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Biodiversity Living Lab

Our Biodiversity Living Lab has been set up to use the campus as a test bed for biodiversity solutions.

This living lab aims to enhance our understanding of biodiversity found on campus and discover methods to improve it, all while involving our community and celebrating the remarkable biodiversity right in our own doorstep.

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Birds found on campus

Our Biodiversity Living Labs committee have put together some maps to help identify the different types of bird species that can be found on Campus East and Campus West. These maps have been designed by Millie and Erin, our Biodiversity Living Lab interns.

Birds of Campus East Birds of Campus West 2
Birds of Campus East map (PDF , 279kb) Birds of Campus West map (PDF , 298kb)

 

Our biodiversity pilot

In summer 2022, Environmental Sustainability at York (ESAY) ran a Living Labs biodiversity pilot which saw five student interns work with a team of consultants to undertake a baseline ecological survey of the campus grounds. This campus-wide survey was undertaken as part of the University commitment to the University’s Sustainability Plan. The survey has provided valuable baseline data on the University's ecological habitats, allowing us to accurately map where these are on campus and designate an industry recognised metric for the quality of biodiversity across campus. This will help guide future campus developments.

In line with the aims of Living Labs, the pilot provided an opportunity to work with the student interns on a sustainability issue on campus. Students came from a range of disciplines, including ‘Economics and Mathematics’, ‘Environment, Ecology and Economics’, ‘Biology’, ‘International Relations’, and ‘Natural Sciences’. Through working together, students developed boundary crossing skills and knowledge exchange.

Sharing the knowledge

A key output from the biodiversity pilot was a social media campaign, #KnowYorCampus, which aimed to raise awareness of the fauna and flora on campus among our University community. This successful campaign, which ran between August and October 2022, involved sharing photos, videos and content about campus biodiversity on social media. The campaign was seen more than 250,000 times across the University’s social media platforms and generated more than 15,000 likes, comments and shares.

A follow up campaign took place in January 2023, which encouraged staff and students to submit their favourite photographs of our campus for a competition, resulting in 269 entries and some fantastic photography to celebrate our local wildlife.

Biodiversity living lab committee

In January 2023, ESAY set up a new Living Lab Biodiversity Committee, comprised of staff and students who are interested in advancing the University's biodiversity initiatives. The committee was created to make progress on this initiative in collaboration with ESAY and the Sustainability Steering Group.

Biodiversity campus walks

A key success of the biodiversity living lab committee has been putting on various biodiversity campus walks, supported by Gordon Eastham (Grounds & Ecology). The walks have inspired the University community to engage with the campus biodiversity as they have been shown wildflower meadows, swan mussels, orchids, and log piles. These walks have also been delivered as part of Sustainability Week and the Festival of Ideas, further celebrating our biodiverse campus.

Student internship spotlights

Since 2022, ESAY has welcomed a number of Living Lab biodiversity interns to the team. They were tasked with undertaking a baseline ecological survey of the campus grounds, and researching and enhancing engagement of our campus biodiversity with the wider University community.

Marina (Ecological Survey Assistant)

Summer 2022: “The internship was an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only was it a chance to develop my biological knowledge but it also provided the opportunity to develop a range of core skills such as teamwork, communication and organisation.”

Millie (Digital Communications Assistant)

Summer 2023: "I generated ideas, events and communications channels to share the work that is happening on campus, focusing especially on engaging prospective students that are coming this year. A large portion of my internship involved creating a static map, designing graphics on the different species of birds on campus. These maps would then be used to show the variety of birds we have on campus, and where they can be seen."

Erin (Biodiversity Research Assistant)

Summer 2023: "I was working on making an interactive map of the birds on campus, which was done using R Shiny, a framework for creating web applications. I enjoyed learning more about the species on campus, in particular about the wide variety of birds! I also enjoyed working with the other people in the office and learning about their research focuses."

A visit to Durham University

In April 2024, our committee visited Durham University to explore their initiatives for biodiversity and gain insights into their projects and practices. The day provided an opportunity for engaging discussions with staff and students working on sustainability at Durham University. They shared their own strategies for incorporating sustainability and biodiversity into their institution, addressed key challenges, and showcased specific living lab projects they've implemented.

After a morning of presentations from both institutions, the group enjoyed a guided tour of Durham's biodiversity spots, including Van Mildert Lake, the Botanic Garden, and Hollingside Wood.

York City Nature Challenge 2024: A Community Effort

From October 2023 to April 2024, the University of York's Living Labs Biodiversity committee led York's participation in the global City Nature Challenge. 

Between April 26th-29th 2024, 26 local groups, schools, and the City of York Council worked together, supported by 28 University of York students, to help people record wildlife using the "iNaturalist" app. In its first year, York ranked #1 out of 24 U.K. cities, spotting an amazing 1,481 species!

With 12,800 wildlife observations, including many from the University’s campuses, the data will help improve biodiversity across York.

Want to join in 2025? Email Smriti Safaya at smriti.safaya@york.ac.uk or Kian Hayles-Cotton at kfd510@york.ac.uk.

York City Nature Challenge

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