Lauren Cook on Tracking Declining Biodiversity
Putney Society to host meeting looking at the potential for habitat restoration
Picture: Lauren Cook
November 15, 2024
The Putney Society has invited Lauren Cook to speak at a meeting this month to discuss the issue of declining biodiversity.
The research scientist, who is also an animator and artist, will talk about ways in which ecosystem monitoring can be enhanced.
Lauren is studying towards a PhD in molecular ecology at the Natural History Museum. Her research focuses on harnessing DNA left by organisms in the environment, termed environmental DNA (eDNA), and how this method can be translated into applications for surveying ecosystems, monitoring habitat restoration, wildlife disease and invasive species.
Alongside her research, Lauren is an award‐winning artist and science communicator, combining her interests in creating educational art and animations to raise awareness for conservation issues and promote connection to nature.
With much of the existing evidence concerning declining biodiversity anecdotal, Lauren’s approach aims to provide a way to track it.
The meeting is taking place on Monday 25 November at 7.30pm at the Community Church on Werter Road.
At the end of the month the Society is planning a meeting which will highlight the decline in biodiversity – both globally and locally. Meanwhile. the Royal Horticultural Society has published the preliminary results of over 1,000 observations on the types of plants preferred by bumblebees. Records show 10 bumblebee species and almost 350 different plants. Interestingly the highest number of sightings came from suburban locations – emphasising once again the important role played by urban gardens.
To help us encourage bumblebees into local gardens the researchers have published a useful list of plants that attract bumblebees across the year. Some of the most popular flowers were comfrey, crocus, chives, dandelion, heather and rosemary.
Putney Society, a registered charity, is an amenity society run by volunteers to preserve and enhance our local heritage and community. The Putney Society’s website contains more information about many other local issues and how to become a member.
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