating with Dr Vicky Temperton, Forschungszentrum Jülich on a project to determine why the distribution and abundance of plant species within and between bings is so different. This will include a leaching experiment with shale samples from different sites, analyzing them for NH4, NO3, N, C, Mg,Ca, K and for amino acids using an accelerated solvent extraction, and a series of soil/plant feedback experiments.

My initial studies on oil-shale bings led to me being invited to take part in an EU study of the oil-shale industry in the context of European energy policy and resources. The outcome, in August 2007, was an advisory report to the European Academies Science Advisory Council (easac) written in conjunction with colleagues from Estonia, Czech Republic, and Belgium.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity audit: I have recently completed commissions from Estates and Buildings, University of Edinburgh for biodiversity audits and ecology reports of the University grounds at King's Buildings Campus (April 2009)and Pollock Halls of Residence(Sept 2010). The aims of the audits were to survey existing vegetation and assess the significance of the features found in order to facilitate the development of a biodiversity action plan with clear, long-term objectives and a timetabled programme for implementation. I am about to start work on similar audits on University properties in and around George Square (due for completion in late 2011).

Community woodlands: I am co-leading a four year project (from 2007)on the diversity and structure of Community Woodlands in Scotland in collaboration with Dr Barbara Sumner, President of the Botanical Society of Scotland.

LBAP West Lothian: Consultation with West Lothian Council has brought about a Local Biodiversity Action Plan for the oil-shale bing habitat that additionally recognises the historical importance, education value, social significance and recreational function of these sites.

Knowledge Exchange

Phenology: plant ecology and diversity, conference 2010 I co-ordinated an international conference on the science of phenology with Dr Chris Jeffree of the Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences and past-president of the Botanical Society of Scotland. Conference abstracts

LEAPS: From 2003 I am course co-ordinator and main lecturer for the Biological Sciences Summer School, one of several projects run by the Lothian Equal Access Programme for Schools (LEAPS). The LEAPS programme targets schools in Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians that do not have a tradition of university entry. The Summer School is an eight week course where students from these schools, who have gained conditional entry to University,can study two subjects at 1st year undergraduate level. High levels of achievement in the LEAPS Summer School can lead to unconditional offers for students with poor Higher and A-level grades. The courses are recognised by all Edinburgh Universities as indicators of a student's ability to succeed in tertiary level education and are also accepted by other Universities in Scotland.

Moving On: From 2010 I am a tutor in the Moving On project organised by the Office of Life-long Learning.

IEEM: I run four continuing professional development courses in basic plant identification skills for practitioners and consultants of ecology and environmental management through the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM); annually since 2007 (these will not be running in 2010 but will return in 2011).

WLYT: In 2007/08 I worked with West Lothian Youth Theatre (now Firefly Arts) on a short film "Those Big Red Hills; the story of bings, shale oil and James Paraffin Young". The film premièred in the Vue Cinema, Livingston in April 2008 and is part of an Education package used by schools throughout West Lothian.

Other Interests

Like most people I have a life outside my working environment.

I am the Honorary General Secretary and publicity officer for the Botanical Society of Scotland. I also take part in regular botanical recording excursions with The Wildlife Information Centre( TWIC).

Other less academic interests include going to the theatre, hill walking, reading, drinking red wine (not always at the same time), and supporting my local football team Livingston (still hoping that they will eventually return to premier league football but will be happy if we can get beyond the 2nd division).

I am interested in the social history of Scotland and the geneology of the Robertson family (Clan Donnaghaidh) in particular. Fellow clan members may be interested in visiting the clan museum, located at Bruar in Perthshire.

A few other sites that you may find interesting

Mostly relating to my work - but not all....

British Ecological Society

PROSPECTS; a subsection of the National Autistic Society that specialises in finding work for young people with Asperger's Syndrome

Association of Applied Biologists

Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh

Bo'ness and Kinneil railway part of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society

Society for Ecological Restoration International

The Royal Scots

Plantlife

Reforesting Scotland

Number 6 the Edinburgh and Lothians drop-in centre for adults with Asperger's Syndrome

Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management